Today our office at the honour to launch the 5th edition of the annual Week of microcredit. During this week we promote the power of entrepreneurship in Belgium. We try to show Europe that Microfinance is a tool out of poverty and battles social exclusion. More events to come and will be posted.
European Commissioner, Marianne Thyssen pledge her support to fight poverty through Microfinance and entrepreneurship. She had the opportunity to meet Entrepreneur Author of Nigerian descent Chris Dahi, Joan’s manicure and pedicure, Slavica’s cupcakes, Ciprian Petcu of Adhoc catering and King Franky of Shakuma Fitness. Also present were CEO of VDAB Fons Leroy, Minister of State Ph.Maystad, CEO of Microfinance agency Hefboom and Maria Nowak of ADIE International!
Microfinance Customer of the week Joany’s Pedicure & Manicure
It’s never too late to announce our Microfinance customer of the week. This honour goes to Joany. She is a vibrant young woman who was born in Suriname and grew up in The Netherlands. She first tried her business in Amsterdam and came to Antwerp in 2015. She has an official diploma and comes to your office or house to treat your toes and hands. Visit her website here: www.joanyspedicure.be
We wish her all the best and you know I will be having my toes done in my office very soon!
2015, was an exciting year for me. I worked hard together with my team to make microStart Antwerp a success story. We have shown again that those considered unbankable and not creditworthy are bankable. We also proved that they are able to set up long term businesses.
microStart, microfinance and coaching; helping people battle poverty through entrepreneurship is my career but it is also my passion. My career is going in the exact direction as planned. Next to the professional experiences at microStart in 2015, I came in contact with the organisation Exchangevzw through BNP Paribas Fortis Benevolab whom send me on a mission to consult a tea union and microfinance agency in Rwanda. Looking back on 2015, I realised again that I personally grew a lot and gained a lot of new professional experiences in Belgium and internationally. After my Exchagnevzw, BNP Paribas Fortis Benevolab mission in Rwanda, I decided to be a Country Coordinator Uganda for Exchangevzw as I would like to continue supporting an organisation that helps develop SME’s in developing countries.
I love professional missions that allow you to gain, exchange new experiences and at the same time you get to visit other countries. In 2015, I travelled for fun to Dubai - UAE, Mumbai - India, Provence - France and Antalya - Turkey. I feel that when I stay too long inside one country I become stupid. It is when I travel my creativity gets tickled! So when in doubt - Travel.
The first mont of 2016, I wil be in Morocco working on a project called AFEM (Association des Femmes Chefs d’Entreprise du Maroc), business association of female moroccan entrepreneurs. AFEM specialises in female entrepreneurship and leadership. AFEM provides trainings on entrepreneurship and serves as a business incubator in Casablanca, Tanger and Tétouan. Through entrepreneurship these Moroccan women can battle poverty. The program is supported by APEFE (Association pour la promotion de l’Education et de la formation à l’étranger), a Belgian Walloon educational center for the promotion of female entrepreneurship. APEFE also supports MIN AJLIKI, which organised Casablanca startup, AL MANA microfinance, DFP (Département de la Formation Professionelle) the professional coaching department of the Kingdom of Morocco and the ANAPEC (Agence Nationale de Promotion de l’Emploie et des Compétences), the National Labour and Competencies Agency. All of the above again supported by the Belgian Development Cooperation.
I will be giving trainings & coaching to large groups of women interested in setting up new businesses. The trainings will vary from 1) how to develop a business plan, 2) how to develop a financial plan, 3) sales: how to find customers (commercial skills/ marketing) 4) administrative capabilities 5) digital skills and a workshop on finance. I will be travelling to Casablanca, Tangier and Tétouan. 2016 - it is! Lets do this ! My professional coaching experience at microStart will be of great use.
FXB in New York
In October when I was flying to Kigali, I had written about Karina Weinstein who was sitting on the flight next to me to Rwanda. We had talked the entire way both professionally and private. It was through Karina that I got to know FXB and gave the tea Union (UCTCCN) the idea to work with FXB Village in Gisenyi. The project is currently being worked on in Rwanda. I had told Karina that I would be in New York for Thanksgiving and would come say hi. So we met up this afternoon in the city. It was great seeing her again, catching up on her experience and my experience in Rwanda. Work at FXB seems to be going pretty well and hopefully I get to meet her soon in a different country! This is the reason why you need to talk on flights, a project was started and new friendships were made. Oh her son is the cutest! In the photo: Karina and I in NYC! It all started by meeting on a flight… Sounds almost like a love story doesn’t it ;)
Benevolab, the volunteer organisation of BNP organised a walking dinner presenting ‘Investing in Microfinance’ by Fadoua Boudiba, invest manager MENA at Incofin. This presentation was very interesting laying out the key aspects on why an investment management firm would invest in a Microfinance agency. She took us through the entire due diligence process. This gives me ideas that should use her due diligence process on our own microStart Antwerp agency. Fadoua Boudiba, presented us the case of Faten, a Palestian Microfinance institution. She also presented the tools that can be used and checked in a MFI. A few are listed below:
PiiF principles for investors in inclusive finance ( principles for responsible investment )
Social performance task force (sptf)
Smart Campaign.
Mftransparency
Responsible lending
(AML check)
Echos tool
Mixmarket.com
Planet finance
The event continued by BNP Paribas Benevolab presenting a few volunteers that have completed missions abroad. These were Jan Populaire whom completed a mission at ADSJ in Lome, Togo and Magali Henry who completed a mission in Rwanda, Gitarama. There was a large turn up of potential volunteers for Benevolab and funny enough these volunteers are also microStart volunteers. The microStart x BNP volunteers are also Exchange volunteers! Well everyone contributes and gives back. Every good event should always come with a free goodie so we received a book 'La course de Microfinance’. An eventing can never go wrong with s free book!!
The last few days has been exploring Kigali’s finest restaurants, a concert but one more last piece for work. Final interview with Rwanda Broadcast Agency for its radio station. The interview took place in the Mirror Hotel in Rumera. The purpose of the interview was to present Exchangevzw, BNPParibas Benevolab and plea for the cause of the poor tea farmers in the Tea Farmers Union of Crete Congo Nil in Gisenyi. The interview will be completely dubbed in Kinyarwandan :)
Journalist RBA: Pacifique Emmanuel Niyitegeka
Thanks at Peter Vankerckhove for the help!
