Is your Club looking for an International Project that is fun and interactive, and has a way to track its progress?
Then I have a project for you.
Bob and I were at the International Convention in Calgary this past summer. Walking through the House of Friendship I spotted an inflatable shark. (Side note - sharks are my spirit animal). At the booth we meet Ben Davidson from the Pocatello Rotary Club of Idaho, where he explained this project. It is based on the premise of Shark Tank. You meet entrepreneurs from Malawi and decide to help them with a microloan.
The entrepreneurs receive training from a group called Entrapov. They must pass this program, they learn about business (accounting and making a business plan). They are provided a mentor who helps them. They have a connection to the local rotary club. In order to apply for the loan they must provide a business plan and accounting and how this loan will help their business. They must pay the local rotary club back for the loan. The rotary club then uses this money to pay it forward and help other businesses.
Our club, The Rotary Club of Stow-Munro Falls, did this project at the end of January. We had 5 judges who meet with Rich Kirkham (PDG District 5400) and did about an hour training with him. He explained how the zoom call would work. Before meeting the entrepreneurs we were given background information about them both personal and professional. We were able to study their business plan and prepare any questions we might have for them.
We did the actual program during our regular meeting. Ben was the emcee and introduced everyone. Our first proposal was from Witness who ran a copy company and also taught computer lessons. He wanted a loan for better equipment. Our second proposal was from Jane, a pig farmer, who needed to build better housing for the pigs. They told us about families and struggles. We told them about ourselves and asked questions. Ben and Rich who were also on the call helped with questions and kept the program moving.
We decided to back both projects. You have the choice of supporting none, one or both. If you didn’t like the proposals, you could offer constructive criticism.
The cost of the loan for your club is $1000. $900 goes to the loan $50 to the mentor and $50 to Entrapov.
After you fund a project, Ben and Rich set up a WhatsApp group with them so you can send info about yourself and they, in turn, can tell you how things are going with their projects.
For more information about this project please feel free to reach out to me either by phone (330-813-2059) or email aoborn@att.net
Yours in Rotary Service -
Annette Oborn
Rotary Club of Stow-Munroe Falls
Club President 2023-2024