I was thrilled to meet with our Freshi n Safi micro-franchisees to see how their businesses were going. I have known these women since I first started working in Africa (2010) so they have become like close friends. Amanda (owner of Clean Conscience Canada who provided the original start- up funding and training on making the cleaning products) had given me a ‘business supply kit’ to deliver to each of the women. We talked about the impact the businesses have had to date for the women and next steps. For example – one of the questions is if we should move away from selling the products in water bottles and formalize the packaging such that they can be sold in stores as opposed to outdoor village markets and road stands.  There are many considerations around this change and I am looking forward to how the women choose to move forward. It is important that this decision is fully their own.

Check out other updates from the most recent visit back to East Africa (spring/summer 2014):

Formed a partnership with a village women's group for a new business program
Witnessed how our impact has led to the development of over 1,000 businesses in just four years
Learned from the experiences of a successful NGO in Kenya (Village Enterprise)
Delivered gifts to the orphans at Kilimanjaro Kids Centre