Maarifa Global

LEARNING ACADEMY

Our Mission

Our mission is to grow local prosperity by promoting locally made products.

Supporting locally-produced goods isn’t only helpful for entrepreneurs. It is an essential part of our collective effort to eliminate the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality. The availability of locally-made goods contributes to local and regional economic stability and peace-keeping, as more youth are able to find meaningful employment.

Our Approach

Maarifa supports Small Scale industry  enterprises that transform locally available row materials into finished products and create job opportunities in the entire value chain resulting in a more prosperous and peaceful communities

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Learning Academy

At Maarifa Learning Academy we provide entrepreneurs with strategies, tools, and a network to support their success and help navigate their challenges. This technical assistance positions entrepreneurs and small businesses to access capital.

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WHAT WE DO

OUR SERVICES FOR members

What we do

MAARIFA (which means knowledge in Swahili) work is to eliminate the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment, and inequality through entrepreneurship by connecting promising and inspiring local young Small Scale Industry entrepreneurs to the 4 core elements they need most to succeed and impact their local communities: Knowledge, Social Capital, Financial capital, and access to market

Where We Work

The Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the eastern part of the country has long suffered from lack of business support organizations to encourage and support the existing entrepreneurial spirit in local communities, especially the youth. Local businesses’ potential to impact local communities is stifled because they are run informally, and this results in no access to formal credit. A very high youth unemployment rate leads to juvenile delinquency and contributes to insecurity in the region as desperate young people become a target for the militia groups recruiters

Our Model

Our support model consists of training, coaching, and facilitating the formation of self-selected accountability or support groups of 5 entrepreneurs each. 8 Support groups make a Center. Each support group belongs to a center of up to 40 entrepreneurs where they learn, connect, discuss, and share solutions to business challenges, identify opportunities for sales growth, and provide each other with personal and professional support and encouragement. After 2 to 3 months of coaching and training in personal and business financial literacy, the support groups are then linked to our partner Microfinance institutions to apply for small business loans with the group as a “social collateral” and access other financial services like savings. Maarifa provides a 50% guarantee fund for the first round of loans for each group while continuing to provide technical assistance that they need to succeed and impact their local communities

PROJECTS

Projects AND WORKS Done

OUR IMPACT

LOCAL MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS

Networking, Team Work

Committed and creative

Products to market

Supports

Learning

Online and offline learning

Our Impact

When Small Scale Industry entrepreneurs have access to technical assistance and capital they need to grow, they generate benefits for their local communities by solving the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality  as create employments opportunities for the entrepreneurs themselves and those around them

Access to Finance

When entrepreneurs can access affordable financing, they have a larger impact on their communities. Financing catalyzes enterprise growth, which results in better incomes. We partner with local microfinance institutions to secure small business loans for our entrepreneurs.

MEET OUR TEAM

TEAM

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Executive Director & Small Business Specialist

John Kavyavu

Project coordinator & Financial Literacy, Training facilitator

Patrick Luvivi

English Training program coordinator & English teacher

Peace Lwanzo

Administrator & English teacher

Oracle Wamweghayahi

Finance, logistic officer & Computer literacy teacher

Moise Vilambiryo

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Chair

Jean-Baptiste Kakule

Secretary

Denise Muhani

Member

John Kavyavu

Member

Adolphe Isesomo

Member

Colette Matimbia

Membre

Mumbere Matabishi

Member

Claude Takenga

STORIES

FEEDBACK FROM members

Maarifa’s Business Expo gave my business an exposure like never before. I am now receiving calls from everywhere around the city. This is a great opportunity to expand my business.

Amos

Honey producer

My Super Coffee business produces coffee powder as well as cocoa powder. However, I always wanted to diversify my business by creating new lines of products but did not have access to capital for my expansion plan. Thanks to Maarifa business training and the partnership with PMI, a local microfinance institution, my dream has come true. I got a $500 loan and now I produce Cocoa butter as well. With the new product, I will be able to reach more clients to grow my business faster.

Mwamini

Coffee producer

I was sold out halfway through the Business Expo, 15 stoves were sold. I had to go get more charcoal stoves from my workshop and sold another 6 stoves. I never sold this much in a day. Thank you Maarifa.

Ombeni

Charcoal stoves maker

Because of the pressure put on me during the training and preparation of the Business Expo, I have doubled my production capacity and I am happy about it. Thank you Maarifa.

Zacharie

Shoe maker

Kienyeji: The Case for Locally-Made Products — One Day’s Wages

JOIN US / DONATE

Join us / become a donor

Join us

Urgent challenges require collective solutions. You can make a difference today by joining together with Small Scale Industry entrepreneurs in DR Congo







    Become a Donor

    Donors are critical partners in our mission to eliminate the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment, and inequality through entrepreneurship. Your donation allows us to give Small Scale Industry entrepreneurs the 4 core elements they need most to succeed and impact their local communities: Knowledge, Social Capital, Financial capital, and access to market. Show that you believe a more inclusive, sustainable, prosperous future is possible for all of us!

    Donate Now (link to KBFUS donor page).

    Latest News

    CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR NEWS

    • Opening of Maarifa Market Coop

      Opening of Maarifa Market Coop

      We are excited to announce the successful Grand Opening of Maarifa Market Coop, a platform exclusively for locally made products. By offering this centralized location for these products, we’re not only helping small scale industy entrepreneurs and artisans reach a wider audience but also positively impacting both local economy and the community. Thank you to…

      Read More

    • Supermarket Opening

      Supermarket Opening

      Opening of the Maarifa Market, 100% local products.

      Read More

    • English learning

      English learning

      Learn english with Maarifa Learning Academy

      Read More