Thursday, January 16, 2014

A not for profit entrepreneur and women's empowerment


Dear US Department of State Alumni

I have recently started to see myself as a “not-for-profit entrepreneur” because I simply do not get economic profit by actively engaging myself in a not-for-profit industry. What takes more than 20 hours of my time weekly isn’t that much profitable. I mean I do not get billions of dollars in profit making by devoting so much time and energy to helping women entrepreneurs in Iguguno and Mwangata wards in what may be referred to as remote areas of Tanzania. I do not even get a few bucks by writing this email to update a not-for-profit devout individual like you. However, there is one great thing which I get out of this devotion; I am getting happier and happier daily as I hear and see the lives of women entrepreneurs and their loved one get transformed for better. I am even happier to learn that you take some of your time to read this email. Thank you very much. Neither an economic entrepreneurial venture nor money is capable of buying such happiness. And that is why I invite you at this time of holiday season as we approach a good new year 2014 to be happier by taking some of your time and energy to help the most need people of this world.
Our intervention in remote places of Sub-Saharan Africa and in particular Tanzania is nearly three years old. As you might know, this intervention is a product of the first United States Department of State Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) in 2011. While a significant number of other 2011 AEIF projects have ceased to operate, ours continues to exist and positively impact the lives of hundreds of women entrepreneurs. For example, the fund which was given to the entrepreneurs to be used for a revolving fund has nearly tripled. The fund positively impacts past and new rural women entrepreneurs. From humble beginnings many of these entrepreneurs have scaled up their businesses and they are determined to scale up more. They have also diversified some of their businesses and they need your help to diversify more because simply that is what they have to do to make ends meet..  
We, through the not-for-profit organizations AGEN&AGEN-USA Inc you help create, continue to help them better their lives. Nearly, three years ago, we asked you “to click a mouse of your computer” to help us help the women entrepreneurs, you did so and our innovative project scored the highest of all AEIF projects in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. We come back to you once again to request some help because the entrepreneurs have relatively grown up and they need additional assistance and skills. Similarly, we, under the umbrella of AGEN&AGEN-USA Inc., have grown up and need some help from you for us to be able to strongly stand up on our feet.
Here are the few ways you can help and be happier:
·         Visit over 400 women entrepreneurs in Singida and Iringa regions of Tanzania just to give them a word of encouragement and for cultural exchange. Majority of the women entrepreneurs have experience of hosting volunteers from USA, UK, Australia and Germany from a few weeks to over six months. Interesting experience is guaranteed. AGEN&AGEN-USA Inc can help you arrange for this.
·         Bring trainers, researchers, students and volunteers to spend some times in our innovative project sites. This can facilitate improvement of our intervention and at the same time facilitate replication of best practices to other Sub-Saharan countries and the rest of the world. New practices to help inform scholarly community are guaranteed and we are here to help.
·         You can join us and become a dedicated member. We still have room for both ordinary and board members. Please, request our policy, if you are ready to seriously dedicate at least three hours of your time per week. This is going to be a rewarding experience for those who will truly dedicate their time.
·         You can like and tell others to like our facebook page at www.facebook.com/agenusainc This is a rewarding experience. You can equally learn more about us at www.agentz.org There you can also access video clips of some of the successful entrepreneurs. I will do my best to update you.
·         You can donate only a few dollars to help us provide quality monitoring, training and counselling. Your donation will also be used to increase the women’s revolving fund to help us reach additional number of entrepreneurs. We will also be able to maintain our website and social media tools as well as make more interesting video clips to update you on our interventions. We have launched a fundraiser at a reputable fundraising site. Your donations are tax deductable (for those living in USA) and safe. Here is a link to our fundraiser: http://www.crowdrise.com/yes-women-can/fundraiser/agenusainc (you can donate as low as $10). Your donation will be used to facilitate our charitable mission. You will never regret your decision to donate and help this venture. We guarantee nothing but happiness for those who help and support us. Here, we mean the lives of hundreds of women entrepreneurs will continue to be better as years go on and you will be happier for that.
Please get involved today. As we approach a new year, we request you, as devout and great not-for-profit entrepreneur, to open a new chapter in your devotion to charitable purpose by supporting a program which truly impacts the lives of grassroots entrepreneurs in innovative ways.

Thank you very much for your support and we are looking forward to hearing from you sooner than later. It is a new happier beginning. And…

We wish you a great holiday season and happy New Year 2014.


Rasel Madaha, a “not-for-profit entrepreneur” 
N.B. I have posted an interesting link to a video clip titled “ A proposal by Women Entrepreneurs” at http://www.agentz.org/index.php/what-we-do