TANO LADIES INVITED TO ATTEND THE CONVERSATION WITH AFRICAN ENTEPRENEURS FROM TANZANIA AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON DC

From Left signing papers – Joyce Mbwette, Dr. Victoria Kisyombe and Mama Sabetha Mwambenja

Haika Lawere, owner of Mbezi garden hotel and Baraka Daudi representing Vijimambo exchanging ideas with Tanzania Embassy Official Suleiman Saleh

Tano Ladies with Mama Jessica Mushala of Shina Inc, Mawinny of Ms. Tanzania USA Pageant, Haika Lawere, owner of Mbezi garden hotel in Tanzania with Joyce Mbwette and Mama Mwambeja.

Safari Ohumay, author of Swahili book titled “Nyayo za Obama”, Kessy of Metro Tires, Baraka Daudi representing Vijimambo, and DMV ladies with Joyce Mbwette, Dr. Victoria Kisyombe and Mama Mwambenja.

    Tano Ladies with their sponsors at the State Department, African Affairs office.

Mawinny with Haika Lawere at the State Dep artment, African affairs

     Something Funny was going on here!

1. Presentation is going on, listening to Dr. Victoria’s presentation.

It was with great pleasure to meet with entrepreneurs from Tanzania who has changed lives of many women. The invitation was extended to our sponsors who have been supporting us in everything we do in reaching our goals. This is one of the main things we would like to change among ourselves, if you hear or invited in something useful try to invite your fellow Tanzanian or anybody and share the knowledge, information is powerful and can change one’s life. We would like to share what we heard and learn in this event.

Dr Victoria Kisyombe, is a Vital Voices Global Leadership Award Honoree for Economic Empowerment, Dr. Victoria Kisyombe. As a widow trying to create her own economic future, and knowing that other Tanzanian women struggle to earn a living without property, collateral or credit of their own, Victoria Kisyombe redesigned the traditional model of micro-finance to work for Tanzania. She created SELFINA and started leasing productive assets to women. Twelve years later, she has provided 25,000 leases to women, USD $16 million in credit, impacted more than 200,000 people and created 125,000 jobs. For her efforts she is being honored with the 2014 Vital Voices Global Leadership Award for Economic Empowerment. Victoria was also joined by two others who have been part of her journey. Joyce Mbwette is an entrepreneur and founder of Footloose Tanzania, and is a beneficiary of SELFINA. Sabetha Mwambenja is co-founder and Managing Director of Covenant Bank for Women Tanzania, one of the few banks in East Africa with unique financial products addressing and focusing on SMEs, Women, Junior and Micro entrepreneurs with a view to promote change in the financial sector. Covenant Bank is a partner of SELFINA and works with women who graduate from mico-leasing into commercial lending for further business growth. This is how 3 women came together to inspire, empower and change the lives many women in Tanzania. Ms. Joyce Mbwette is still here in DMV and would like to share her experience with you, time and venue will be announced soon.

You can visit their website to learn what these women have been doing to inspire and empower other women in Tanzania.

Founder, Joyce Mbwette - http://www.footloose-tanzania.net/index.html

Founder & CEO, Dr Victoria Kisyombe - http://www.selfina.com/

Managing Director - Sabetha M.J. Mwambenja - http://www.covenantbank.co.tz/