Entrepreneur Profiles

Flaura Ingabire

“When you’re responsible, you have to think of different ways to help your family.”

These are hardly the words one would expect to hear from your typical 22 year-old university student. But Flaura Ingabire is hardly your typical 22 year-old.

So far, Flaura has run five businesses!

At just 16 years old, Flaura began supporting her family with her first business. When Flaura finished secondary school, she moved to Byumba town, away from her small village, to pursue her bachelor’s degree in management and accounting.

In October 2008, Flaura received her first Kiva loan. She had already opened a small canteen at her university where she sells drinks to students and professors. With her loan of $750 along with approximately $600 that she had saved in order to buy a photocopy machine, she expanded her canteen and began making photocopies for her classmates. Here, professors do not have enough copies of hand-outs for every student, so Flaura’s photocopier has provided all students with access to the day’s lessons.

The photocopier purchased with her Kiva loan has enabled her to earn approximately $40 in profit each week, in addition to the $40 per month that her canteen was previously earning and the $40 per month that her shop in Byumba town earns. With her profits, Flaura is able to pay her mother’s frequent hospital bills, her sister’s school fees, and her own university fees. She is also saving as much as possible which she will use to further expand her business.

All profiles from: http://www.kiva.org/press/entrepreneurs