DAR ES SALAAM — Say hello to the American dream in Tanzania.
Her name is Flotea Masawe, a mother of five who decided 16 years ago that her husband's salary wasn't enough for their family, and that she could do something about it.
I visited Flotea's former home today, the living room where she began her textile handicraft and accessory business which is now called "Marvelous Flotea Co. Ltd." You can visit their website here.
Flotea began by making pillow cases by hand in 1992, six years after Tanzania lifted socialist controls on the private sector. Flotea's former home is now undergoing construction to become a mini-factory, complete with offices, stock rooms, and a production floor with 26 sewing machines, with about 34 employees.
The bag you see her holding in her hands above is a sample product that is currently being considered for an order of 3,000 to 4,000 by Macy's Inc. Hallmark is also considering an order of 10,000 to 20,000 hand sewn puppets.
Flotea's equipment and staff expansion is the result of a grant from the U.S. African Development Foundation, who I mentioned in my story today on aid to Africa.
USADF's point main in Tanzania, Jon Halverson, is also the guy who took me to the village outside Dar es Salaam on Saturday, which you can read about here.
Flotea's building expansion is being paid for with a bank loan and some savings she put away with profits from her business.
Here is Flotea in part of the under construction building, with workers in the background in another part of the complex.
Here is a video of Napendaeli Sem, who works for a Tanzanian business consulting firm partnering with USADF, showing the way to Flotea's "workshop." It gives you a feel for the kind of neighborhood in which Flotea's business sprang up.
I also have some great video of Flotea showing the place in her living room where she started her business, which is on the verge of now becoming a genuine mid-size business
I intend to post that video, along with some others, when I finish the larger story I am writing on economic development in Africa, after this trip is over. So stay tuned for that.
Finally, you can read a basic summary of President Bush's day in Arusha, Tanzania today by clicking here.
— Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times
Comments (4)
It's really nice that President Bush gives money to every... But the People of this Country that needs it gets nothing... Doesn't he know that money won't buy respect... It's something you have to earn!!!
Posted by Larry Kegel | February 18, 2008 8:39 PM
The one point Mr. Kegel and people who think like him seem to miss in that compared to the poor in the developing countries, the poor in America live quite well and have many opportunities to improve the conditions in which they live. In America, as sad as it may seem, many of our "poor" remain poor by choice, with no other aspiration other than seeking to be life-long recipients of wellfare. Flotea Masawe is a great example of what we can achieve if we are willing to combine some assistance with hard work. As one who was not born into affluence, I am a firm believer in the fact that no one living in this great country has the right to complain about being consigned to a life time living in poverty. No one!
Posted by Anonymous | February 19, 2008 10:44 AM
The one point Mr. Kegel and people who think like him seem to miss in that compared to the poor in the developing countries, the poor in America live quite well and have many opportunities to improve the conditions in which they live. In America, as sad as it may seem, many of our "poor" remain poor by choice, with no other aspiration other than seeking to be life-long recipients of wellfare. Flotea Masawe is a great example of what we can achieve if we are willing to combine some assistance with hard work. As one who was not born into affluence, I am a firm believer in the fact that no one living in this great country has the right to complain about being consigned to a life time living in poverty. No one!
Posted by D. WILSON | February 19, 2008 10:46 AM
You are a nice writer. I like your post about small business.
Posted by Schufafrei | April 12, 2008 2:31 AM