What If We Get It Right ? Stories Of Social Entrepreneurship In  Congo

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After the success of season one, Tessa Wernink and Impossible take the What If We Get It Right? listeners to the Democratic Republic of Congo. After decades of international humanitarian aid, local for-profit and socially-aware entrepreneurs are now setting up businesses with the aim of creating lasting economic value and contributing to long-term stability and peace. Wondering what it takes to get it right, the podcast uncovers the roles social entrepreneurship and planet-centric thinking play in building sustainable value for communities across Eastern Congo. 

Through the eyes of the accelerator La Différence and three entrepreneurs in the region, the listener will gain an insight into what it takes to support and scale an ecosystem of socially-aware small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Douce Namwezi, Washikala Malongo, and Chance Rwezi work, respectively, in the areas of women empowerment, clean energy, and coffee farming. 

Their experiences tell the story of a rich country that carries a long history of colonisation, struggle and conflict. Their stories are also stories of hope, determination and resilience. Showing how small and medium enterprises are an essential route to poverty reduction and economic growth, and how they need the support of government and international communities to flourish. 

Kwame Ferreira, CEO and Founder of Impossible says:

“The creative mindset shift of putting communities and the planet first (instead of just individuals) implies we need to look into stories of resilience and determination. This series, focused on the Congo, provides a platform for social entrepreneurs who are using human-centered business approaches to build their communities, undeterred by the enormous complexity of the region. We hope these stories can be an inspiration for the international community.”

The season is divided into four episodes of twenty minutes each. Each episode explores a theme, looking at challenges, solutions and outcomes that these entrepreneurs have faced while setting up and scaling their businesses. Patrick Byamungu and Mike Beeston, the founders of SME accelerator La Différence, provide the backdrop against which they are trying to build a nurturing business environment that supports innovation. 

Patrick Byamungu, Director and co-founder at La Différence says:

“We believe the future of Congo lies not with foreign aid but with the Congolese themselves and in particular with the drive and motivation of socially-aware entrepreneurs at the centre of a strong and sustainable SME sector. It will be a hard journey but working together we will succeed."

For more information about What If We Get It Right, visit whatifwegetitright.com What If We Get It Right is available on all podcast platforms, including but not limited to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Simplecast and Mdundo.com