Hortense Zevonnou grew up in Porto Novo, the capital of Benin, a small West African country. When she was 18, Hortense wanted to open a hair salon, but she wasn't quite sure how to do it. She had no established clientele and no money. But she wasn't about to let that stop her.

Instead, she studied hairdressing for months as an apprentice. At last, Hortense had her credentials. Still, she lacked the money she needed to get started.

Undeterred, Hortense took her diploma and posted it on the wall. Then she threw a fundraising party - for herself. She invited her friends and family, pointed to the diploma and said "This is my dream. Can you help me achieve it?" One of her friends gave Hortense five dollars. It was a start.

Other friends chipped in and soon Hortense had $300. But she needed more than that to rent a decent space, stock her shop properly, and add a sign advertising her services. Talking with other street vendors, she learned about ACCION's local partner program, PADME, and she joined with three other women to take out a group loan.

With this loan, she was able to secure a rent payment on a concrete block space and start to stock her store. After she had successfully paid back the loan, she borrowed again - this time on her own. Her next several loans, for about $200 each, helped her invest in barber chairs, hair dryers, mesh hats, hair care products and paint a bright sign on the outside of her store. Her dream had finally become a reality.

The investments have paid off - Hortense has nearly doubled the number of clients she serves each day, which now number about 10. Her profits have grown, too. Before, she used to pull in $13 a month. Now, she says triumphantly, she earns $40 a month.

Today, Hortense smiles brightly when she thinks of the future. "I want to save money, travel abroad and start a business over there."




Reprinted with permission from ACCION International.

To read another Global Envision article about innovative small businesses in developing countries, see A New Kind of Daycare: "Age-Old Solutions for Senior Citizens in Brazil.



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