International Virtual Service Projects Made Easy
Shark Pond is a virtual service project in the form of an entrepreneur pitch show like Shark Tank…but friendly. Budding entrepreneurs from impoverished areas in Africa are trained and then pitch their business ideas to Rotary clubs, families, business teams, and conference attendees who award them with start up funding. The live event takes place over video conferencing. Watch the video below to see how it works.
Your club will love this live event as you:
- Help start a fascinating business (egg farms, seamstress, recyclers, artisans, metal works, plumbers, food carts, and more!)
- Lift a new friend in Africa out of poverty…permanently, through entrepreneurship
- Build team camaraderie through world service that does not require travel or big investment
- Feel a strong sense of purpose together as you receive monthly success stories, thank you’s, photos, and videos from your entrepreneur
- Takes only 1 hour and $500 to run this rewarding, fun, personal, virtual service project
These virtual service projects, called Shark Pond entrepreneur pitch shows, are held in English over video conference. The impoverished, but aspiring entrepreneurs who pitch their business ideas to you for startup funding, share their personal story of overcoming adversity and passion for the type of business they choose to start. You will be part of that personal success story as you serve as “Sharks” or guest judges who ask questions, give advice, and award startup funds to them, your new friend. This even works great during regular team or club meetings! No travel or large investment is required. 100% of your donation goes to those in need, not to overhead.
These Shark Pond entrepreneur pitch shows are the last step in an intensive 3 month process to train the entrepreneurs, check their weekly homework, and assist them in creating a solid business plan, income statement, cash flow statement, and ledger book for you to review as you decide which entrepreneur your team wants to sponsor…just like in the TV show Shark Tank. You will form a personal connection with your entrepreneur who speaks and writes fluent English. This personal connection grows as they share ongoing success stories with you directly.
The Pocatello Rotary Club sponsored 3 entrepreneurs from Ghana and Nigeria in a recent Shark Pond event. The businesses included a barber shop, seamstress, and miller of bean flour. Watch the show at: https://entrapov.com/s2e6/. Gift Akua Okiyi of Nigeria won the 1st prize grant to expand her business, Gifted-Crunchy. She mills and distributes bean flour to hotels and restaurants. She will use the grant to buy a grinding/peeling machine, dehydrator, sealer, and packaging materials. This life changing grant put a huge smile on the face of Gift.
I’d love to host your family or club in an eService Project to help start a new businesses in Africa. Please reach out to learn more! – Ben
Ben Davidson
1 (208) 233-1107
Global Service Rotary eClub, D5400, Idaho, USA