IVLP for Belarus (8) with World Learning.  October 14.

On October 14, we hosted a group of 8 women entrepreneurs from Belarus for the first half of what will hopefully become a hybrid program - meaning COVID-depending, we may be able to welcome them to Kalamazoo in the middle of 2022 to follow-up on their session with us. We connected our visitors with Caitlin Nash, owner and founder of a brand new business, MI Boba, a bubble tea shop on the west side of Kalamazoo, and Nicole Dewey, owner and founder of Release Resistance, a glamping (portmanteau of “glamourous camping”) getaway destination in nearby Grant, MI. 

Caitlin led off the session describing her experience managing Chocolatea, a popular destination in Portage, MI founded by her mother, and how it translated into starting her own business. Nicole followed-up with a live tour of her business’ outdoor facilities which include a private pond and heated yurt for guests. Both women discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by starting a business in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and how they overcame issues unique to being a woman entrepreneur in Michigan. The visitors were equally curious about both businesses with both glamping and bubble tea being rather unheard of in Belarus. 

This project focused on supporting small business enterprises in Belarus, specifically working with women entrepreneurs. The virtual project focus edon business best practices and networking opportunities. There may be a follow on in-person component to this project, expected to take place in Spring/Summer 2022, COVID restrictions permitting, to include meetings with key figures from the private sector, and relevant state and federal agencies. All of the meetings focused on learning about various business models, support mechanisms, and innovations that support businesses such as micro-lending, multi-level marketing, use of the internet, mentoring programs, and other technologies.