On 2nd October I will be going to Lusaka, Zambia to volunteer as a business consultant with ICS Entrepreneur for 10 weeks in order to support entrepreneurs and SMEs in developing areas. To go on the trip I need to raise £1,500 and will be holding various events and fundraising up until I leave. 

In the meantime, I really appreciate any donations! 

Here is some information about the scheme:

Challenges Worldwide is one of the UK’s leading charities placing experienced consultants and professionals to work as volunteers with social and environmental businesses, non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and government departments in developing countries.

Since 1999, Challenges has been able to sustainably and effectively contribute to its business partners by offering development expertise and the professional skills of the volunteer associates. Challenges also tries to offer assignments that suit the specific skills and interests of the associates; where the volunteers are provided with an opportunity to share their professional expertise and make a real difference to the countries and people they work with.

In 2013, Challenges was invited to join the International Citizen Service (ICS) program to offer young people the opportunity to participate in our programs ICS is a UK government- funded development program that brings together 18 to 25-year-olds from all backgrounds to fight poverty and youth unemployment. ICS Entrepreneur is a pilot scheme within the ICS program that aims to tackle poverty in some of the world’s poorest communities by supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in developing countries and international emerging economies. The ICS Entrepreneur scheme is led by VSO in partnership with Balloon Ventures, Challenges Worldwide and Raleigh International.

Leading on from this partnership, Challenges have created a program that offer young people from the UK and our host countries of Ghana, Uganda and Zambia, the opportunity to develop their business skills as they help SMEs to overcome specific difficulties and grow in their sector. As an organisation, we are excited to take on this new approach to skills and business development and hope that through your work you will grow and develop whilst representing Challenges and what we stand for.