The 'marvelous' African entrepreneur
DAR ES SALAAM — Say hello to the American dream in Tanzania.
Her name is Flotea Masawe, a mother of five who decided 16 years ago that her husband's salary wasn't enough for their family, and that she could do something about it.
I visited Flotea's former home today, the living room where she began her textile handicraft and accessory business which is now called "Marvelous Flotea Co. Ltd." You can visit their website here.
Flotea began by making pillow cases by hand in 1992, six years after Tanzania lifted socialist controls on the private sector. Flotea's former home is now undergoing construction to become a mini-factory, complete with offices, stock rooms, and a production floor with 26 sewing machines, with about 34 employees.
The bag you see her holding in her hands above is a sample product that is currently being considered for an order of 3,000 to 4,000 by Macy's Inc. Hallmark is also considering an order of 10,000 to 20,000 hand sewn puppets.
Flotea's equipment and staff expansion is the result of a grant from the U.S. African Development Foundation, who I mentioned in my story today on aid to Africa.
USADF's point main in Tanzania, Jon Halverson, is also the guy who took me to the village outside Dar es Salaam on Saturday, which you can read about here.
Flotea's building expansion is being paid for with a bank loan and some savings she put away with profits from her business.
Here is Flotea in part of the under construction building, with workers in the background in another part of the complex...
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