A World Of Difference
A microfranchise program seeks to reduce poverty in underdeveloped countries.
Working to bring the franchising model to underdeveloped
countries, Microfranchise Development Corp.'s new program will
allow entrepreneurs to make a difference with their businesses in
ways that go beyond their pocketbooks. Developed in cooperation
with the Organization of American States: Trust for the Americas,
the Micro-franchise Education and Loan (MEL) Program will operate
from MEL Business Centers. The idea: Take existing products and
services and bundle them as stand-alone microfranchises that serve
as easily managed business opportunities for citizens of
poverty-stricken countries.
"Often [these] people aren't trained to be
self-employed and have no cutting-edge ideas for business available
to them," says program creator Marc Blumenthal. "I
believe franchising can offer them a sustained approach to
employment that will have an impact on [their
communities]."
Microfranchise Development will identify microfranchises that
relate to one of five areas reflecting the most pressing needs of
the communities: technology, environment, agriculture, health and
cultural preservation. Local entrepreneurs will have the
opportunity to go into business for themselves, while earning
profit from businesses that benefit the culture as a whole. While
the program will target poor youth and school dropouts aged 16 to
25, Micro-franchise Development plans to deploy MEL Business
Centers in association with high schools in developing countries to
serve not only as training facilities, B2B revenue centers and
virtual offices for the franchisees, but also as locations for
evening adult education programs.
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Microfranchise Development is set to start in early 2001 and is
currently seeking entrepreneurial companies with products or
services that can be adapted to fit the microfranchise system.
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