BIT ABOUT ME

My name is Grace Benson. I am 18 years old. I am
currently enjoying my gap year. 

I spent the first half of this year working in a lovely local accountancy firm doing sole traders and small businesses accounts. I am extremely fascinated by finance and economics. During my A levels, I grew fascinated with international development when I spent the last
section of Economics looking into globalization. 

Hence, recently, when finding that there’s a charity that combines volunteering with entrepreneurship along with international development, I jumped on the opportunity. AND HERE I AM!

WHAT AM I DOING? 

Balloon ICS eclipses lots of things I am passionate
about.

For 3 months, I will be working in a team with other British and Kenyan volunteers to provide the necessary support to motivated,
local entrepreneurs living in a community where basic support or investment isn’t normally available. 
These entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to pitch for investment after 9 weeks of prep, planning and polishing of their business idea or their already-set-up small business, with the help of our team.
After this ‘dragons den’ stage, if you will, around 50% of the businesses will receive their crucial non-interest loans. For the remaining weeks, we will work with the funded entrepreneurs and actually see where and how the increased capital is expanding and nourishing their business.

Our aim to help secure a sustainable business for the entrepreneurs so that when we leave after the 3 months, the franchise is able to go on, creating jobs and guaranteeing better welfare for the community around them.

The money will go directly to Balloon ICS to allow them to continue bringing about this incredibly positive change in the developing countries where they work.

HELP ME CATALYSE THE GROWTH OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE WORLD!

You can check out BALLOON ICS's amazing work here->
http://www.balloonics.org/

I will be arranging a PIZZA EVENING among other fun things to raise money and you can keep track of how I get on here on my Justgiving page. Any contribution from you will make a huge difference to the
lives of those living in these communities, so please dig deep! 

Thanks for the support! :)

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly
to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and
cutting costs for the charity.