As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, it has left the world's poorest and most vulnerable people at greatest risk - including many of the entrepreneurs trained by SPI in Peru, Tanzania, Bulgaria, and Guatemala. However, thanks to the tremendous support for SPI’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, entrepreneurs and artisans now have the resources to step up as local leaders, keeping their families and communities safe. This generosity has made all the difference, helping those living in poverty access tools for survival and build resiliency in their communities.
As SPI staff and entrepreneurs work from home, we are cataloging the many ways in which ESCALA students and other small business owners partnered with us are responding to COVID-19. As you know, we provide access to basic business education so poor entrepreneurs can build profitable enterprises and improve their lives, but in times of crisis the focus must shift to meeting people's immediate needs or adapting to a changing marketplace. For this reason, the leaders of our Peruvian team - Ximena Querol and Gina Maldonado - are developing strategies with ESCALA students to make their businesses resilient through this crisis. Here are examples of the inspirational leadership and innovation we are seeing from SPI entrepreneurs adapting to life in a global pandemic:
Checking-in with ESCALA Students Working from Home
Sabina is an artisan enrolled in ESCALA and owner of Pachitas Art near Lima. Sabina has been working from home since quarantine began on March 16th. Due to strict quarantine rules in Peru, participants in SPI’s ESCALA Business School are now receiving virtual mentoring and group workshops. Low bandwidth and lack of devices requires these sessions be delivered over easily accessible teaching options like WhatsApp.
Sold! ESCALA Students Make their First Online Sales through Facebook
Lack of demand is a problem millions of entrepreneurs are facing worldwide. ESCALA mentors decided to turn this challenge into a new opportunity for students to experiment online with Facebook marketing and sales.
Textile Artisans Become Emergency Mask Makers
Over 4,000 masks have been delivered to Lima city officials in charge of distribution, with thousands more needed. With your support, SPI entrepreneurs are filling new orders as they come in.
SISAN Designs Masks for Pachacamac Community with Tribute to Local Heritage
Members of the women-led artisan association, SISAN, used iconography found at the archeological site of Pachacamac on their mask designs.
By partnering with SPI, you have helped so many safely respond to this pandemic. As the days spent in quarantine go on, the bills continue to stack up for many entrepreneurs eagerly awaiting for an opportunity to earn a steady income again. Small businesses with limited savings and access to financial resources are especially vulnerable in these times.
Quarantines, restrictions on movement, and market closures have now been extended through at least May in many of the countries we serve. So we ask again for your support for these amazing women entrepreneurs and artisans. As a reminder, giving to the COVID-19 Relief Fund will continue to make a direct impact in three ways:
Provide emergency financial services and business mentoring to entrepreneurs struggling under pandemic restriction.
Supply textile artisans with materials to make face masks for their communities and nearby healthcare workers.
Explore long-term solutions to remote entrepreneurial education for marginalized people. The rapid shift to digital learning presents major challenges for people who lack formal education, as well as access to networks and devices. There is no simple solution, so SPI is collaborating with experts from around the world to address this issue.
As new challenges arise, SPI's executive team continues to meet regularly over Zoom to formulate effective responses and find opportunities for innovation. None of this would be possible without you. We are grateful for your commitment to SPI during this difficult time. Thank you for allowing us to provide constant, reliable support to the most vulnerable small business owners. May you and your loved ones remain healthy and safe. Sincerely,
Larry Coben
Sustainable Preservation Initiative
Tax ID 27-2704326
Contributions may be made online here. Checks may be sent to:
40 West 22nd Street 11th Floor
New York, NY 1001