When Jim Gerry became acquainted with a Kenyan man who started his own charitable organization from the ground up, it inspired him to lead other students in doing so; and even after his retirement from the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora, he continued to press for the realization of a dream -- to give students the chance to start their own businesses, while helping those in need in other parts of the world.
Gerry was one of the driving forces behind IN2@IMSA, a business incubator which gives students the opportunity to test their skills in the real world. The advent of microbusinesses, which give smaller entrepreneurs the chance to grow and expand via internet sales, has been a boon to the economy in many underdeveloped African nations.
Right now, seven different start-up companies are being operated by a total of 15 IMSA students from IN2; two of these budding entrepreneurs were on hand at the September 20th meeting:
-- Eden Gorevoy (right) helped start up Kisumu Krafts, a business which sells handmade African crafts on line as well as in street markets. Nearly all of the participants are women, who often face discrimination or unfair treatment when dealing with employers; this company gives them control over their operations, as well as the opportunity to expand beyond their limited local economies.
-- Sol Hwangbo (left) launched EnlightENT, which seeks to give badly-needed training to potential entrepreneurs; college in Kenya is out of reach for those who aren't in the upper class, and the courses they can take by way of this on-line university gives potential businesspersons a leg up on launching their own companies.
