Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
A student in the sewing program at Harvest Hope Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A new ACT Government program is set to support established and start-up social enterprises in Canberra.
Delivered by Canberra social enterprise advisory intermediary, The Mill House Ventures, the Social Enterprise Grants Program is now open and closes 19 January 2024.
The grants provide matched funding from $10,000 to $30,000 to support businesses like Lolendo Collections, which was started by two Canberra locals to fund their charity, Harvest Hope Africa.
**Trigger warning**:
Teachers Rebecca and Patrick Lubilanji spent a decade living and working together in Africa before moving to Canberra.
Patrick was raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After spending time working in a rape crisis centre in 2017, the pair established Harvest Hope Africa to help give girls a voice and to achieve a better life.
“The girls we support are often displaced, traumatised, very poor, and their family and friends have rejected them after becoming pregnant as a result of rape,” Rebecca said.
“Girls as young as 11 years old had nowhere to go, no real chance of finishing school or a way to create a means to take care of themselves or their newborns.
“We had already started a school in Tanzania, we knew the culture, the language and had networks on the ground, so Harvest Hope Africa was the next step.” As if running a charity wasn’t enough on top of their full-time teaching roles, Rebecca and Patrick founded a new social enterprise in 2022. They started Lolendo Collections as a revenue producing stream to help fund their charity.
“After three years running the charity, we needed a more consistent way to generate revenue aside from donations.
“We didn’t know how or where to start which is when a friend told us about The Mill House Ventures.
“They were absolutely incredible!” Rebecca said.
“They guided us each step of the way, from product idea testing to viability, and the right legal structure for our social enterprise.”
That idea was to bring the colour and beauty of African fabrics and prints to a western fashion with Lolendo Collections.
Rebecca handmakes all Lolendo items, using the proceeds from sales to help fund their charity programs.
“We have a sewing program in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to help upskill the girls,” she said.
“Some are as young as 12, so we help them finish school before moving them onto the sewing program.
“We’ve had girls say, that you won’t just learn how to sew in the program, you’ll learn how to believe in yourself again.
“With their sewing skills they’re able to set-up their own businesses or find work and start providing for themselves and their children.”
Rebecca explained that Lolendo also means pride in the local Lingala language.
“These girls have nothing, they’re deeply traumatised, shy and lacking self-worth and confidence. With the program we’re helping these girls build confidence and pride and hope for a future for themselves and their children.”
As for what’s next for Lolendo and the charity, Rebecca said their Lolendo goals are to move online, build their Etsy sales and reach beyond Canberra.
“With the charity, we hope to use the revenue from Lolendo to help fund a new program for upskilling women in hospitality. We also want to increase salaries of our staff working in the charity in Africa,” she said.
Rebecca and Patrick were part of The Mill House Ventures 2023 GRIST Program. The Mill House Ventures is a social enterprise advisory helping social enterprises across Canberra and the region bring their ideas to life.
3 practical tips from Rebecca and Patrick on how to start a social enterprise
- Be brave – go with your heart. Whatever vision you have to help your society, local or beyond Canberra, you can help make our society better.
- Find advisers – like The Mill House who have expertise you need to set yourself up properly, including lawyers and accountants etc.
- Be informed – make sure research how to run a business, do product research including testing the viability of your product.
The Social Enterprise Grants Program is now open and closes on 19 January. To apply for a grant, visit the ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program – Business and Innovation website.
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