Current Projects
Belgaon Dhaga village, Maharashtra, India
In February of 2004, near the city of Nasik, Ecselance International funded the first five small businesses in Belgaon Dhaga village, India: a computer training academy, village celebration equipment rental, water delivery tanker, water buffalo dairy, and an irrigation pond. These businesses starting paying back their loans in one year and that provided funds for new businesses. Before the loans were entirely paid back to EI in January of 2007, 28 small businesses were started and continue to operate, providing jobs and income to many people in the community. Since the project has been completed, the entrepreneurs in Beglaon Dhaga have been able to qualify for business expansion loans from the bank of Baroda, a local bank, which they were not able to do previously.
Guddalahalli village, Karnataka, India
Guddalahalli village members formed an Entrepreneur Self Help group called BASS in July of 2005 to explore the possibility of starting small businesses. They decided to select sheep rearing as their first businesses at a group discussion led by the Rotary Club of Bangalore West. At this point Ecselance International got involved and provided funds for initial training. An advisory board consisting of local business leaders and veterinarians from a university in Bangalore helped them develop their plans. In February of 2007 Ecselance International provided them with the funds to buy their sheep. The sheep have all been purchased and the expectation is that they will be bred and will have lambs to sell and pay off the loans in February of 2008. After that, they will be able to keep all of the profits from raising their sheep and will be able to start other businesses based on the experience they have gained as new enterpreneurs.
Suhum, Ghana
Suhum, Ghana is a town of approximately 30,000 and is located 40 miles from the capital of Accra along the main north/south highway. Initial invesigation of possible small businesses have identified the following possibilities: grass-cutter farming (rearing), bakery, capentry & joinery, assembly of loud speakers, and fish mongering. Ecselance International is in the process of conducting an investigation to see if there is local interest in establishing an EI infrastructure to promote the development of new enterpreneurs and small businesses.