Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year.
As we come closer to the end of the year 2021, the SME Response Clinic would like to reflect on the initiatives that helped us achieve our objective of bringing your business closer to financial services and other business development initiatives. We are so grateful for the support you afforded us throughout the year and we look forward to your continued collaboration in the year 2022.
Here are some of the key initiatives we engaged in for the year 2021.
In March 2021, the SME Response Clinic launched the Twiteze Imbere (Let’s Move Forward) campaign to recognise small businesses’ role in Rwanda’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign’s main activity involved the nomination of favourite businesses by the general public. Three businesses from three categories (women-led, start-up and established) were nominated and each received a cash prize of 1 million Rwandan Francs and expert advisory services.
In August 2021, the SME Response Clinic entered into a partnership with KCB Bank Rwanda. The partnership was aimed at connecting entrepreneurs with a financial service provider. Over 900+ users engaged with our KCB Bank related content posted on the site. Over 30 entrepreneurs submitted inquiries into KCB Bank’s financial products with more calling directly to KCB Bank’s helpline.
Building Back Healthier Series.
In October 2021, we launched the Building Back Healthier series, a mental wellness initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurs to deal with the mental wellness challenges they faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative was implemented in partnership with a local mental wellness service provider Geruka Healing Center. We held one radio show and two webinars featuring prominent entrepreneurs in Rwanda and experts in mental wellness through the initiative. The general public participated in these discussions, and they used the webinars as a platform to learn, ask, and share some of their experiences on how they have managed to practice self-care to run their businesses efficiently.
Away from the key initiatives, we also shared business tips, wellness tips, and funding and capacity building opportunities available in the market. We hope you approach the new year with much optimism, and we look forward to your continued engagement with us as we work to help you grow your business.
With that in mind, we would like to wish you Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year!