Boost Camp Hushindi in Lubumbashi & Kolwezi: empowering entrepreneurs, creating jobs

What happens when local ambition meets international expertise?
During the Boost Camps in Lubumbashi and Kolwezi, twenty businesses from the Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces received intensive guidance from both Belgian and Congolese coaches. OVO organized this program at the request of Enabel, in collaboration with local partners in both regions.

Discover the stories of these driven changemakers in the videos.

The mission? To empower local entrepreneurs — often young women and men — with knowledge, coaching, and hands-on tools to grow their businesses sustainably. And it works.

“In Kolwezi, I saw with my own eyes what entrepreneurship can mean for an entire community. The energy, the ideas, the courage of these entrepreneurs is truly impressive. With the right support — and especially through the collaboration between local and Belgian coaches — opportunities arise that change lives. That’s when you know: this is why we do it.”
— Nathalie Schots, OVO

The Boost Camp approach — based on the Societal Business Canvas — helped participants not only sharpen their strategy, but also convince investors and create jobs.

Real impact, real stories

Cassava Break, a company that produces cassava flour according to international standards, aims to scale up to 480 tons per year. The result? Over 100 additional jobs in the region.
MIGEC, a savings and credit fund, found the program truly enlightening: “The training gave me clarity on where I come from, where I stand now, and where I want to go as an entrepreneur.”

In total, 20 promising companies were selected — active in sectors such as food, recycling, services, and crafts. They received guidance from both local and international coaches, worked on their business models, practiced pitching to a panel of experts, and built a strong network of peers and mentors.

“The Boost Camps show just how powerful collaboration can be. Local entrepreneurs, Belgian and Congolese coaches, knowledge institutions like ICHEC… together they lay the foundation for sustainable growth. Even from a distance, you can feel the energy and potential these programs unleash.”
— Bernard Paquot, coordinator of OVO activities in DR Congo

Ready to truly make a difference?

At Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs, we believe in the power of collaboration. And you can be part of it:

Become a volunteer coach
Work directly with African SMEs — remotely or on-site — and help them grow with your expertise.
Support us as a member or sponsor
Your support creates lasting impact:
- 220+ entrepreneurs supported since 2018
- €1.7 million in loans granted since 2018
- An average of 10 to 15 new jobs per business
- Over 140 active volunteers
- Partnerships with local actors in DR Congo, Senegal, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Uganda

Every project is closely followed. Every result matters. And every contribution makes more possible.

Empower. Build. Grow.

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In our newsletter we introduce new projects, bring you inspiring stories, report on our events and other OVO news.

Boost Camp Hushindi in Lubumbashi & Kolwezi: empowering entrepreneurs, creating jobs

Ready to truly make a difference?

Empower. Build. Grow.

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