“The customer is king!” is not just a cliché for Keflin Emmanuel. The young Tanzanian entrepreneur does everything she can to ensure that customers leave her small grocery store in Arusha satisfied. Recently, for example, a woman who only speaks French came into the store. The purchase went smoothly, but that wasn't enough for Keflin: she started learning some French—and when the customer came back to shop the next time, everything went much more smoothly.
Customer satisfaction is essential for a thriving business. Keflin has internalized this, and it is important to her that people feel comfortable in her store. She learned this and much more in the PROBONO Entrepreneurship Program (PEP). At her school, St. Mary's Duluti Secondary School in Arusha, Keflin acquired theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for starting and running a business. This gave her the knowledge and courage to start her own small business after school, in line with the program's mission: to enable young people who otherwise often have no prospects in an environment of high unemployment to become self-employed and earn a decent income.

Keflin's start-up also paved the way for her to study. Because she couldn't otherwise afford it, she decided to start a business in the hope of earning the necessary money. That was three years ago. Her parents provided a small amount of start-up financing. Keflin has long since repaid this. And business is now going so well that she can afford to study pharmacy in Dodoma. When Keflin is not in town, two partners take care of the shop.

Keflin's start-up also paved the way for her to study. Because she couldn't otherwise afford it, she decided to start a business in the hope of earning the necessary money. That was three years ago. Her parents provided a small amount of start-up financing. Keflin has long since repaid this. And business is now going so well that she can afford to study pharmacy in Dodoma. When Keflin is not in town, two partners take care of the shop.
Keflin is certain that she would not have been able to do this without PEP. That is why she wants to pass on her support to others: she has set up a WhatsApp group for young women to help them start their own businesses. And in exchanges with other PEP graduates, she regularly shares her experiences and sends tips to the group.

“For me, it's not just about profit. For me, business means making a difference, building trust, and initiating growth that is sustainable,” says Keflin. She is now planning to open a bakery in Dodoma, where the young woman sees her long-term home. Market research is already underway, and Keflin is already practicing her cookie baking skills. Her big plan for the future is to open her own pharmacy. The PEP graduate is already working on the concept for this venture as well.
Keflin has impressively proven that she can achieve what she sets out to do. And she is convinced that PEP is a springboard for this – for others as well. “Keep at it!” is her message to the students in the PROBONO program. “Join the PEP clubs! And believe in yourselves!”