Micro-enterprise is hardly a new concept. Some cultures around the world define micro-enterprise with fancy terms and language, but in developing nations like Haiti, Uganda, and India, it means survival for many families.

What is micro-enterprise?

By definition, micro-enterprises are small businesses with minimal employees and capital. Due to a lack of quality education, jobs and training available to people in poverty in developing countries, micro-enterprises add value to the economy and lives by creating small business opportunities, improving income, and promoting commerce.

How does Funds2Orgs define micro-enterprise?

Micro-entrepreneurs in developing nations who receive shoes from Funds2Orgs are those who have little to no income or livelihood. The shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers in North America provide inventory for micro-entrepreneurs around the planet, which helps create economic sustainability.

• Organizations partner with Funds2Orgs to do shoe drive fundraisers. We issue a check for the shoes collected.
• We consolidate the footwear of our partners and ship the shoes to developing nations.
• Hub operators pay Funds2Orgs a small price for the shoes; then, they sell the footwear to micro-entrepreneurs with a small markup.
• Micro-entrepreneurs clean the shoes, make them like new and sell the shoes in their communities for a profit.

The micro-enterprise industry represents one of the most effective ways to lift many families out of poverty in devastated economies.

FREE Micro-Enterprise Common Core Curriculum

Our free Micro-Enterprise Curriculum is aligned with the Common Core Education Standards. It allows educators to teach subjects, including Math, English, Science, and Social Studies in a creative and engaging way. It also helps teach children the importance of micro-enterprises in worldwide communities, which is essential in a globalized world.

The Micro-Enterprise Curriculum has four levels: Elementary, Middle, High, and Homeschool. Each level has 5 Modules: General Business, General Marketing, Micro-Enterprise Fundamentals, Creating a Micro-Enterprise Business Plan, and Finance. The curriculum also has accompanying teacher worksheets and professional guides.

To download the free school curriculum, click here!

Micro-Enterprise at Work

Funds2Orgs has been privileged to photograph some of these micro-entrepreneurs at work in Haiti. In the gallery below you will see individuals repurposing and selling shoes from their pop-up shops and some photos of life in Haiti.