During the Yente trade mission I made a start with the sparring partner programme. For many of the women from Peru and Bolivia who participated in the mission it was the first time to come to the Netherlands. They often learned that a lot needs to be done before their products can be exported. The goal of the sparring partner programme is to find (Dutch) female entrepreneurs who can assist the women from Peru and Bolivia in adapting their products. I am currently giving follow up to this programme. Furthermore, the Fair Shopping Route The Hague was launched this month. I am now busy with promoting the route. A cooperation partner was already found for Rotterdam.

Before I started Nyota I worked for seven years with Oxfam Novib (Oxfam Netherlands) and travelled to East and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, India and Bangladesh. I lived and worked as a consultant in Tanzania for two years and I worked three years at CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries).