What is Salone Rising?

Supporting the Small Business Owner

Salone Rising (Krio for Sierra Leone Rising) is a not-for-profit program that supports promising small business owners in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Our mission is to activate these entrepreneurs to sustain and grow their businesses; to earn a living wage and more, and thereby help support their families; and to contribute to the development of their community. Our strategy is to facilitate micro grants and small-to-medium business loans that can help participants address short term goals, and provide educational and savings opportunities that help them build toward long-term success. We encourage community initiatives that have been locally conceived.

Microbusiness Owner: Finah K. Fiber Arts and Clothing

To do this, we

• Screen applicants and select qualified individuals,

• Facilitate small grants to support their specific business improvement ideas,

• Monitor and assess weekly and monthly progress,

• Provide ongoing and specialized mentoring and professional development resources,

• Create additional business opportunities when possible, and

• Support the development of their local community initiatives.

Our participants are invited to tell their success stories to the camera, as well as their challenges; the brief films that result can help us connect them with additional investors, educators, and professionals.