Exploring Eric’s path to entrepreneurship

This Amala Impact Story was produced by students from St Joseph’s Institution International (SJII), Amala partner school.

Eric, a 26-year-old entrepreneur from Burundi, launched his own business that has enabled more people in the Kakuma community to charge their phones easily. He attributes his entrepreneurial success to the skills he learnt through the Amala Global Secondary Diploma Programme, which he completed in September 2023.

During his time at Amala, Eric started to explore sustainable development. The concept resonated with him as an important need for his community. Educating others in his community about sustainable development was one of his first projects on the course, and it shaped his journey on the Diploma Programme and beyond.

Eric greatly enjoyed his time at Amala. He found the Diploma Programme exciting and said it helped him expand his thinking and broaden his mind. He particularly enjoyed the opportunity to learn within a diverse community, citing the various perspectives, nationalities and cultures of his fellow students as a highlight of his experience.

Eric had always wanted to start his own company and help other people. He found that the projects he completed during the Amala Global Secondary Diploma Programme helped lay the foundations to make his goal a reality. Through the course, Eric was able to develop his skills in money management, entrepreneurship and communication. 

“Amala has changed my thinking and helped me to think about my future. I had plans to have a company or a community based organisation and Amala has given me the way to start them through their courses.”

— Eric on the difference Amala has made in his life.

Post-graduation, Eric put what he had learned into action. Recognising a pressing need within his community, he established his own business, in the heart of Kakuma Camp, offering phone charging. This allowed him to make a positive impact in his community and achieve his goal.

For Eric, Amala was not just a stepping stone; it was a paradigm shift in his thinking and approach to the future. "Amala has changed my thinking and helped me to think about my future," he reflects, “I had plans to have a company or a community based organisation, and Amala has given me the way to start this through their courses.”