Kabeh Sumbo, 10,000 Women Graduate, Participates at Clinton Global Initiative

Kabeh Sumbo, 10,000 Women Graduate, Participates at Clinton Global Initiative
“My mother used to have me hold out my open palm to try to catch the breeze. It never worked. Of course there will be nothing there, because you have nothing if you keep your hand open all the time. You have to use your hands to work, to make yourself better. 10,000 Women has helped me put my hands to work and formulate my mission, vision, objective and goals for myself”  – Kabeh Sumbo
Kabeh Sumbo joined 10,000 Women at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting this year to share her story as a graduate of the 10,000 Women program and a business owner in her native Monrovia, Liberia. She is the owner and manager of Passama Agriculture Trading Company, which provides locally processed oil – palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil – to hotels, restaurants, the general public, and international NGOs operating in Liberia. Kabeh’s story will be included in the upcoming PBS documentary, based on the book by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, which airs on October 1 and 2.
Following graduation from the 10,000 Women program in Monrovia in December 2010, Kabeh opened two new warehouses to sell to additional clients. In addition, after learning about record keeping and human resource management through the program, she added six additional contracted employees, including several women. Of her experience in the 10,000 Women program, Kabeh says: “I am proud because the program has taken me to another level. I’m no longer just a businesswoman but a high class entrepreneur.” Kabeh’s achievements have been recognized by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.  During her remarks at Kabeh’s graduation in February 2012, President Sirleaf instructed the Land Commission and the Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy to work with Kabeh to give her roughly 100 acres to expand her business.
CHF International, in partnership with Goldman Sachs, implements the 10,000 Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership Certificate Program in Liberia.
Watch a the video 10,000 Women and Half the Sky