Blog 5: Clinton Global Initiative Panel Stars Liberian Businesswoman Kabeh Sumbo

Kabeh Sumbo declared herself a proud Liberian woman and business owner at the Clinton Global Initiative on Sunday evening. She claimed that the prime cause of her success was 10,000 Women, a global female-empowerment initiative backed by Goldman Sachs. “I believe that if you train one woman like the 10,000 Women trained me, you train a nation,” Sumbo said. Columnist Nicholas Kristof was of the panelists that night that “dissected” some the challenges that face women in the developing world today. Mounting evidence shows that small and medium-size businesses run by women can have a dramatic positive impact on local communities, Kristof said, in what he called a “virtuous spiral” that can lift a nation over time. But when he was asked what else the Liberian government was doing to encourage more female entrepreneurs in the country, Sirleaf acknowledged that not every woman who wants to start a company will be a success story like Kabeh. “There’s not going to be 1,000 Kabehs. She’s an exception,” Sirleaf said. “Even if we don’t have 1,000 Kabehs, we’re going to have hundreds of them at cross-sectors,” the Liberian president argued back. 100 acres of farmland had been given to Sumbo to help her grow her palm-oil business, a business that she had started with a mere single tank of palm olive oil and a microfinance loan. Unfortunately, a lot more than a patch of land has been going to foreign investors and corporations, usually at the expense of Liberia’s citizens. 1.6 million acres of land ripe for palm-oil production was given to two companies based in Malaysia and the United States, which will affect almost 1 billion of the Liberian’s in the region. For Sumbo, the plot of land she received from the government represents a “once-unthinkable opportunity” to grow her business and improve her life, and the lives of her family and employees. 

The article made me a little more curious about the 1000 Women corporation and their interest on worldly issues regarding women. I actually did a little research after reading the article. They are said to inspire women and motivate women to tap into to their own inner strength, enlighten them to learn how technology can enhance their lives, and empower women to reach their full potential both inside & out with practical skills. They also raise awareness of Domestic Violence and other types of abuse worldwide. Even though it is saddening how many people will be affected by the Liberian land being granted to foreign countries, I am pleased with Kabeh Sumbo’s receiving her 100 acres. I hope that this opens doors for other women to start their own business, and that more corporations will grant them land and materials in assistance. Like the article mentioned, the women’s success not only helped them, but it helped their families, and provided employment for other women.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/24/clinton-global-initiative-panel-stars-liberian-businesswoman-kabeh-sumbo.html#body_text6