2021 is a very special year for BlueOrchard as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. Throughout 2021 we will be sharing with you some of the encouraging entrepreneurial stories, personal dreams, and insights into the lives of families around the globe who are struggling and fighting against adversity every single day. Our eleventh story is about Rakesh Showa from India.

Rakesh, can you explain how you got started?

I had been working in another factory for several years and decided that it was time to try and go out on my own so that I could build a better future for my family. Since my salary was very low, I was not able to put any savings aside. In 2017, I applied for a loan of around 150,000 rupees (approximately USD 2,100) in order to start my own business – a factory which assembles gas stoves made up of 14 components which we source from various manufacturers in the district. This is something I’m particularly proud of as it means I can help other local entrepreneurs by buying their goods.

Find the full interview and other 11 stories in our anniversary book “This is My Story”, available on Amazon. From more than 200 million individual stories over the past 20 years, This Is My Story uncovers the stories of twelve entrepreneurs from four continents, who put a small amount of money to work in a big way.