Kono Business & Development is not-for-profit and 100% run by a group of dedicated volunteers.Wish to join us? Write an e-mail to info@konobusiness.com
We are divided into two core teams, one is taking care of the business and one is carrying out a developing project with the aim to empower women in the Kono province in Sierra Leone through education and advocacy.
The Kono Business team
Anni Lyngskaer – anni(a)konobusiness.com
Anni is the co-founder of Kono Business, a journalist, activist and a currently writing her master thesis about using film in development work.
”I started Kono Business out of frustration. The tailors we work with today have an education but have no prospects of getting a job or starting up a business. In my view it’s all about recognizing their potential and by means of our production giving them another kind of training that will enable them to run their own business sometime in the future. I believe that entrepreneurs play a crucial role in stimulating economic growth in a country like Sierra Leone.”
Sara Camilla Hansen – sara(a)konobusiness.com
Sara is the team manager of the sub team that coordiantes activities in Sierra Leone and secure the development and empowerment of the tailors working for us. She has been in Kono, Sierra Leone four times to work on the project. She has an MA in African Studies from the University of Copenhagen.
“It’s interesting to work for Kono Business, because it is an alternative way to do development projects. Through production and training the women are given better opportunities to sustain themselves and additionally the project spurs economic growth in the community. Because we are a small NGO based on voluntary work I can more or less define my work tasks and this gives me the opportunity to influence the project with my own ideas. It also means a great deal to me that I have actually met and know the people we work with in Sierra Leone. It makes it much more real and meaningful to me”.
Stinne Hjulmann “I’m a volunteer in Kono Business because I know my effort gives new possibilities for a group of women to change their own and their children’s future.”
Kirstine Lindberg
Kirstine is a student of African Studies at the University of Copenhagen. (Leave)
“Throughout my studies and after several visits in Africa I have realised how complicated it is to make development happen. Kono Business is interesting because we don’t just give emergency aid but try to allow for local development by training and empowering marginalised women. The outset being the women’s own resources makes the goal of sustainable development achievable. Kono Business being a small project means that I can more easily influence the course of events. This gives a sense of security and flexibility in order to develop the project in the most efficient and beneficial way.”
Tandi Tuakli Tandi is currently studying for a masters in the Management of Creative Business Processes at Copenhagen Business School.
“Kono Business is an exciting project that helps women in Sierra Leone create better futures for themselves. I feel fortunate to be part of something that is making a real difference in Africa.”
Heidi Vesterkilde Andersen
Anthropologist
Tine Rosenkilde Camilla Damlund
Katja Gusa
Sofie Michel
Julie Gry Schrader
The Development Team
Signe Weis
Signe holds a Masters’ degree of Development Studies and Public Administration from Roskilde University. Signe was in Sierra Leone 5 weeks in 2010 when she did fieldwork for her Masters Thesis. As part of the study she met AVA and several of the volunteers from kono business and develeopment and got a very positive impression of the job they did.
“I take part in the Kono Team because it’s innovative and makes sense. When visiting Sierra Leone I was interviewing a lot of development organisations, and I knew if I got time to engage in more voluntary work, I wanted to work with this project”
Lise Mikkelsen
Lise holds a Masters’ degree of Development Studies and International Relations from the University of Aalborg. Lise has been on two project visits to Sierra Leone.
“I take part in the Kono Team because we cooperate in a direct and enthusiastic way with like-minded people in Sierra Leone in helping a group of women who has got lots of potential but who so far has lacked the most basic opportunities. It is a fantastic feeling to be able to turn theoretical studies into meaningful action, especially when you are fortunate enough to having been to Sierra Leone. From a personal perspective it also matters that the team is full of dedicated, fun and wonderful people”.
Satnam Kaur Nanda-Jørgensen
Satnam holds a master degree in International Business and Development Studies. She has never been to Sierra Leone but has worked as an intern in Burkina Faso, focusing on female analphabetism. “I joined Kono as I believe that by combining business and development you can create positive long-term sustainable change. We are not merely providing the women with a voice, but also a trade, where they can truly become self-sufficient. The joy and pride that I saw in the faces of the women I met in Burkina Faso after they had learned a trade and how to read and write, is the joy and pride I am eager to see in the faces of the women of Sierra Leone.”
Ia Kldiashvili
Management and Strategic Development of Kono Business & Development
This team consist of the project managers (Anni, Sara, Tine, Satnam & Signe) and Anna Lundbak who used to volunteer in the development team, but now serves the management and overall development of the project. She is also a board member of “Foreningen Retro” which we belong to.
Anna Lundbak
Anna holds a Masters’ degree in Communication and Performance Design. She has been in Sierra Leone three times including a longer project and development visit for for Kono Development.
”After having been involved in the world of Cafe Retro for four years it’s truly exciting to help realizing a goal for the association: Development in a third world country. As a member of the Kono Team I get to challenge myself as a volunteer. At the same time I hold obligations towards the Sierra Leoneans whom I’ve looked in the eye and promised that I will do my best to make the project succeed. Not only do I generate money to the third world – like anyone else in the team I am an unreplaceable piece in the Kono jigsaw. It’s a large responsibility but also a great feeling. ”
A huge thank you to our former volunteers:
Lilly Vishram
Lilly is an Economist from The University of Copenhagen. She was responsible for the economy in Kono Development. She stopped in February 2012.
Camilla Riel
Camilla is a student of Anthropology at University of Copenhagen. She volunteered with us for 2 years and stopped in February 2012.
Nina Cheesman Nina holds a Masters degree of International Development Studies and Culture and Language Studies at RUC (Roskilde University). Nina was the project manager of the new Development project from spring 2011 until February 2012
Naja Mammen Nielsen
Naja holds a Masters’ degree in Sociology and was a Project Coordinator of the Kono Project for 2 years ending December 2011.
Lone Kogi
Lone is an International Design Technologist and run the production of spring 2010.
Anne Christensen
Designer and in charge of the production of spring 2011 .
Rebekka Walker Pedersen
Rebekka was a project manager of the business team from spring 2009 to september 2010.
Isabella Falsted
Isabella was the project manager of the business team from October 2010 to August 2011.
Rie Skårhøj
Rie was one of the two co-founders of Kono Business & Development. She was a volunteer from the beginning (Jan. 2009) until January 2011.
Kono Business & Development is not-for-profit and 100% run by a group of dedicated volunteers. Wish to join us? Write an e-mail to info@konobusiness.comWe are divided into two core teams, one is taking care of the business and one is carrying out a developing project with the aim to empower women in the Kono province in Sierra Leone through education and advocacy.
The Kono Business team
Anni Lyngskaer – anni(a)konobusiness.com
Sara Camilla Hansen – sara(a)konobusiness.com
“I’m a volunteer in Kono Business because I know my effort gives new possibilities for a group of women to change their own and their children’s future.”
Kirstine Lindberg
Tandi is currently studying for a masters in the Management of Creative Business Processes at Copenhagen Business School.
Heidi Vesterkilde Andersen
Anthropologist
Tine Rosenkilde
Camilla Damlund
Katja Gusa
Sofie Michel
Julie Gry Schrader
The Development Team
Lise Mikkelsen
Satnam Kaur Nanda-Jørgensen
Satnam holds a master degree in International Business and Development Studies. She has never been to Sierra Leone but has worked as an intern in Burkina Faso, focusing on female analphabetism. “I joined Kono as I believe that by combining business and development you can create positive long-term sustainable change. We are not merely providing the women with a voice, but also a trade, where they can truly become self-sufficient. The joy and pride that I saw in the faces of the women I met in Burkina Faso after they had learned a trade and how to read and write, is the joy and pride I am eager to see in the faces of the women of Sierra Leone.”
Anna Lundbak
Lilly Vishram
Camilla Riel
Camilla is a student of Anthropology at University of Copenhagen. She volunteered with us for 2 years and stopped in February 2012.
Nina holds a Masters degree of International Development Studies and Culture and Language Studies at RUC (Roskilde University). Nina was the project manager of the new Development project from spring 2011 until February 2012
Naja holds a Masters’ degree in Sociology and was a Project Coordinator of the Kono Project for 2 years ending December 2011.
Lone is an International Design Technologist and run the production of spring 2010.
Designer and in charge of the production of spring 2011 .
Rebekka was a project manager of the business team from spring 2009 to september 2010.
Isabella was the project manager of the business team from October 2010 to August 2011.
Rie was one of the two co-founders of Kono Business & Development. She was a volunteer from the beginning (Jan. 2009) until January 2011.