• 21 employees work for Sakaramenta.
• 700 CareCar are riding all over Malawi
• 60 up to 80 CareCars can be produced monthly
• 2 containers with wheels are imported from China
• 80 CareCars is the biggest transport so far
• 16 employees follow education. 80% is paid by Sakaramenta, 20% by the employees themselves
• 25% of the salary is based on bonus
• Every employee can get a loan up to 250 euro
• 20% extra salary is saved by Sakaramenta. The employee gets is after two years

Video about Sakaramenta

History
Peter Meijer (30), a young dynamic Dutchman, got the idea of making bicycle carts and push carts while traveling through Southern Africa ( March 2007). On his trip he saw a lot of overloaded bicycles, packed with bananas, goats, maize bags or tons of charcoal. When he crossed the border into Malawi, he felt in love with the country and decided to explore the possibility of starting up a social business.

In May 2007 he participated in the Business in Development Challenge, a competition for young entrepreneurs. The aim was to work out a business plan to reduce poverty and stimulate entrepreneurship in Africa. Out of the 3000 participants, Peter came out as a finalist. The finalists were linked up with international investors who wanted to take the risk of investing in a social enterprise. And found one.

After a lot of extra research on the product Peter came to Blantyre in February 2009 and started up Sakaramenta.
The first real development was the CareCar, a bicycle ambulance. Given the fact that distance from the rural village to the nearest hospital is on average 15km, a lot of people in the rural villages have difficulties to get access to health care. As a result Malawi is in the top 3 of countries with the highest maternal death. Sakaramenta wanted to propose an affordable and durable solution. They developed a proto type with local available materials and tested it in villages around Chileka and Nkhoma. After testing, adaptations to muddy roads and special covers to protect against rain and sun were developed and the first pregnant women were transported to the hospital successfully. Patients, NGO’s and governments were very enthusiastic and nowadays already more than 500 orange bicycle ambulances are serving the villages all over Malawi. 

In close collaboration with some international NGO’s, some Malawian based companies and banks, Sakaramenta designed also new carts with new purposes (May 2010). Like hand and bicycle carts to transport and sell goods. Possibilities are unlimited, farmers can transport their goods cheaper and young entrepreneurs are stimulated to become young transport businessmen with a little help from a micro finance organ. Starting up small businesses and creating employment can secure a basic income for many families.
Not only the end users of the bicycle carts and push carts are making profit of the success of Sakaramenta, also the employees working for the company.
At the moment Sakaramenta has a full operating workshop in Michiru, Blantyre where 20 Malawian employees are working as welders, painters, stock keepers and tailors. Sakaramenta gives the opportunity for each employee to step in a sponsored evening school scheme. Everyday, everyone knock off at 4 pm to be in time for computer, general fitter, welding or electrical class. Sakaramenta gives people the chance to develop themselves in their future career path.

"Social businesses become more popular in the world the last 5-10 years. I think the difference between a business and social business, is the reason behind starting up a social business. Is it to maximize profit or to create social development? Sakaramenta was started to bring development to Malawi" (P. Meijer; Owner of Sakaramenta, 2009)