Paulette Mpouma

The Africa Memory Game
Presentation by Paulette Mpouma
The Africa
Memory Game
My name is Paulette Mpouma. I am a refugee from
Cameroon.
I arrived in the US in 1998 with little knowledge of
English. My husband and I now joined together ,
were helped not only by refugee friends ,but also
by The Lutheran Social Services and the Ayuda
organization. All of them helped us to learn our
way around in the US.
My first job was in an African American Store
located in Pentagon City Mall. I was employed
there as a sale person earning $5.00/hour. There, I
learned the value of the African Art in the
American Market. I also learned that the African
crafts and artifacts were appreciated not only by
the Diaspora, but by the American public in
general. Based on these facts and contacts, I had
back home. I decided to launch my first small
business: African Cooperation with the goals of
connecting African Artists and Crafters with the
American Market.
To have the idea was not enough, I needed several
things to launch effectively:
1. Funds
Why: I had a salary of $5.00/hour and my husband
was working as a valet parking employee.
We just started a family…
2. Business Education
Why: I did not know most of the common business
terms: invoice, statement, cash flow, cash
projection…
3. Confidence
Although the American public was heartwarming, it
was difficult for me to forget I was a foreigner and
had constant fear of rejection. Specially in a way
they could accept me in business relation.
The Lutheran Social Services gave us several resources
like books to learn English, but also referrals such
as ECDC.
I met with the team of ECDC the first time and I knew
I launched in the right place. I was able to present
my ideas and they listened to me and said it was
possible. This is the way I can qualify the help I
received from ECDC:
1. Supportive: They helped build my credit and my
business plan. I applied for a $6,000 loan.
2. Sympathetic: They knew my state of mind as a
refugee woman and helped me to cross cultural
barriers.
3. Direct: They assigned me a student from George
Washington school of business who was coming to
my house. He showed me how to present the
products to new customers such as Smithsonian
Buyers.
4. Gain Self Confidence: By getting different
customers and receiving the loan, I was able to
multiply my stock of African Art.
Supportive
Gain SelfConfidence
Sympathetic
Direct
Turn around
Sept 11, 2001 was a turn around date, most of
the institutions buying the Art were
financed by the Government .
Because of the shortage of budget, most of
them could not order anymore. Fortunately,
I had paid the loan off and was able to
sustain my family with a regular job as a
teller in a bank.
The idea of the Africa Memory Game was an
old idea, I had worked a long time ago on a
game that will allow children to learn as
they are travelling the continent of Africa.
So little on Africa was known… out of the
media reports, people were carrying
stereotypes of the continent from the child
dying in Ethiopia to the people leaving in
the jungle surrounding by lions and
elephants.
My own children were asking me the same
questions that some of my customers were
asking.
What is the Africa Memory
game?
A simple board game that
could be used at school or at
home to learn more about the
African Continent.
An Educational
tool with the aim
of learning more
about Africa.
By learning more about The
African Continent they were
learning also to know me
more. It was a bridge between
my cultural background and
my children.
The game helps
students to
view
themselves
as part of the
global village as
citizens of the
world ....
How did I realize my project?
I started practicing the game with my family from
scratch with a map and some paper cut as money.
I found out my 5 years old could memorize most of the
capitals of the countries just by playing with her
brothers.
I hired a graphic artist and sent him my work; he
worked with my budget of $500 to start.
I went to see an African Organization The Africa
Society, which promoted a program call: Teach Africa.
They were amazed by the concept and gave me $1,000
to start with.
I hired a web designer to digitalize the concept and
create a mock.
I invested my savings for the first production; a
printing company produced 1,100 in June 2009.
The first production was sold out after 6 months.
I needed to reinvest immediately the funds for another
production and I needed more funds.
So I went back to ECDC…
This time, I participated to the IDA program
where I worked with Emmanuel Mfayokurera;
this program allowed me to increase my
production, by matching up to $4,000 in a special
account. I had to take some business classes to
learn more how to manage my business in order
to qualify. Most of them were online classes, that
was convenient for a mother of four.
I was able to invest for 2500 pieces; 1200 were
already sold before the production by preorder.
The 2nd edition came out with a new feature: the
question cards, rules were bilingual:
French-English
Helping people to practice a 2nd language and
still learning as they were playing.
The 2nd edition was well accepted by Immersion
Schools and children with francophone's parents.
Countries as Canada and some countries in
Europe showed their interest…
By the success of this edition, I was able to create
a partnership with The Africa Channel to
showcase the game everywhere they were
present.
In 2010, I was able to distribute my product through 16 stores in
the US; among them:
WASHINTON DC
THE NATIONAL AFRICAN MUSEUM STORE-SMITHSONIAN
INFO SHOP WORLD BANK STORE
THE HOUSE OF KHAMIT
SANKOFA VIDEO & BOOKS
BALTIMORE
ANYONE PLACE
1356 W North Ave,
Baltimore, MD 21217
LOS ANGELES
MUSIC MOTHERLAND
CHICAGO
DUSABLE MUSEUM
The Field Museum
NEW YORK
Women's Work
Romey's Alley
Hueman Bookstore
NASHVILLE, TN
ALKE BULAN
DALLAS, TX
Panafrican connection Bookstore
And through events, shows and non-profits and fundraisings
nationwide.
My next step is to find a sponsor
who allow me to produce and
distribute a larger amount that I am
distributing now. I would like to
take it to a nationwide distribution
and as the second phase to bring to
international level.
I attribute my
success to
organizations such
as ECDC, Lutheran
Social Services and
Ayuda, who have
never forgot to
invest in
humanity.
My Contact:
Paulette Mpouma
7616 Woodbine drive
Laurel, MD 20707
Tel: 240-381-7218
http://www.theafricamemorygame.com