Support for youth initiatives: President of the EBOMAF Group meets the hopes of AJPR in Lomé

The students of AJPR chose the President of EBOMAF to support their self-promotion efforts.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a core concept in the activities of the EBOMAF Group. It also underpins its presence in Togo, where some thirty students, members of the Association of Young People for Production and Research (AJPR), received significant support on February 1, 2011. For their self-promotion through income-generating activities, they received a substantial sum of one million (1,000,000) CFA francs to launch micro-projects. This is a first step towards a fruitful partnership.

The students of the University of Lomé in Togo continue to praise this benevolent hand of the President of the EBOMAF Group. Their initiative to undertake lucrative activities to secure their higher education found a receptive audience on February 2, 2011, with the construction giant. Organized within the Association of Young People for Production and Research (AJPR), they also benefit from the economic impact of this project in their country. In addition to actively participating in development and the thousands of jobs created, the company demonstrates its strong social presence. Its support is remarkable in alleviating hardship for disadvantaged communities and in guiding other aspiring entrepreneurs on their path to entrepreneurship.

[Caption: The Group's CEO (white shirt in the middle), with his protégés on the day of the check presentation for one million CFA francs]

The AJPR and its thirty or so members appreciate the noble spirit behind EBOMAF. Its CEO did not hesitate for a moment to support their project. This apolitical association, made up of young students, is venturing into creating small jobs to become self-sufficient. Their determination to overcome adversity at all costs did not go unnoticed by the head of the leading construction company. He generously offered the association the substantial sum of one million (1,000,000) CFA francs to get started. This endowment now appears to be a real lifeline, mitigating the negative effects of unemployment. These student entrepreneurs are launching a business in a rapidly growing sector: refreshments, food, and leisure. They have opened a bar called "6th" in Attikoumé, opposite Escale3. In one location, these young people, supported by EBOMAF, run a bar, a restaurant, and a TV football viewing room. “There’s no such thing as a bad job, only bad people,” maintains Olivier L. Kézié, president of AJPR.

The funds allocated by the CEO enabled the construction of a terrace, the purchase of sound equipment, and the opening of a venue for European championship matches. The fruits of this micro-enterprise are already visible. The revenue from these various entities is sufficient to cover operating expenses: rent, water, and electricity. This represents a tangible improvement in the socio-economic situation of these students. The support of the President of EBOMAF is part of a dynamic of guidance and support. He acts as a mentor, remaining true to his role. For example, following the recent rains, he was asked by his protégés to remove the puddle from their company's headquarters, which had begun to make it unpleasant to use. Immediately, dump trucks filled with sand moved in to fill in and eliminate the large puddles that were preventing customers from accessing the "6th" bar.

The beneficiaries returned to their benefactor for a souvenir gift commemorating the establishment of this fruitful partnership. "The EBOMAF flag will always fly in the AJPR garden," reads the inscription on the gift. This has been yet another boost for the students' business. This generosity is still on the lips of the benefactors, who have promised, in their other lucrative ventures, to "raise the EBOMAF name high" in Lomé. At their headquarters in Attikoumé, they recall the wise advice of the donor, a shrewd businessman who built his reputation like a bird tending its nest: "Life is a struggle, and every helping hand should be a stepping stone to changing your situation." And you are an example because you turned your back on the easy path to earn a better life through hard work. It is therefore important that you use this support to continually improve your living conditions so that this leads to sustainable and highly rewarding actions. Persevere in this direction.” Unanimously, the members of the AJPR pledged to honor their sponsor by making good use of the funds entrusted to them.