Social Entrepreneur Spotlight: Marcel Cirhuza

Marcel Cirhuza is redefining what it means to be a refugee. Marcel is an asylum seeker, an entrepreneur, and a community-builder.

In 2009 Marcel and his wife fled political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They were granted asylum in Malawi and sent to live in Dzaleka refugee camp. Dzaleka is located about 50 miles from Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, and is home to over 40,000 refugees from neighboring countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC. Originally built for only 10,000 inhabitants, Dzaleka is vastly over capacity and many of its inhabitants lack access to basic needs.

Marcel’s quick wit and entrepreneurial spirit pushed him to quickly seek out self employment opportunities. His first project included building bricks, providing housing materials to many who lacked adequate accommodation in the camp. Raising poultry became a key source of revenue for his burgeoning enterprise which Marcel named Fountain of Hope.

In 2016 Marcel attended Flame Tree Initiative’s DELab and learned key skills to assist his enterprise. Competency in writing a business plan, measuring social impact, writing grant proposals, and business networking have helped Marcel develop Fountain of Hope into a multi-functional enterprise.

Fountain of Hope now offers micro-loans to local refugees, farms pigs and other livestock, and runs a preschool. Within Dzaleka, only 10% of children attend school. Marcel’s preschool has enrolled 320 students. 

In 2016, Marcel oversaw the installation of a maize mill. Previously, there had been no grain mill within Dzaleka and community members, usually women and children, had to walk long distances with the grain to get it ground. This maize mill has been a serious boon to the local community.

But that is not all! Marcel and Fountain of Hope are creating real improvements in the lives of countless inhabitants of Dzaleka refugee camp.

Recently, Marcel has started the Tulia Project which combines rehabilitation, as most inhabitants of the camp have fled war or other civil unrest, with vocational and business training. This project, especially in combination with the micro-loans that Fountain of Hope provides, has helped many receive training and financial assistance to begin their own enterprises.

Marcel’s most recent project is Dzaleka Switch. Solar lamps are sold and rented to camp residents based on nightly, weekly, or monthly rates. These lamps are ideal for life within the camp because they are solar powered and do not require access to the electrical grid in order to function. This is positively impacting the lives of many students and small business owners living in Dzaleka. 

Entrepreneurs such as Marcel are undertaking multiple projects in order to better their lives and the lives of those around them. By extending the ways Fountain of Hope functions to include training of future entrepreneurs, Marcel is not only improving lives today but also providing skills and a path for others to do the same in coming years.