Patience Barandenge is an energetic woman, who has made it her responsibility to support Congolese women in the male-dominated market. The former Vlisco ambassador (2014) from the DRC works for a private Congolese bank that gives loans to business women and is the main initiator behind its micro-credit programme for women.

Her dream is that every girl or woman is empowered and reassured that it’s possible to become an independent entrepreneur.

“My advice to women is that they should never be afraid of failure. With every failure comes a lesson, it’s all a part of life.”

After having given over 1,000 loans to small business owners, she established her own organisation called ‘Dream Ventures’, to help young female entrepreneurs in Kinshasa by coaching them and assisting them to set up their small businesses.