On the occasion of the Francophonie Summit on October 4 and 5, Expertise France is highlighting the diasporas that are entrepreneurs in the French-speaking world. Thus, Expertise France supports projects such as that of Mariam Testard, a member of the Comoros diaspora. This 39-year-old Franco-Comorian launched Ushesa, a platform connecting professionals in personal services in the Comoros and members of the diaspora. She talks about her career, her entrepreneurial project and its challenges, as well as the support she received from the AFD group.
What is your background?
After a master's degree in human resources, I was notably a training project manager in several large groups. At the same time, I am a serial entrepreneur: I launched a wedding planning company, I created the association The Good Choice which fights against school dropouts and I founded Ushesa, my heart project. It is a platform that connects professionals in personal services, in the Comoros, or in the islands of the Indian Ocean, with members of the diaspora in France or Europe.
What motivates you to undertake?
All these projects are born from and bring to life the values that drive me. I want people to believe in their ability to act on their own lives and to build projects for and with others. This is my leitmotif, as with Ushesa which responds to a real need.
Why did you choose to settle in the Comoros?
Indeed, my entrepreneurial commitment now takes on a family dimension with our move to the Comoros. It is a return to the roots born from my desire to build bridges between the Comoros and the diaspora in France. My parents arrived in the 1980s in France where I was born. I grew up with a deep anchorage in Comorian culture. Today, I want to participate in the economic growth of this country, to build and undertake in the archipelago with which I have very strong ties and where my parents were born.
Can you tell us more about Ushesa?
I imagined this project based on our own experience: my grandfather, who lived in the Comoros, died due to complications caused by a foot injury. With a real personal care service, things could have happened differently. It had the effect of an electroshock on me and I set up Ushesa, which means "to be at someone's bedside day and night" in Swahili. This platform facilitates connections between members of the diaspora and personal care professionals, streamlines financial transactions for remote payment of services and ensures that our clients have access to the best services, through the training of Comorian professionals. It is also the translation of my feminist commitment. These care professions are mainly carried out by women and my goal is to ensure their skills development and emancipation, through professionalization.
What are the challenges and opportunities that you encounter in the deployment of this project?
The challenge, for the moment, is that of geographical distance, but that will soon be a thing of the past! Being present on site is essential for the deployment of the project in 2025. Even though I am of Comorian origin, from afar, we do not grasp all the contours of the economic, social and cultural context. There are also questions relating to getting to work for which the practices are not the same. But these challenges can be overcome if you are well surrounded! For example, I am part of the Komlink network which brings together entrepreneurs from the Comoros and thus creates synergies. I am also capitalizing on my experience as a project manager to develop and deploy training systems starting next year.
How did Expertise France support you in its support for Comorian entrepreneurial diasporas?
Expertise France's experience in business creation and the opportunity I was given to join the Kedge Business School incubator are major assets. I was able to structure my business project and sharpen my business plan. The strength of this system also lies in the fact that it connects all the project entrepreneurs in the Comoros supported by Expertise France. This sharing of experiences is a great asset, a source of inspiration too.
In your opinion, what role can the diaspora play in supporting the development of the private sector in the Comoros?
Above all, the diaspora provides significant financial support. Now, the challenge is to do things differently by trying to promote the empowerment of people, so that they can create their own value. By settling in the country, I want to get this message across: it is possible to get started in the Comoros, to believe in your ideas and to bring them to life.
Source: Expertise France
