repaid. So wherever we put it, we want to see at least double the return.” “Return” means something a bit different for Jovan Evans of AquaFlow. When he initially developed his Pump ’n’ Spray device, it was just so he could take a shower during water restrictions. Seeing his neighbours facing the same plight, and recalling the lack of water access during childhood visits to his grandparents in rural St. Mary, Evans came to understand that he had hit upon a solution to a problem that was much bigger than himself. “At the time I thought to myself, ‘it’s 2013, why haven’t we solved this problem? I realized I had something that would help the community, that helps people. It helps with water conservation, improves sanitation and quality of life—clean people are generally happy people! And it will help the environment.” Jovan also pointed out that Goal 6 of the UN’s recently unveiled Global Goals is Clean Water and Sanitation. It’s yet another indicator of the potential for his product to have a global impact. So while of course he wants to turn a profit, he’s looking at this loan as a way to make the Pump ‘n’ Spray more accessible for those who really need it. “Jamaica is just the beginning. I want the real impact to be in places like Africa and Asia. I originally gave myself three years to get the product into Africa, but I’m already in talks to break into that market. I think about how handy this could be in disasters where access to water becomes an issue. This money will help extend the business and help us maximize our potential a lot faster.” Mervin Kerr is all about maximizing potential. His company is Island Integrators, providing audio/visual solutions for presentation spaces and working towards giving customers full control of whatever environment they are 14
interacting with. Mervin is an IT practitioner by trade and worked in a government job for over ten years, but he says the entrepreneurial spirit has been with him since the age of four. As much as his participation in Made of More was about showcasing his business, Mervin said the event was really about giving an international panel a taste of what Jamaica has to offer. “It was really a chance for Branson to show that we are here doing great work. We don’t need outside influences to come to Jamaica and spend our tax dollars to tell us what’s wrong here. As entrepreneurs, we know. This was about proving that given the opportunity, Jamaican people can solve our problems.” Mervin is passionate about opening up opportunities to people from marginalized communities. His loan will go in part towards starting an apprenticeship program that will take participants through technical training and certification in audiovisual installation leading up to employment with the company. Mervin thanks the Branson Centre and his mentor Tyronne Nel for their support and encouragement, and only wants to do the same for someone else. “We aren’t just recruiting employees, we’re creating them. We want to open those doors.” The Branson Centre, Made of More, all the entrepreneurs that participated and those who won—they are all opening doors. More than the entrepreneurial spirit, more than the prized loans, more than Branson training, this is what they share: an understanding that this initiative, and their example can only inspire. That thinking big often starts very small. That Jamaican entrepreneurs... Made Of More Jamaican people are made of more.