SRLF Helps Amanda Become an Entrepreneur
From the time Amanda was just a child, she had a deep love for dogs and the Student Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) was able to help her turn that love into a thriving business. “There were a lot of pets in my family so I grew up around animals, dogs especially. I always knew this was my love,” Amanda said.
It is this passion for animals that Amanda adopted from her childhood that led her to contemplate a career in veterinary medicine. However, Amanda’s plan was not to become a Veterinarian right away, instead she wanted to be trained in the entire care of the animal – grooming, training and then medical.
In 2007, the 23-year-old was accepted to pursue studies in dog grooming at the ‘B-Pro Dog Grooming Academy’ in Canada. However, in order to enroll in the 9-month programme, Amanda needed financial assistance. For a cost effective solution she turned to the SRLF and quickly made an appointment to talk to a SRLF Loans Officer.
With the SRLF loan, Amanda was on her way to Canada and the realization of her dream. Following her studies, Amanda spent a few months in Canada, working for a dog grooming company there while she accumulated enough money to purchase equipment and supplies to set up her business in Barbados. When Amanda returned home in 2008, she quickly opened her own business – ‘Ruff Cutts Dog Grooming Services’ – where they offer services for the full care of the pet including flea and tick treatment, pet-sitting and grooming.
While Amanda is still trying to decide if she will move on to pursue veterinary medicine, there is one thing that Amanda remains clear about – the service she received from the SRLF back in 2007. Amanda declared: “They are very understanding and helpful! You get the sense that they really care about you and your success.”