LivelyHoods creates jobs that enable unemployed and marginalized youth to work their way out of poverty. Our innovative idea is to utilize these youth's survival skills, resourcefulness, and connection to their communities and employ them as sales agents. We're building a sales force (iSmart) that helps companies get products into the hands of customers in hard-to-reach urban slums - an untapped and emerging market with exciting potential.
Prior to working with iSmart, some of our sales agents were stealing, some were washing cars, and some had children of their own with little means to support them. Unemployed youth cost millions in lost potential and contribute to civil unrest and insecurity, compounding social issues in a country with 75% youth unemployment. Existing programs costing millions of dollars provide aid (food, clothing, shelter), but often fail to create new economic opportunities.
A job is about dignity and freedom. Through the jobs we create, youth cease being a social burden and instead become agents of change at the forefront of developing urban slum markets. With LivelyHoods, sales agents receive products on consignment, and earn a commission on each product. Now, previously marginalized youth are selling life-changing products like solar lamps, clean-burning cook stoves and reusable sanitary pads - a win-win for our sales agents and consumers!
We give youth an economic opportunity and security for the short-term and marketable skills for the long-term. Some of our youth have tripled their income, savings and have been able to afford school fees for their children and siblings. After working for LivelyHoods, our youth report an increase in their self-confidence and visions for the future. Our graduates have gone on to become teachers, to pursue their high school education, and to start their own businesses.
I used to be a street boy. I became an orphan when I was 4 years old. Through how I sell products to the community, a lot of people in the community can't imagine that I used to live in the street."
- Alex Govinda, 23 year-old iSmart Sales Agent & LivelyHoods Youth
Total Funding Received to Date: $5,910
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $4,090
Total Funding Goal: $10,000
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