Family Economic Empowerment in the Kenyan Slums

Challenge

Unemployment and Underemployment are prevalent challenges in Kenya. Many individuals, including young people, struggle to find stable and decent-paying jobs. This leads to income insecurity and limited economic opportunities, making it difficult for families to improve their financial situation.

Economic empowerment refers to the ability of families to have control over economic resources, access to opportunities, and the skills necessary to improve their economic status. It involves providing vulnerable family head-of-households with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to participate fully and effectively in economic activities, thereby enabling them to move out of poverty.

For the Macheo family economic empowerment, it means that families are empowered to have the skills and resources to improve their economic status and move out of poverty. In addition, it means that families can decide on how to utilize their income and other resources and/or jointly make those decisions.

Our success story

Joseph, a resilient and determined single father, resides in an urban area of Kenya. Joseph has faced numerous challenges throughout his life, yet not one has diminished his hope for a better future. Joseph lives with two of his four children, a 17-year-old boy, and a 15-year-old girl. Eight years ago, Joseph separated from his first wife upon discovering her HIV infection, while he remained uninfected. Although Joseph was willing to continue as a supportive and understanding partner, his wife chose to end the marriage, leaving him responsible for caring for their two children. This significant life change deeply affected Joseph, leading him to resign from his supervisor position to devote himself to his young children. The decision was prompted by the hired house help’s mistreatment of his children. Joseph ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing a successful barbershop and shoe-making business.

After two years, Joseph remarried, and he and his new wife welcomed two additional children. Life seemed more manageable during this time as his wife contributed to the family's financial needs through casual jobs. However, this second marriage lasted only five years, as conflicts arose between his second wife and his adolescent children from his first marriage. Consequently, they separated, with his second wife departing alongside her two children. Nonetheless, Joseph continues to provide for them.

Difficulties escalated when Joseph's daughter entered high school. Joseph could not afford daily meals, rent, or his daughter's school fees, so he was in a dire situation. "I felt so bad, especially during the beginning of the school year when I received orders from customers but lacked the funds to buy the necessary materials to make the shoes," he expressed, highlighting the challenging circumstances he faced.

Fortunately, a compassionate teacher noticed Joseph's daughter's outstanding fees and connected him with a social worker from Macheo. As a result, Joseph's daughter's school fees were paid, and Joseph received the materials he required to resume his shoe-making business. Joseph shared, "I feel relieved, and I am no longer afraid of accepting orders from my customers because I now have the necessary materials to make any kind of shoes." This sentiment was expressed during our initial visit after empowering him.

The alleviation of the burden of school fees payment brought joy to Joseph, who saw it as a lifeline for his struggling business. He thanked Macheo for renewing his hope and providing the necessary support to revive his business. With newfound determination, Joseph is once again ready to embrace the challenges of entrepreneurship, knowing that he has the backing of Macheo and a brighter future ahead.