Launch 150 Startup Youth Businesses in Kibra Slum

Joyce’s family is one of the many families struggling to meet their daily needs now. “Adhiambo, 21, is a young entrepreneur from Kibera slum. 

Many high school graduates across the country receive their final  results with the hope of joining tertiary institutions to pursue their dream careers. Most parents are left in a dilemma owing to the competing family needs and the limited sources of income. Therefore, some prioritize secondary education over tertiary education for their children. 

Joyce's was not lucky to transition to college or university after she graduated from high school, but the skills she got from the leadership developement and entrepreneurship program has transformed her life and her family. 

“I joined the three-month Leadership Development and Entrepreneurship program run by Garden of Hope Foundation where I acquired skills in Entrepreneurship, Basic Computer, and Leadership. During my training period, participants were grouped and given Ksh500 to start and run a business for two weeks. This exposes us to a first-hand experience on entrepreneurship. The 500/ $ 5  helps participants to test their business ideas and offers experiential learning. In our group, a member knew how to make the liquid soap so we decided to run with the idea. We were required to return the Sh500 with a profit after the two weeks. In the process, I learnt to make soap on my own and decided to start a small business out of it,”

Joyce is currently making soap to support needy families in Kibera slum during covid-19. In addition, she is also sensitizing the community on Covid-19.

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We have been at the forefront to stop the spread of the novel Corona virus by encouraging communities living in Kibera to assemble local hand washing facilities and providing information on how people can maintain hygiene. This is a community led initiative where the community seeks to solve the challenges and compliment of efforts of the government in curbing the spread of Covid_19. You can donate online to help us reduce the spread of covid-19.

Covid-19 is spreading across the globe with 300,000 confirmed cases and over 10,000 deaths, Covid-19 literary bringing the world to stand still. Simple, everyday things must stop: freedom of movement, mingling with friends, shaking hands with new acquaintances, or even working alongside our colleagues. However, we are not powerless to stop it. We can and must play our part.

We have so far distributed two hand washing stations in Kibra slum supporting over 1,000 people directly. Kibra slum is characterized by overcrowding. The slum also has limited access to clean water and poor sanitation facilities. Our hope is to support over 50,000 people by end of April.

 would like to sincerely extend my sincere appreciation for the support you have accorded us in 2019.  Looking back, I am grateful that you shared your gifts with us. Here are some of the impact your support has made this year. 

 “I joined Garden of Hope Foundation- Mentorship program 2 years ago. The Self-awareness sessions revealed more information that I did not know about myself. As a result, I have learnt to embrace myself and work hard to achieve my dreams. I have experienced a great improvement on my confidence, team leadership and public speaking ability.” Mourice.

"With the current technology and innovation, the world is transitioning to a digital age. The leadership and entrepreneurship has enhanced my skills on how to use technology to solve challenges in the world.  I hope to start a social entrepreneurship venture that will equip informal youth with computers skills" Snyder

“I have acquired skills in entrepreneurship, small business and basic financial management. I have also learnt how to make soap and bake cakes for my children’s birthday as well as selling. These skills have enabled me to start a business where I bake and sell cakes to the Land Mawe community.” Beatrice.

"Garden of Hope Foundation through the Leadership development and Entrepreneurship program has provided me with the opportunity to equip young people with basic computer skills and coding. This has enhanced my computing skills". Fednut. 

• 20 Women have been successfully trained on entrepreneurship.

• 150 women have been supported with menstrual hygiene and health training.

•  50% of women who graduate from this project start their businesses within 1 month.
• 10 women have successfully secured 

We are only a few $ away from reaching our end of year goal. Consider making an end of year donation which will go towards support 10 students through school. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

Happy New Year. 

"What do you do when you cannot access Menstrual Products?" I asked. "We use chicken feathers, sit on sand the whole day or use pieces of clothes" One lady answered. "Do you know anything about Menstruation?"  I continued, "We are not allowed to talk about that" anothe lady replied.

This conversation came when were visiting a group of ladies in Samburu County. Samburu county is about 500 Kms from Kenya's capital Nairobi. This county is characterized by high level of poverty. Most women and girls cannot access quality education. Being a pastrolist comunity, they move from one place to another during dought to look for pasture and water. 

Just  few weeks ago one girl killed herself becasue of period stigma in Kenya. Mentruation is a topic that is never disussed in such commuties, menstruating women and girls are considered dirty, and they are mainly isolated during menstruation. In counties likes Samburu, men are not  even allowed  talk with women during menstruation. 

We visisted Samburu county to raise awareness on menstrual stigma in addition to supporting women and girls get access to menstrual products. For most women and girls this was their first time talking about  mensrruation openly at least with other people. 

In addition to Menstruation we also supported the children get new pair of shoes and stationery. Some the children have never worn news pair of shoes in their life. 

This is the impact your support is creating in poor communities in Kenya. 

Consider supporting more women and girls stay in school. 

The class is full of students. From their faces you can guess that they have been eagerly waiting for this day. The students are between 13 and 17 years, from the back you can hear them giggling and whispering, probably happy that the visitors have arrived.

The teacher tells me there are 100 students. “Great, that is manageable,” I reply with a hesitant voice. From the front I could notice a few boys. They are visibly uncomfortable. It is clear that they do not know why they are there in the first place. I do not want to judge, so I tell my team to continue with the session. From the window I can see more students peeping, perhaps an indication that they want to be part of this session. One of my colleagues starts talking about puberty asking a few questions. The reality hit me in 2014, when my friends and I visited a local orphanage, one girl approached me for Ksh 50 (50 cents). At first I was very hesitant, but she insisted. I gave her. She disappeared for about 10 minutes and came back. I asked my female colleagues to inquire what the money was for. It turned out that someone she trusted was asking for sex in exchange for sanitary towels. My heart sunk. I was angry at the situation and I vowed to support women and girls get access to menstrual products since then. Some 1.2 billion women and girls globally lack access to feminine hygiene products (Menstrual Products). 

The past 3 months, Garden of Hope Foundation through your generous supported has supported 1,500 women and girls get access to menstrual hygiene products. WE have seen the number of school dropout out decrease, self-confidence of women and girls increase and the classes are full.