John Odeyo

In 2005 I formed a small group of twelve youths as an informal association. After few weeks, we were legally registered and the organization was born. Long before the organization was envisioned, I had been giving special attention to the vast supply of Moringa Oleifera in our surroundings because of its thick and abundant green foliage, which I felt giving a desirable easy feeling and ambitious mind.That was the beginning of more research and study regarding the unique traits of this simple and under utilized tree. My affection to this simple tree became an interest to turn this into a livelihood that could help generate income to farmers and the jobless youth.It came to my mind that if those people could be taught to utilize their unproductive time by sowing Moringa branches to their yards and surroundings, they could improve their lifestyle, livelihood and health to the malnourished children and people living with HIV/AIDS.Not long after the organization was registered and was named “Dago Network Youth Group” the project Moringa Oleifera Nutritious Supplement was born and now manufacturing tonnes of moringa porridge flour and food supplement in form of multi - vitamin capsules and other products. This initiative has won the organization praise both local and International.

The group got another boost when we won the Sukuma Afrika and UN Millennium Young Entrepreneurs award 2008 and were invited to represent Kenya at the World Economic Forum, in South Africa.Early this year in January 2009, our Business plan was among the best in the BID NETWORK and I had the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands to present my Business Plan.

Hardships and abject poverty made us come together and think outside the box. “We were a group of five young men and seven widows who resolved to produce a local traditional porridge flour and sell it to homesteads for our livelihood,”

For the last 10 years, I had been connected with different community organization. I have participated in the World Jersey Youth Exchange Program in 1997, working with Jersey Farmers in England and Jersey Channel Island for 8 Months. I was a volunteer with the Jersey Overseas Aid in the year 2000 where I help build schools. Currently am the chairperson of the Kisumu Boulder Sister City Committee and the AUPAP (African Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme)Grant Cordinator. In August 2009 I led a team of 10 people from Kisumu City in Kenya to visit Boulder City in Colorado USA to formaly sign our sister cities relationship. We had a chance to meet with the VC Colorado University in Boulder!