LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Providing Sustainable Education Solutions in marginalized communities

KenyaNAIROBI, Kenya
Year Founded:
2013
Organization type: 
nonprofit/ngo/citizen sector
Project Stage:
Start-Up
Budget: 
$1,000 - $10,000
Website:
http://www.gardenofhopefoundation.org/
Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/GardenofhopeFdn
Facebook: 
https://web.facebook.com/Garden-Of-Hope-Foundation-1490173327882174/?ref=hl
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

8 of10 students graduates from high school in marginalized communities in Kenya, but never get to join university or colleges because they lack finances.This leaves them with no skill to even get a casual job.The Leadership development and entrepreneurship program has a sustainable solution

WHAT IF - Inspiration: Write one sentence that describes a way that your project dares to ask, "WHAT IF?"

What if these high school graduates could start their own businesses, employee others and save money to join University?
About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

Currently their is no sustainable solutions to boys and girls who graduate from high school, but don't qualify to join university/colleges . These students come from poor families and are not able to pay for their higher education fees. When they stay idol, the chances are that they will be victims of sexual violence, drug abuse, early pregnancy/marriage and others might join bad company and be thugs because they thirst for a better life.

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

The program is aimed at instilling a variety of skills ranging from entrepreneurial, identification of gifts & talents and general life skills. The entrepreneurship skills will bring entrepreneurs from various fields to mentor these students on various ways of starting and managing a business, proposal writing, business plans, banking and loan and various ways to source for capital, by the end of the program they will be given small capital to start their own businesses and be monitored for a year. The money saved will help them join school, in addition they they will be mentored on various ways to use their skills and talents to get money. These program offers a safe environment for young aspiring entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

My name is Janet, I am the first born in family of 5. I am from the Maasai tribe of Kenya. My parents still believe in female genital mutilations. For me to be a women I have to go through the "cut" . I fled from home to a safe environment. I stayed in a children's center and managed to get my primary and secondary education. I got good grades to join university, but i don't have money. Getting a program that will help me get entrepreneurial skills and help me start my own business and at the same time save money for my university does not only give me skills, but helps me to be independent. I would like to go back and educate my community and hopefully employee others. it is only through education that I can come back and help my community

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.

Currently the project has 20 students like Janet. They have been able to start their own businesses through the help of the local banks and entrepreneurs. 5 of these students have employed 3 employees each. 15 of them have been able to join Universities of their choice and are using the money save to pay their school fees and their employees. Each year in Kenya, their are over 250,000 high school graduates, only a few are able to join University of Colleges. The future impact of these project is to create a platform where these young entrepreneurs can be able to employee many others, the project also hopes to have fully funded leadership school, not only in Kenya but the entire world. Kenya has 47 counties, the program will be established in every county to enable easy access to information and facilities.

Spread Strategies: Moving forward, what are the main strategies for scaling impact?

Through partnership with the government, the project can be able to reach most students in the marginalized communities. We hope to work with the Ministry of education to create a policy that will allow extensive entrepreneurship courses at secondary school level. Through the help of various stakeholders, the project aims at establishing talent academies. These are facilities that will help the students on various ways to utilize their talents. The policy will help establish Entrepreneurship and leadership development school in every county in Kenya
Sustainability

Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?

The project will request funding through community development fund under the Ministry of devolution. The beneficiaries/alumni fund will also be established to ensure the they give at least 10% of the budget. Long term partnership with various NGOs, Businesses and like minded individual will also be a way to source for funding.

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

Their are few people who are addressing this particular problem, many of them come from a point where they have an idea, and hoping that everybody would like it. hence not giving them the opportunity to do what they like according to their gifts and talents. These project involves the beneficiaries from inceptions. It is their ideas that are implemented. The project offer one year internship with the best companies in Kenya involving the young entrepreneur in various working environments. The projects is very sustainable and offer long term solutions to unemployment in the country.
Team

Founding Story

I was born and raised in Kibera. Growing up, I used to play soccer. Life in was not easy. After completing my primary and secondary education, my parents did not have enough money to take me to university. I knew that something needed to be done.By this time most of my former former school mates/team mate had already been killed through mob justice, or were addicted to drugs. I asked myself why? that is when it dawned on me that they also never got to join school and did not have anything to do and were looking for various ways of survival. I knew school was the only school solution this problem. I wanted something that would keep them occupied, challenged and productive.

Team

The team consist of qualified board of Directors who have various experiences in community development, The board of Director meet quarterly to monitor the progress of the organization, their role is also to advice on various projects The project manager who holds a degree in Gender Development, The project manager works full time and is also part of board The Programs coordinator who has 7 years experience in Communication. she hold a degree in project management, and Diploma in Journalism and Communication. The Founder hold a Diploma in Computer engineering, and currently studying Leadership and management. He is also A ONE YOUNG WORLD DELEGATE AND BARCLAY BANKS READY TO WORK MENTOR. The founder has worked in the non-profit for 5 years.
Background
Please confirm how you heard about the Unilever Awards:

REFERRALS

Please confirm your role in the initiative (eg Founder/co-Founder) and your organisational title:

FOUNDER

Which of the 8 UN Global Goals (Sustainable Development Goals) pre-selected for this competition does your solution relate most closely to? [select all that apply]

Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Leadership and the Unilever Awards
Please provide examples of any previous entrepreneurial initiatives you have pioneered.

I currently lead an organization that mentors high school girls , most of these young girls miss school because they lack sanitary towels. Currently we are helping them manufacture the sanitary towels, some of these girls now know how to make their own pads. During the holidays they make the sanitary towels and sell them in the neighborhood. The money help the provide food for their families and partly purchase their school supplies. They no longer lack sanitary towels are are able to stay in school during sessions.

Beyond your existing team, who else are you working with to achieve your objectives, eg partners, advisors, mentors?

We are currently working with various stakeholders and partners. Barclays Bank Kenya is currently mentoring students on various business aspects and offer audits for their small businesses. We have also partnered with various universities and colleges in Kenya who are offering courses at subsided rate or reasonable installments for them. various professional mentors who teach the students on talent developments. I also have 5 advisers who help in making key decisions .

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Image icon students_listening_during_the_training_in_their_school.jpg

Comments

Didas Mzirai's picture

It is very clear that the problem you're trying to address really exists. but sustainability of your programs is not clear because there are no revenue streams, except for donor funding. Sometimes, depending on third parties alone can be very challenging. Please think of how you can make your model self sustainable. I wish you all the best