OLCAP will support 10 women in starting a small-scale business of their choice with seed money, training, mentoring, and low-interest loans. These women can’t find meaningful employment due to a lack of formal education, as many dropped out of school. They have expressed interest in starting businesses but lack the capital to execute their plans and earn a living.

It is a much-needed project in Isulu, a rural area in Kenya, where over half of the people live under the poverty line. Low-income limits individuals’ access to necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare. There are few job opportunities and no access to higher education, making it more difficult to study for a profession. More so, there’s limited entrepreneurial training for those looking to get into self-employment. With a lack of adequate employment opportunities, most women seek informal, casual, and seasonal work that is precarious. If such scenarios are not interrupted, a cycle of poverty is created generation after generation.

Small businesses like greengrocers or bakeries are a viable means to provide income. There is a demand for fresh produce and baked goods in Isulu. Mentors support the newly businesswomen to develop and manage their businesses, to make it profitable and to explore opportunities to scale.

The project is based on the expertise and experience OLCAP gained in a pilot in which 4 widows successfully started a greengrocer business, that have helped to increase their income.

10 women from Isulu started running small businesses. OLCAP expects an increased income of at least 50% per participant. It will help them to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, clothing and health care.

Around 60 family members, including children and elderly relatives will directly benefit from the increased income.

We aim to create a community of entrepreneurial women who can, if needed, support one another to sell their stock. Moreover, through the new businesses, the 10 businesswomen will create jobs (at least 10 in 1 year time) and help reduce general unemployment in the area.

The budget for the following activities is Ksh1,380,000 (or €11,645). The donation will be used to:

• Training of the women in drafting a business plan, budgeting, pricing, bookkeeping, and marketing in weekly training sessions for during a period of 3 months. Costs for this include that of the trainers, training and certification material, and other training logistics. (210,000 Ksh)
• Seed money for each of the 10 women to help them open a business of their choice. (300,000 Ksh).
• Coaching to support the newly businesswomen to manage their businesses in the most effective way throughout the project timeline. (298,000 Ksh).
• After six months of the women starting their businesses, we will open a fund dedicated to offering loans to participating women to scale up their businesses. The interest paid will help finance the administrative costs of the project. (500,000 Ksh)
• 5% to iMPACT direct for facilitating direct donations to local solutions (which helps to cover costs of the website, promotion and proposal writing, costs of financial services, and the support to NGOs).

Own contributions are:

• Some staff costs for admin tasks.
• Conducting baseline and end-line surveys among group members to help measure impact and for monitoring and evaluation purposes.September 1, 2022