Who is the partner?
Kenya Micro Loans (KML) operates under the umbrella of DevXchange.Their primary mission is to fund women’s groups to build self-sustainable business initiatives in rural Kenya. Their secondary mission is to encourage other Canadian families to start micro finance projects. KML funded a “cattle dip” two years ago with a women’s group in a small village at the top of the Rift Valley in Kenya. The operation has been turning a profit for about six months now. KML has just returned to the village to review the project and consider other projects with the same women’s group. KML is also funding a chicken coop (300 birds) with another local women’s group from a nearby village. They are working with local agriculture experts, KML has a parcel of land and has raised money in Canada to defray the costs.
Who are the entrepreneurs?
KML will use our local partners to select the most promising women between the ages of 20-45 from the local women's groups. Selection criteria will include literacy, energy level and leadership capability. They will also speak English and will be literate. They will have access to shred computers through the Resource Centre. Some women will be from the cattle drip group (there are several who show good potential) so they have operating experience. The other women's group has another venture that apparently is working well in a nearby village, so they also have operating experience. There are a several other local women we've met that will really add to the session. One is the business manager of our local partner and one is a banker from a local town.
Why are we there?
Kenya is currently in Stage 2: Transition of Rostow’s 5 stages of growth model. A week hardly goes by without international investors announcing major investment interests in Nairobi and the rest of Kenya. Companies such as Procter & Gamble, Nestle and IBM have started to invest heavily in Kenya to gain an early foothold within the country’s economic space. Kenya is soon going to require local entrepreneurs and business leaders to take control of the country’s growing economy. LEADER would like to help the smartest and most motivated individuals in Kenya to prepare themselves for this challenge.
Kenya Micro Loans (KML) operates under the umbrella of DevXchange.Their primary mission is to fund women’s groups to build self-sustainable business initiatives in rural Kenya. Their secondary mission is to encourage other Canadian families to start micro finance projects. KML funded a “cattle dip” two years ago with a women’s group in a small village at the top of the Rift Valley in Kenya. The operation has been turning a profit for about six months now. KML has just returned to the village to review the project and consider other projects with the same women’s group. KML is also funding a chicken coop (300 birds) with another local women’s group from a nearby village. They are working with local agriculture experts, KML has a parcel of land and has raised money in Canada to defray the costs.
Who are the entrepreneurs?
KML will use our local partners to select the most promising women between the ages of 20-45 from the local women's groups. Selection criteria will include literacy, energy level and leadership capability. They will also speak English and will be literate. They will have access to shred computers through the Resource Centre. Some women will be from the cattle drip group (there are several who show good potential) so they have operating experience. The other women's group has another venture that apparently is working well in a nearby village, so they also have operating experience. There are a several other local women we've met that will really add to the session. One is the business manager of our local partner and one is a banker from a local town.
Why are we there?
Kenya is currently in Stage 2: Transition of Rostow’s 5 stages of growth model. A week hardly goes by without international investors announcing major investment interests in Nairobi and the rest of Kenya. Companies such as Procter & Gamble, Nestle and IBM have started to invest heavily in Kenya to gain an early foothold within the country’s economic space. Kenya is soon going to require local entrepreneurs and business leaders to take control of the country’s growing economy. LEADER would like to help the smartest and most motivated individuals in Kenya to prepare themselves for this challenge.
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What makes this location unique?
The LEADER program in Kenya is a micro-finance backed project. Students who successfully graduate will receive guaranteed funding in the form of a micro-loan to help them turn their entrepreneurial vision into reality by actually starting their business. The LEADER program in Kenya will have a significant impact on the lives of these students, and it is LEADER’s honor to be able to help these budding entrepreneurs achieve their goals and improve their lives and the lives of their families. The project will also serve as a highly enlightening experience for the LEADER team by exposing them to the vastly unique Kenyan culture and by giving them valuable experience in a country that is about to enter a very rapid pace of economic growth. |
