Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The objective is to provide the in-need girls in school with dignity kits that contain sanitary pads,underwears,bar soap,bathing soap,body lotion,toothpaste and toothbrush. The stipulated outcome is reduced teenage pregnancies&better academic performance.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

This startup was developed to come to the aid of girls who cannot acquire what other girls consider normal and a must. Some girls are not privileged to acquire sanitary towels on a monthly basis. Despite all this, these girls are expected to perform normally like the rest. The most unfortunate part is that most of this girls are average students with a potential to do more. They are limited just because they cannot acquire the basic needs every girl requires for comfortability. Some go to the extent of seeking this through sex for pads and the results of such actions is teenage pregnancies and dropouts. Therefore, as an organization we identify this in-need girls who are at a risk of teenage pregnancies and provide them with these necessary products such as sanitary towels, underwears, toothpaste, toothbrush, bar soap, bathing soap and body lotion. We do not stop here but go on to have girl to girl talks with them for emotional support on matters career, relationship & period hygiene.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

We have five main problems we try to solve. Firstly is to reduce the cases of teenage pregnancies and dropouts among young girls in rural secondary schools. Secondly, to improve academic performance among the in need girls. Thirdly, to boost self esteem and self image for the affected girls. Fourthly, to promote period hygiene among young girls Lastly, to provide emotional support to the in need girls through specialized counseling sessions.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

The major advantage is that with this project we redeem the pride of girls that it is okay to bleed and it is a right for them to be comfortable as they bleed and this boosts their self esteem and contributes to the overall reduction in teenage y, drop out cases and overall increase in academic performance and self esteem.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The targeted beneficiaries are girls between the age of 13-18 years old in the rural secondary school in Busia County, Nambale sub county who are struggling to acquire dignity kits( sanitary towels, underwears, body lotion, bar soap, bathing soap, toothpaste and toothbrush) and are at a high risk of either teenage pregnancies, dropping out, low self esteem or reduced academic performance.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-06-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Has a Bachelor's degree in Counseling Psychology with a 5 year working experience in non-profit organizations that support young girls and young women.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://shorturl.at/uGI25

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Community Based

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Through this project we provide mental health services to the girls through girl to girl talks and specialized counseling sessions for more pressing issues.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

This project majorly empowers girls who are not as lucky as the rest to acquire sanitary towels this reducing teenage pregnancies and dropouts cases and securing the bright futures for these disadvantaged girls.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

For the fact that these girls' families cannot afford sanitary towels, what of light in the house that is safe. We strive to give them solar panels and lights to provide a safe, clean and affordable energy for them.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

During our girl to girl talks, we take initiatives to clean the community and plant trees.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Many organisations only provide sanitary towels but we go far and beyond that because we realized that even those sanitary towels they are given, the girls do not have the pants to put them on and even if they have them it is only 1 or 2 at most and this poses a challenge therefore we go an extra mile and provide them with panties, bar soap, bathing soap, body lotion, toothpaste and toothbrush.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

I do not view them as competitors but rather as potential partners as we all aim to promote the well being of the girl child in schools.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, targeting the teenage mothers where we aim to introduce them to entrepreneurship where they can earn a living and support their children.