Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Chora foundation is a non-profit that seeks to use the power and value of art for social good. Not just for the good of some of the disadvantaged artists we have in our organisation, but also for the good of the impoverished communities they hail from.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Chora means draw or paint in Swahili. Chora foundation is an arts non-profit that believes in the great influence and value that art has. This organisation seeks to use art to bring much needed social change in the community. Most of the artists in our organisation are a testament to this belief. They include painters who hail from the most humble of backgrounds that have used their pieces to gain a livelihood to cater for themselves and their families. At Chora we seek to give them a platform to grow their talents and gain much greater acclaimed so their work may have much greater impact in their community. Through donations and other revenue generators such as art classes, we are able to get funds to provide resources to these artists, and other like them, to grow the cause. Change can only bring more change.

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

Poverty. More than 20 million people in Kenya live in poverty. Kibera, the largest urban slum in Africa, houses 1.5 million of these citizens. It is here that the Chora project was born. It is an artist hailing from this community that became the first artist of the Chora foundation. It became clear that if his exemplary artistic skills helped him earn a living, it could do the same for many more undiscovered and underappreciated artists in that community. In time, these artists would reach such levels of recognition that their work would have a compounded impact. Change can only bring more change. Art is a very great tool for social change and we seek to do that in a community where art remains largely

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

1.

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

The service is aimed at art proprietors, connoisseurs and artists themselves. We serve aspiring artists who wish to have a class and patrons looking to commission a painting alike. Institutions such as hotels and museums looking to acquire paintings for their establishments and philanthropists who believe in the cause.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-05-13

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

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.)

The other owner is a young university lady who is skilled in painting and is in fact one of the artists in our organisation as well. On top of that she is a student in Environmental planning.

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

https://www.instagram.com/chorafoundation/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

e) Secondary commodities (cars and parts, consumer durables and apparel, retail)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Our organisation is a non-profit and the proceeds from its services, such as the sale of paintings, revenue from art classes, and donations go towards our charity programs. Moreover, we are giving especially disadvantaged artists a platform and resources to grow as artists and allow art to fund their livelihoods.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Our charity programs include food drives that provide healthy and nutritious food to impoverished communities in the country.

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

5

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

Our organisation plans to engage people in the community in hikes and charity walks, to not only generate funds for the charity, but to also bring awareness to the need for staying fit and leading healthy lives.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Chora foundation does not only advocate for art education but also contemporary education as well. In our partnerships with other education based charities, we ensure that every child attains respectable levels of literacy.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

All are created equal. This is a philosophy our organisation holds sacred. We always ensure balance is attained in recruitment and appointment into leadership positions. More than two thirds of our executives are women.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

The foundation is planning to begin engaging in cleanup initiatives in the community. Cleaning of rivers and wells to ensure water being consumed is clean and safe.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

The rate of unemployment in Kenya is very concerning. More and more youth are seeking to leave the country in search of greener grass. Through Chora, these youth can find employment with their skills in the arts and are able to generate some income to lead respectable lives. Needless to say, improved living standards of the people also grow the country's economy overall.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

I was surprised when I first saw recycled art. Its beauty and the innovation behind it amazed me. That this artist saw waste material and decided it could be art was an astonishing prospect. But this is testament to the innovation and industry of the generation of this age.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

The wealth gap in the country is bigger than it ever was. Through this organisation we wish to close that gap through yes, raising the living standards of our artists and our beneficiaries and also by creating awareness of the poverty situation in the community. This way the stigma can be reduced and hopefully it shall be a first step in the road to eliminate poverty and inequality.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

A lot of our artists originate from slums and through this foundation they wish to be part of a cause that will bring sustainable development in their communities.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

We use recycled materials to create our stunning art projects. We believe that there is always a use for something, you just have to find what.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Our foundation engages in tree planting excursions, river clean ups and also uses recycled materials to create art pieces.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Chora foundation is vocal support of the green movement and continuously engages in tree planting initiatives in the country. Trees are continuously being replaced by concrete and Chora believes that it should be an advocate in ensuring that the world does not forget how much we need plant life.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

Our organisation recruits people from all sorts of backgrounds. Well off individuals and people coming from impoverished communities all find a place at Chora. Here we foster collaboration through inclusivity, and in a diverse society such as Kenya, there is no other way we should live.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Art is universally appreciated. It is therefore our mission to make this foundation global so the cause may have greater reach. This way we can make people care about what goes on in the other side of the world and foster collaboration to create a better world.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

2

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

4

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

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our service is a platform that encompasses all matters art. Our organisation has an online platform where purchases of art pieces can be made in a few clicks. We also offer art classes, apprenticeships and also create pieces of commissioned works by our benefactors and patrons. Not forgetting the fact that these proceeds are channelled towards a greater cause; elimination of poverty.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main competitors would be art museums and galleries. However, some of the things that make us stand out is the fact that Chora doesn't make art buying a simple transaction of goods but an act that has a reverberating effect in the fight against poverty. Add the fact that we also provide for commissioned paintings and art classes and I firmly that we do indeed stand out from the competition.

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

Yes. Our first artist was a young lady by the name Teresa. The head of events and operations as well is a lady.