Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our project targets the less fortunate in the society, looking to cater to their education needs. Despite the commencement of free public education during Kibaki's era, there are still families that cannot afford to cover its costs.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Millions of gifted Kenyans continue to wallow in poverty and struggle with mental health issues due to lack of opportunities for education. Some are victims of neglect while others live in abject poverty due to different circumstances. Our project hopes to reach out to such communities by giving them an opportunity to learn, explore, grow, and nurture their talents in an enabling environment. The project's main beneficiaries will be the very poor children and adults who could not get an education when younger due to financial constraints. We are looking at a school that offers basic education for disadvantaged children and youth, offering some hands-on skill courses like mechanics, tailoring, commercial farming, welding, and basic education for adults. We hope to have inhouse counsellors as well to help the community deal with mental health issues associated with poverty. We hope to see a future where the poor can become self-sufficient.

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

The main problem we are trying to solve is poverty. However, we are dealing with its root causes including poor mental health, low access to education, and lower proportion of opportunities compared to the populace.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The benefits of our project include but are not limited to improved literacy, improved economic outcomes when more people can work and generate income, increased food security, improved mental health, family stability, reduced crime rates, and better service delivery by government due to increased revenues from a larger worker pool.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Compassion Academy Eldoret targets the very poor in the immediate community and beyond, adults who would like to get formal education, and adults who would like to learn a skill that will help them grow economically. As the name of the education facility suggests, attendees will get all these services at no cost.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-05-28

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

The other partner is my husband. He is an experienced teacher and salesperson. He has three years of teaching experience and five years experience in sales and management.

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

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Education and economic empowerment

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The project provides struggling community members with opportunities for formal education and personal development.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

We will teach budding and existing farmers how to boost yields and income from their farms.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

The project provides free mental health services to the community

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

The project will provide formal education for children and adults, hands-on skills education (in welding, mechanics, and tailoring) for adults, and farming knowledge for budding and existing farmers.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

This is an equal opportunity endeavor seeking to empower males and females alike.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Besides providing farming knowledge, the project will allow community members to learn hands-on skills in tailoring, mechanics, welding

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

The project will help reduce the gap between the rich and poor by empowering the poor with education and hands-on skills.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Promotes farming practices.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Promoted educational justice by improving access to education.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 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

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Potential competitors are institutions offering formal education for children and adults. Institutions offering technical courses are also potential rivals. Compassion Academy Eldoret stands out as it is purely philanthropic. Learners will not be required to pay any fees to attend and will be provided with all the necessary materials freely.

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

None