The business start-up hubs provides young graduates from marginalised rural communities in Kenya (75% girls) with the stepping stone between full-time education at our Seed of Hope vocational training centres and running a successful business. The start-up hub provides support from a Business & IT teacher along with the technical equipment and facilities young people need to start their business, enabling them to save money from their profits to invest in the equipment they need in the future.
In rural areas and slum communities in Kenya, where we have worked for 19 years, there are very few job opportunities so young people rely on setting up their own small business to become self-sufficient and lift themselves out of poverty. When graduates finish their technical training course they are prevented from starting their own business due to the capital start-up money needed to buy equipment. Graduates also do not have the confidence or experience to set up a business on their own.
Raising Futures Kenya will set up business start-up hubs at each of our Seed of Hope vocational training centres. Graduates will use the hub for a year after graduating to establish their businesses, and use their profits to invest in the capital items they need. They will have access to the equipment and technical support they need to set up successful businesses, and will gain the confidence and skills needed to grow their businesses so they can financially support themselves and their family
Graduates setting up and running a successful business will enable them to become financially self-reliant and able to contribute to the financial needs of their families. Setting up small local businesses in the community positively impacts the local economy as money is remaining locally and benefiting the community. It is an opportunity to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty perpetuated by the lack of opportunities and support available to young people in marginalised communities.
