This project addresses generational poverty in rural women through an innovative entrepreneurship training and mentorship program. Entrepreneurship drives economic growth, creates self-sufficiency and solves some large-scale development problems women face. Our project serves the unique needs of women at the base of the economic pyramid. It supports them to start sustainable businesses ventures rooted in the local economy, such that they can have a reliable income stream long into the future.
In Kenya, HIV prevalence is higher among women than men. UNAIDS reports that 720,000 Kenyan women aged between 15 and 49 are HIV-positive compared with an estimated 380,000 men. Coupled with restrictions placed on these women's choices, opportunities and participation in society there are direct consequences on their health, education, social and economic development (UNFPA, 2018). This project will build capacity of 500 women affected/living with HIV/AIDS to start and sustain a microbusiness.
This project addresses the entrepreneurship gap for women living/affected by HIV/AIDS in their rural community by 30%. Women participate in a six-month microbusiness incubator, which is comprised of entrepeneurship capacity building using the Street Business School methodology, mentorship and giving of start-up grants for their businesses. The incubator also places a strong emphasis on follow-up coaching to support the participants through the start-up phase of their businesses.
The first intake is complete and the new businesses launched! The second cohort is underway and over the next two years the goal is for 500 women to attend the incubator, build their entrepreneurial skills, and start their businesses. Results from the first intake: can afford school fees for their children, can afford healthcare and new levels of self-worth. The formal evaluation/feedback processes are used to continually improve incubator in-takes and all data is reported back to all donors.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
