One of Tanari Trust's newest programs is Young Entrepreneurs (YE). Tanari was contracted by Technoserve (www.technoserve.org) to facilitate the once a week business club. Since Tanari specializes in youth empowerment through experiential learning, initiation into the club took place during a weekend of fun at a residential lifeskills camp. The club meets in the Kawangware and Mathare slums. There are two cohorts—of approximately 45 girls each—in both slums. The girls range in age from 14-18 years old.
The YE program uses a three-part workbook curriculum to teach the basics of business. The main areas of study include entrepreneurship, basic financial education and employability. Throughout the six month program, the girls are divided into entrepreneurial groups and are given a small loan to start their own community businesses. They must create and present a business plan as well as maintain financial records.
Common businesses include the sale of snacks and drinks as well as the sale of clothing and jewelry. At the end of the program, the businesses are evaluated by actual business men and women. The top three businesses are awarded the funds necessary to further develop.
Many of the girls who participate in YE would not have much hope of a future without the program. Only a few have finished secondary school and 1/3 are single teenage mothers. Luckily, YE meets the girls where they are at, teaching in simple English as well as Swahili and providing funds for the girls who are mothers to be able to put their children in day care in order to attend class each week. In addition, the girls receive lunch money for attending the program.
In order to graduate from YE, at the end of the six months, each girl must have attended at least 90% of the classes, written a business plan and participated in an experiential group business.
Last Wednesday, Cohort 2 in Mathare debated whether or not it was better to be an entrepreneur or to simply be an employee. The girls were fairly divided over the issue and thoroughly enjoyed attacking each other’s points. Several girls stated that they would rather be an employee than an entrepreneur since being your own boss is always risky. They like the comfort and stability of being employed. Employees know what to expect from their jobs—from the hours that they work to what they are actually supposed to be doing.
Still, other girls argued that they would prefer to be entrepreneurs. They enjoy the flexibility and creativity that comes with being an entrepreneur combined with the opportunity to do what they love. While they acknowledged that starting your own business can be a dangerous move, they are willing to take their chances at the hope of future happiness and success.
On Monday, Cohort 1 in Mathare presented samples of their businesses. The various groups brought in clothes that they had purchased that they plan to resell as well as freshly blended mango juice. They also presented on their financial records—how much money they had spent, how much money they had made and how much money they owed in loans. Most groups have been very successful conducting business in the local community! They are getting ready to be evaluated within the next few weeks.
Lastly, on Tuesday, Cohort 2 in Kawangware took a field trip to the local market to ask the entrepreneurs they found there practical business questions. Many girls asked how the various entrepreneurs came up with the ideas for their businesses as well as the most common struggles that they face. All the business owners were more than happy to answer the girls’ questions and encouraged them in their entrepreneurial pursuits. After the field trip, the girls shared in their business groups what they had learned from their visit. The lesson concluded with a game reinforcing the main characteristics of successful businesswomen.
Throughout the week, the girls will be completing their assigned homework. Stay tuned for future posts sharing the stories of some of the girls in the program along with more pictures of their weekly activities!
The YE program uses a three-part workbook curriculum to teach the basics of business. The main areas of study include entrepreneurship, basic financial education and employability. Throughout the six month program, the girls are divided into entrepreneurial groups and are given a small loan to start their own community businesses. They must create and present a business plan as well as maintain financial records.
Common businesses include the sale of snacks and drinks as well as the sale of clothing and jewelry. At the end of the program, the businesses are evaluated by actual business men and women. The top three businesses are awarded the funds necessary to further develop.
Many of the girls who participate in YE would not have much hope of a future without the program. Only a few have finished secondary school and 1/3 are single teenage mothers. Luckily, YE meets the girls where they are at, teaching in simple English as well as Swahili and providing funds for the girls who are mothers to be able to put their children in day care in order to attend class each week. In addition, the girls receive lunch money for attending the program.
In order to graduate from YE, at the end of the six months, each girl must have attended at least 90% of the classes, written a business plan and participated in an experiential group business.
Last Wednesday, Cohort 2 in Mathare debated whether or not it was better to be an entrepreneur or to simply be an employee. The girls were fairly divided over the issue and thoroughly enjoyed attacking each other’s points. Several girls stated that they would rather be an employee than an entrepreneur since being your own boss is always risky. They like the comfort and stability of being employed. Employees know what to expect from their jobs—from the hours that they work to what they are actually supposed to be doing.
Still, other girls argued that they would prefer to be entrepreneurs. They enjoy the flexibility and creativity that comes with being an entrepreneur combined with the opportunity to do what they love. While they acknowledged that starting your own business can be a dangerous move, they are willing to take their chances at the hope of future happiness and success.
On Monday, Cohort 1 in Mathare presented samples of their businesses. The various groups brought in clothes that they had purchased that they plan to resell as well as freshly blended mango juice. They also presented on their financial records—how much money they had spent, how much money they had made and how much money they owed in loans. Most groups have been very successful conducting business in the local community! They are getting ready to be evaluated within the next few weeks.
Lastly, on Tuesday, Cohort 2 in Kawangware took a field trip to the local market to ask the entrepreneurs they found there practical business questions. Many girls asked how the various entrepreneurs came up with the ideas for their businesses as well as the most common struggles that they face. All the business owners were more than happy to answer the girls’ questions and encouraged them in their entrepreneurial pursuits. After the field trip, the girls shared in their business groups what they had learned from their visit. The lesson concluded with a game reinforcing the main characteristics of successful businesswomen.
Throughout the week, the girls will be completing their assigned homework. Stay tuned for future posts sharing the stories of some of the girls in the program along with more pictures of their weekly activities!
Good Stuff :)
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