Intern or Volunteer with a Grassroots Micro-Enterprise Organization in Kenya

  Kenya

• Other Cities in Kenya: 
Kakamega
• Mombasa: 
Mombasa

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Trimester, Winter 
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: See FSD Website

Description: Examples of how you can support Micro-Enterprise in Kenya:

* Assist in identifying appropriate clients for a micro-credit program. Help instruct clients on effective uses of micro-loans and savings methods. Gather clients into loan groups, support loan distribution, and meet with borrowers to discuss the progress and payment of their loans.

* Support job and micro-enterprise skills training of rural community members for the promotion of small scale manufacturing trade and/or service enterprises.

* Offer community members the business management and bookkeeping skills needed to ensure the success of local dairies.

* Help pursue international funding opportunities for a microfinance organization to expand credit and business training programs. Research potential donors and assist relationship building.

* Support vocational training initiatives for vulnerable youth. Courses are offered in masonry, carpentry, and tailoring. Technical aspects are combined with training in traditional design and business management/bookkeeping. Graduates of the program move on to operate their own micro-enterprises.

* Help research, design, and develop appropriate methods of financing economically sustainable micro-enterprises run by community members affected by HIV/AIDS. Offer technical assistance, leadership skills, and business training to help mobilize families influenced by the virus.

For more opportunities in micro-enterprise in Kenya, visit our website or contact us directly.

About FSD

The Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1995 to support underserved, international communities in a collaborative and sustainable manner. Our model incorporates three overlapping programs:

1. Sustainable Development Training Programs for Interns and Volunteers
FSD provides comprehensive training and immersion programs for interns and volunteers seeking hands-on experience in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Program participants come from countless professions and more than 300 universities worldwide to collaborate with our partner organizations on community-driven projects that reflect sustainable practices.

2. Grantmaking to Projects and Initiatives Led By Our Partner Organizations
Donations and grants given to FSD are used to support projects and initiatives implemented by our partner organizations, site teams, interns, and volunteers.

3. Sustainable Development of Community-Based Organizations
Our professional field staff, consultants, and program participants provide on-site technical training and capacity building to more than 200 community-based organizations.

Highlights: Development Issues Addressed by FSD in Kenya
Kenya's economic situation can be attributed to a few main factors. Currently, the richest ten percent of the Kenyan population controls almost half of the nation's wealth while the poorest ten percent hold less than one percent. In addition, economic growth continues to be low and is limited to a few sectors tourism, manufacturing, horticulture, and services. The government's failure to radically improve the nation's investment and savings habits drastically threatens the economic situation, since substantial growth cannot occur without sufficient capital.

At the grassroots level, microfinance and microenterprise growth play a critical role in bringing capital, financial strategies, and economic opportunity to underserved communities throughout Kenya. FSD partners with organizations that provide savings and loans programs, marketing and business development assistance, and strategic advice to communities, groups, and individuals. These organizations reach underserved populations that the government and large banks have forgotten. Interns and volunteers conduct research and/or implement project work that directly addresses income generation and savings for a wide variety of populations. By working with FSD, you will gain hands-on experience with small business development at the grassroots level, empowering community members with the tools and resources needed to reduce poverty.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: Depends on Program Selected; See FSD Website

Included in the fee is: a one-week orientation; family homestay will all meals provided; language lessons (not available in Latin America); development trainings and workshops; group sessions; midterm retreat (9+ weeks only); final debriefing session; on-going in-country support from FSD site team and U.S. staff; USD 200 mini-grant; eligibility for additional project funding up to USD 500, medical evacuation and limited health insurance; and pick-up from the airport.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: FSD supports participants who boldly wish to initiate the change they believe is necessary in the developing world. Interns are passionate about sharing their practical knowledge, heart-felt enthusiasm, and economic resources with communities abroad that suffer unnecessary hardship. They wish to gain hands-on, grassroots development experience because they believe change is most powerfully cultivated on a community level. The aim is to experientially learn how their work can empower the community toward applying sustainable development solutions, rather than increasing reliance on foreign aid. Participants choose FSD because the program structure enables them to design and implement their own sustainable projects in collaboration with their host organization and the FSD Site Team. They are able to test their ideas and theories in the most direct way possible, giving them the experience and knowledge they seek. The flexibility of the host organizations allows for participants at all stages and levels of experience in international development to participate, thus opening the programs to a diverse group of capable applicants.

Age Range: 18-75

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Kenya Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 3-10

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Foundation for Sustainable Development's Mission Statement: FSD supports the efforts of grassroots organizations in the developing world that are working to better their communities, environments, and the economic opportunities around them. We believe community development is only sustainable if it empowers the people to effectively use and cultivate their own resources in a conscious manner. Through our programs, we aim to raise international awareness of the economic challenges in developing countries and to support cross-cultural communities in finding more effective solutions to development issues.

Year Founded: 1995