Microenterprise Development

  Kenya

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Year Round

Description: Volunteer Kenya is assisting the women of rural Kenya by providing the necessary seed capital and advice to start small business enterprises. Our Microenterprise Development Program aims to assist in the reduction of poverty through the establishment of income-generating activities for women. Since 2001, we have been funding and advising microenterprise projects, with each group consisting of 20 to over 100 women. Through funds raised by overseas volunteers and individual donors, Volunteer Kenya provides start-up materials, equipment, capital, training, and consulting services to women's groups in order to establish small income-generating group businesses. Most of the enterprises we have supported thus far are:

1. Sewing and tailoring shops that sell school uniforms, dresses, table clothes, etc;
2. Bee-keeping projects that harvest and sell honey;
3. Cooking oil projects where oil is extracted from sunflower seeds to sell in the local markets;
4. Horticulture projects that grow and sell tomatoes, maize, kale, and other crops;
5. Fisheries that raise and harvest fish in rural man-made ponds to sell in the local markets;
6. Boda-boda groups that provide bicycle taxi services in the rural areas.

Highlights: Since 1998, we have been implementing and supporting community development programs in the rural villages of Western Kenya , where large international aid programs rarely venture. Our unique partnership between international volunteers and our on-the-ground crew in   Kenya allows us to reach those people in the interior villages who most desperately need our help. It also facilitates maintaining our running costs at a minimum.

We have no international overhead, fundraising, or marketing costs. All of those activities are run by our International Coordination Staff, who are all unpaid past volunteers working via an email network. Since all of our on-the-ground work is done in Western Kenya and run by local Kenyans and overseas volunteers, we have no need for big, expensive offices in Nairobi or Washington D.C.

As a result of this, we are able to run community development, education, and healthcare programs that reach hundreds of thousands of Kenyans in the very remote and rural villages on a budget of around $120,000 USD per year.

Qualifications: The Microenterprise Development Program does not have any specific requirements to participate, aside from volunteers being comfortable meeting with and speaking to large groups of women in very rural areas. Volunteers are expected to provide advice and guidance to the members of these groups and therefore, should possess the confidence, knowledge, and maturity necessary to do so effectively. For this reason, we prefer that MDP volunteers are at least 20 years of age. Exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis. An innovative and creative mind along with good problem solving skills is useful.

Cost in US$: 975 per month

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: There is no typical volunteer. We have all types of volunteers of all ages and background - and from all countries.

Age Range: 20-55

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

Participants Travel to Kenya Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Volunteer Kenya's Mission Statement: To fight HIV/AIDS, provide primary school education, encourage microenterprise development for women, and provide healthcare for the people of Western Kenya without regard to religion, politics, ethnicity or nationality.

Year Founded: 1998