Our Program
What We Do

CarpenterWe work primarily with subsistence farmers in remote, rural areas of Kenya and Uganda. Most struggle to feed their families and have no other means of support. We provide business training, funding, and mentoring to help them create and sustain income-generating small businesses.

Business training empowers a group of five people to operate a business. Topics include: sales, marketing, recordkeeping, group dynamics and decision making, saving, and re-investing profits for growth.

Seed capital grants go to trained and approved groups. Grants alleviate concern about repayment in the event of business failure due to unforeseen circumstances (flood, drought, civil disturbance.) It frees our recipients to build their businesses without worrying about short-term loan servicing. And it allows us to maximize our investment in people rather than loan administration.

VEF business ownerTrained local leaders provide personalized mentoring and encouragement for at least one year. This model of Africans-helping-Africans empowers the business owners and their mentors and BUILDS HOPE across entire villages.

Rural start-up businesses include:

  • Cash crops (maize, cassava, tomatoes, peanuts, sunflowers)
  • Animal husbandry (goats, chickens, pigs)
  • Skilled service and construction (tailoring, carpentry, welding, bicycle repair)
  • Retail (vegetable kiosks, restaurants and cafes, household goods)

Eight-eight percent of our businesses are still operating after one year and 75% continue beyond four years. Roughly a third of our businesses spin off other ventures. All participants gain tangible skills that they can pass on to future generations.

Read why our approach is unique »

 

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