Improving small-scale businesses and literacy in the Korogocho slums, Mathare Valley, Kenya
Alice Wanju Thuku.
Photo: KALA
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Church World Service and
Kenya Adult Learners' Association (KALA)
Some 90 women in the Amani Women's Group who live in the Korogocho slums, near Nairobi, are taking part in literacy classes and becoming empowered with economic literacy to develop businesses to support their families, through a program of Church World Service and partner Kenya Adult Learners' Association (KALA). In all, 870 people--the families, as well as orphans and vulnerable children in their care--are benefiting from the program.
The goal of the project is improving and strengthening the profitability of the women’s livelihood activities by increasing their economic literacy skills. To meet this goal, KALA is providing adult literacy and business management classes, facilitating entrepreneurship, and helping to establish a revolving loan program so women can borrow small amounts of money to assist their businesses. Based on previous experience, KALA understands that combining adult literacy with economic empowerment activities is an effective way to combat both poverty and illiteracy.
On average, the first women participants in the program are now realizing at least a 50 percent increase in their household incomes. Their businesses include selling vegetables, tailoring and selling clothes, and selling ice cream and cooked food.
Alice Wanju Thuku, a member of the Amani Women’s Group, has participated in the program from the beginning. Says Thuku, "“I have five children; three boys and two girls. Their ages are 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 years.
"I have a dress-making business," she continues. "We [Thuku and other members of the group] contributed money towards the savings and loan program, and later I got a loan from the group to buy a sewing machine. I am lucky to be a member of KALA where skills [training] and support are provided to the poor.
"I wanted to gain business skills so that I could run my business well and increase my capital. Since I joined the CWS program, I have many customers because I was able to purchase enough materials with the additional capital that I received. I now make enough money to provide adequate… food for my children. My children are never sent home from school for not paying school fees.
"The members of the community are learning a lot from me, and I am now the chairperson of the group," Thuku adds.
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Updated 4/30/2008
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