Caption: Barbara Aliviza, a beneficiary of the WIDU program
We have achieved many milestones under our WIDU partnership, with the initial goal of the project being to complete 300 coaching visits. We have been able to see 122 coaching visits so far, with a total of 104 entrepreneurs.
The entrepreneurs under this project are spread across different parts of the country in areas such as Nairobi, Kiambu,Turkana,Nakuru,Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Busia,Kakamega, Vihiga, Muranga, Nyeri, Kitui, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu, Laikipia, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale.
On the 19th and 20th of July, we were privileged to visit some entrepreneurs in the coastal region. Here are some of the stories.
Meet Barbara Aliviza, one of the beneficiaries of the WIDU program based in Narani-Ward, Mavueni in Kilifi County.
Her love for goat rearing began at a young age as her parents would rear them and sell them to make ends meet. During the COVID 19 pandemic, there were job and income losses particularly for the people in the coastal region who depended on tourism for their livelihood. They, therefore, had to seek alternative sources of income, thus some of the locals began to sell their livestock within the Mavueni area to residents such as her parents who could purchase this livestock. She would send the funds to her parents to purchase this livestock on her behalf and resell them through different social media platforms such as Facebook and Whatsapp. At this time, she realised she could make an entrepreneurial venture from goat rearing because there was a huge gap between demand and supply.
Fortunately for her, this was when the WIDU project began, she, therefore, applied for the grant through her sister in Germany and received the funds in less than two weeks. Before receiving the grant, she had researched to establish the best breed to rear and she discovered that the Galla goat breed was ideal.
With the WIDU funds, she has been able to increase her herd of goats from 25 to 45. She plans to construct an elevated holding area for the goats. The holding area will serve as a sterilising area as well as a breeding ground.
Caption: Scoffia Lomongin Lomuria, a beneficiary of the WIDU Africa Program
We also met Scofia Lomongin Lomuria, a poultry farmer in Bamburi, who received a grant from WIDU Africa facilitated by her sister based in Germany.
Other entrepreneurs are engaging in different economic sector projects such as Construction, FMCG, Film, Agriculture, Health, E-commerce, Education, Crafts and Transport. We look forward to a continued partnership with WIDU as we continue to better the livelihoods of entrepreneurs in the African diaspora.
WIDU Africa is an online platform that aims to support entrepreneurship in Africa. It is an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The goal is the creation of new jobs, increased income and better economic perspectives for participating African countries.
