City Shamba–urban gardening: protecting the environment, producing food and jobs

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In October 2021 GPA provided a $5000 grant to City Shamba to create unique, vertical, urban gardens. 15 youth participated in learning and creating urban gardens that are now used for farming and sustainable livelihoods. Twenty community groups in outlying settlements were trained in managing the vertical gardens and have technical support from Shamba. The organization developed a black soldier fly farm whose larvae produce organic fertilizer that is supplied to the farm. Finally, the organization created a urban garden community center to continue to promote the work and offer technical assistance.

As their leadership states, “Indeed, to deal with the greatest challenges facing humanity, we need disruptive and human centered transformative ideas. In us lie the solutions to these challenges, we only need to embrace the solutions and act towards their realization. Let us be on the right side of history. Together towards the crafting of a better world.”

Youth creating vertical gardens.

Shine: 25 creatives learn business and marketing skills, creating jobs

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In October 2021 GPA provided Shine a program-related grant in the amount of $5000 and a COVID special grant in the amount of $2358.00. Shine provided scholarships to 25 women and non-binary entrepreneurs to learn vital skills to create and promote their business. Modules included reaching customers, building community, pricing for profit and general wellness concepts. The COVID related grant provided additional funding to allow the organization to operate during the quarantine period. These funds increased the online presence of SHINE and allowed for additional modules to meet the growing needs of entrepreneurs. After training, 10 scholarship participants entered into mentorships/internships with local professionals to further develop skills and experience.

 

Sisbros of Zion: community based training and job placement

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GPA was able to support Sisbros of Zion in July 2019 with a $5000 grant so that they could train youth in various needed skills including tailoring. The organization worked with local businesses to offer job placement. 75 youth participated. 10 youth developed a venture that produces school uniforms, 40 are fully employed.

the tailoring classroom

Kenya Youth Biodiversity Network: training youth in agribusiness

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With your support GPA was able to grant $4600 to Kenya Youth Biodiversity network in 2019. This organizations trained 25 youth in agribusiness and raising farm animals. Eventually the organization will build an agricultural training center.

GPA was also able to support the organization with a $5000 grant as they had to re-tool during the COVID crisis to be able to store and preserve some of the products they are growing.

Empower and Serve Kenya: coding for Kenyan women

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With a $4300 grant from GPA, Empower and Serve Kenya developed an innovative alliance with local organizations to identify and train young Kenyan women in coding, web design and digital media and support them in their entrepreneurial endeavors.  Their “DigiLab” concept initially trained 76 women and girls, including several “trainers.”  GPA has provided a second level grant of $10,000 to expand and replicate the program in other economically depressed areas of the region.

Pregmum: developed a maternal/fetal heart and blood pressure device for women in remote locations

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Through a GPA grant of $5000 in November 2017 the Pregmum team created a fetal heart and maternal blood pressure monitor that can continuously monitor the heart rate of pregnant women in remote areas of Kenya. The device communicates medical information to a community health worker or doctor who is able to remotely assess if additional medical intervention is necessary. This device has the potential to significantly improve maternal/fetal heath and improve infant mortality rates.

Timothy and John, Pregmum founders

A patient using the Pregmum device to monitor her baby

Arinifu: Developing technology to support poultry farmers

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Through a GPA grant of $5000 in November 2017 Arinufu developed a “smart brooder” –this is a device monitors the temperature of a newborn chicks’ environment and reports any variance via an app to the farmer. This ensures optimal temperature for survival, increasing profits for poultry farmers.  The organization notes that there are 1.6 million poultry farmers in Kenya and the mortality rate for chicks can be as high as 99% The smart brooder is a smart solution.

Arinifu: developing technologies to improve poultry farmers’ yield.

The Arinifu “smart brooder”

Micriv: Developing 3D printing technology to aid surgeons and decrease patient recovery time

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Micriv utilized  GPA funds in the amount of $5000 in November 2017 to perfect 3D printing of maxillofacial structures that physicians use when planning complicated surgeries. This technology allows the surgeon to practice the surgery prior to entering the operating room resulting in less time in surgery and a faster recovery time for the patient. A shorter recovery time is vital for patients who live paycheck to paycheck as they can return to work sooner. The project will expand to neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery soon.

Micriv founder, Chris Muraguri

a 3D replica of the patient’s skull that will allow a surgeon to “practice” a difficult surgery and ultimately, decrease the patient’s time in the operating room. The technology promotes a safer surgery and faster recovery for the patient.

 

EsVendo: Low cost sanitary pad dispenser providing necessary supplies to women and girls

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Through a GPA grant of $5000 in November 2017 EsVendo developed a sanitary pad dispenser to provide much-needed supplies to women and girls in the Nairobi area. These vending machines distribute pads individually so that they may be purchased as needed, not in bulk as they are commonly sold. The supplies are more economical for the women and allows them to attend work and school regularly. In the past, they were unable to leave their homes at during their cycles. Additionally, the machines collect user data which may be monetized to other organizations to sustain the project.  Their goal is to increase access and affordability in 50 new location in the market area based on user data.

Women’s Hope: Young women participated in a business incubation program in the hospitality industry

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Kenya – The Girl Spark program was created with a $5000 grant from GPA in March, 2016. The program trains and supports young women living in Kenyan slums to work in the hospitality industry either as employees or entrepreneurs. Each participant completed an 8 week skill accelerator program where they learned necessary “hard” and “soft” skills.  After completing the program the were linked to employment or entrepreneurship opportunities, mentors, developed a savings plan and learned how to negotiate a fair wage with health care.

27 girls participated and at the conclusion of the program 90% were either employed by others, profiting from their own business ventures (and, employing others) or attending higher education programs in the field.

GPA provided a second grant to the organization in the amount of $5000 in August 2017 to expand the program to reach 300 girls and further provide sustainable sources of revenue for the organization such as a knitting program (girls trained in knitting arts create goods to sell on behalf of Women’s Hope, a baking operation and an agribusiness program). In addition, more women who have been trained through Women’s Hope programs will be connected with mentors, internships and additional job opportunities.

 

 

“The girl spark program has empowered me with the
necessary skills and confidence to start my own cleaning
company. Now I have the power to dream big and do big”–Ann

 

The Girl Spark Experience—

Ann, a mother of one always had a dream to start her own cleaning company, but the cost of paying college fees coupled with the financial challenges of taking care of her young daughter lead her to seek alternatives– when she learned about the Girl Spark Program she saw an opportunity to achieve her dream. Today she is the founder of a cleaning company and provides part-time employment to five young women living in the urban slum of Kibera.  Ann’s ambition is to continue with expansion of her company and provide opportunities to other young women.