Over 60% of under-35s in Kenya do not have jobs. With over 90% of the unemployed youth having had no formal education beyond basic schooling, prospects for this group are limited. Entrepreneurship is often identified as the most sustainable route out of poverty but many young people struggle to get any financial support to start businesses from traditional sources of funding; who perceive them as "too risky." Despite the entrepreneurial spirit of many young Kenyans, this risk aversion contributes to a 'copy-cat' culture where innovation is lacking.

There is so much human potential to work with and so many problems that can be addressed with business solutions. To achieve economic empowerment and tackle unemployment, a change of focus is required.

On Friday 26th September, I will be going to Kericho, Kenya with a team of 20 ICS volunteers & team leaders from the UK and Kenya. We will be there for 12 weeks with Balloon Ventures helping young entrepreneurs start up and manage micro-enterprises, with the aim of equipping them with the skills and knowledge to be the proponents of the sustainable development of their communities.

The first 6 weeks will be spent planning, researching, testing and refining the new business ideas of these young entrepreneurs as well as conducting intensive training sessions to give them key business tools and techniques focused around:

·         Customer segmentation,

·         Financial record keeping

·         Business model innovation

·         Marketing

Best of all, there is £15,000 seed funding available for micro-enterprises, in addition to interest free loans that will be available to the entrepreneurs through our SACCO partners. On the 9th week, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to the credit union for funding.

Before I leave, I am aiming to raise £800 to contribute to the maintenance of the organisation and for this reason I am appealing to the generosity of you beautiful people; my friends and family!

So far, we have had the following events to help raise money and awareness for our goals:

·         A Cake Sale

·         A charity wax; I volunteered to have my chest waxed - all to entertain you guys and help raise money for this cause!

·         Launch event on Friday 5th September 2014 for Laura Clemo’s EP ‘Dust’

Any amount will be massively appreciated!

Thank you for your support.

With love,

Kwaku