Geoffrey Gitau founded GGN Digital Assets Ltd three years ago. His shop deals with electronics, electricals, phones and home appliances. He has employed 4 people.
Susan hails from Kitui, is a member of Ngwani WFP Group and a beneficiary of EGF’s Financial Literacy Training. She wanted to learn how to plan her finances, including borrowing. Before the training she explained that she had acquired a loan from a local commercial bank without clear consideration of her income. She was glad that the training exposed her to factors borrowers should consider before taking up loans. “Little did I know bank calculations have secrets which are concealed during lending,” she said.
Simion Makokha is a Florist based in Nairobi City Centre. With no savings and additional income, he longed for rewarding income. Being a florist was hard and unpredictable. Simon joined Equity Group Foundation’s entrepreneur training where he learned how to make his business grow, properly budget his income. “With the help from our trainer, we managed to form a strong cohesive group of other people like me and we learned about our long-term and short-term goals in life which have helped us develop good money management skills and a saving culture,” Simon explains.
Pam Automotives, Spares and Lubricants. Priscilla Akong’o Odengo hails from Eldama Ravine. She enrolled in EGF’s Digital Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Business Planning, Governance, E-Record keeping, and E-Marketing training program. Due to low sales, raising working capital for her business was a challenge. Today, Pam Automotives also operates online, and its customer numbers have significantly grown. Priscilla provides employment to five people; 2 permanent and 3 part-time. Priscilla says, “Equity Group Foundation changed my life and my business. The Digital Literacy training I received and the mentorships that followed made me move from analogue to digital and has seen my business grow.”
Lantaine is a mother of two and a member of Oltarakwai Women’s Group. She runs a Maasai beaded-clothes and milk business from her home in Kajiado, Kenya. Every day she does household chores, milks her husband’s cows and delivers milk to the local dairy co-operative. She and other co-operative members joined EGF’s Financial Education training program to learn budgeting, savings, financial services and debt management skills. From the training she has been able to save enough money to build her family a better house. “I am considered a role model because as a member of Maasai Women Dairy Cooperative Ltd I have constructed my house”, says Lantaine.
Joel Nzuna is a farmer and adult learner from Machakos County. He produces maize, beans, fruits, livestock and other products. Resource planning and debt management skills were his main challenge. Through the foundation’s financial literacy program, he’s equipped with vital skills to set and plan for his goals. He is now able to plan his income and knows to handle debts. He says, “After the training, I feel good. I can plan my finances well and the debt burden is no more”. His improved financial management skills have enabled him to save and generate more funds for farming.
Celestine from Mombasa, has for the last 6 years been a beneficiary of Equity Group Foundation’s programs through which she has gained valuable skills in Digital Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Mentorship. She recently started her own supply business, African Memsap Technologies, offering construction and cleaning services while creating employment opportunities for young people and women. “I gained confidence, and have been able to manage my business better. The training enlightened me and I now run my business with a lot of seriousness and confidence”, she says.