If you scroll the first picture you will see uninterested, bored youth.  When I first met youth of Kamuwongo, they were just sitting in small groups, scrolling phones probably gambling? and complaining about “no jobs” and waiting for something to change. Most of them lost in drug abuse.

They asked me, “So… what can you do?”

Silence. One said to me, “Nothing really. Clearly you can’t give us money or a job you’re a volunteer ” 

But instead of stopping there, we explored ideas together, looking at what people use every day, the market, profitability and what was affordable to start. That’s how liquid soap came up. They came up with the solution, I let them lead the conversations all I did was note and nod. 

That simple idea has turned into a small business, creating employment. Today, 20 youth are now earning atleast Ksh 600 weekly from soap sales. The community calls it ‘Sabuni ya youth‘ its quality and affordable thats how it sells fast. Indirectly over 100 people are beneficiaries of this small business More importantly, the idleness that once exposed them to drug abuse has significantly reduced.

This is the power of community-led development, when people move from “we have nothing” to “we can create something.” Sustainable impact comes when the community becomes agents of their own change.

In 5 years, we are looking at high quality branded bathing,hand washing, multipurpose soap. Through consistency and support, this will create employment for atleast 5 youth and income for over 100 youth of Kamuwongo. 

Now scroll to the last picture and see there happy faces.