DONOR: Barclays Bank of Kenya
DURATION: 1 Year (October 2014 – September 2015)
AREA OF IMPLEMENTATION: Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Tana River, Kilifi, Kwale, Nyandarua, Muranga and Kajiado
GOAL: To improve the livelihoods of the beneficiaries through use of solar lamps while improving the economic status for the youth who will be involved in the marketing and selling of the solar lamps
ACTIVITIES
Recruitment and training of young women
Increase financial literacy for rural young entrepreneurs
Increase access and demand for modern and affordable solar lighting products (awareness, accessibility and affordability).
Provide guidance on the benefits of Group savings
Provide longer business hours by substituting kerosene, battery and traditional biomass lighting and providing telephone charging and other electricity services for households and micro entrepreneurs (eg barber shops, fishing lights, etc.).
Providing employment opportunities for youth.
To roll out the light up Kenya Project to sensitized counties
To Involve Barclays Bank in the field offices to participate in the CSR
Improved health as a result of reduced respiratory infections caused by fumes from kerosene
ACHIEVEMENTS
167 stake holders from the counties have been sensitized
2240 young women have been trained on Life skills and guiding
1250 young women have been trained on Entrepreneurship and business management. Some of the topics covered were: Importance of finance knowledge, basic accounting skills, marketing skills, Table banking, Sources of income, Record Keeping and importance of saving.
Knowledge on the training has been utilized through the sale of solar lamps where they are keeping records of all their sales, budgeting for their money and saving money in Mpesa/ bank accounts
500 young women have been trained on use of solar lamps and been given a startup capital of 10 assorted solar lamps to start selling. The young women through the project have been able to reach out to community members, educated them on the negative effects of kerosene and provided them with alternative solutions of solar lamps that are durable and affordable
Sensitization to 35 counties on the effects of kerosene and the use of solar lamps
52 Groups have been formed amongst the 500 young women which will be part of table banking etc
There are 23 active groups in the counties and 4 are registered at the department of social services. Most groups have started table banking and merry go rounds and savings are done through Mpesa/Bank accounts.
272 Mpesa/Bank accounts have been opened by the young women
Sales of up to 5,379,200/= have been realized. Reorders of up to 3,578,120/= have been made to Dlight solar company
Barclays bank officials have been involved in the monitoring and evaluation of the project in the 12 counties during the month of August and September.
