Program
When education and microfinance combine they create a powerful tool that can empower an individual to support themselves financially, and also provide for their family. JKBAW employs a holistic three year program to educate its students, all of whom are women, to become business owners. The unique curriculum provides day long seminars eight times during the first year of study, four intensive weekend seminars in the second year (which includes a first year review course, and access to their first business loan), and a business internship focused in the area of each woman’s business for the third year.
Seminar topics during Year 1 and 2 include:
- How to purchase inventory from a wholesaler.
- Principles of running a small business (registration, theft, naming, marketing, employing staff, etc.).
- Saving, accounting, and inventory management.
- Personal hygiene.
- AIDS prevention.
- Personal and business budgets.
- Family life skills.
Year 3:
The third year internship is a truly unique arrangement whereby each woman is paired with a respected business in Nairobi to learn via experience what running a business entails, and to also see what their business can become. For example, one woman from JKBAW makes clothes to sell, and she spent her internship with a fashion designer in downtown Nairobi.
Upon repayment of their first loan, each woman is entitled to a second loan at double the amount. If this second loan is repaid, they are entitled to a third loan at double the amount of the second loan, and so forth. JKBAW does have a few women who are currently on their third loan.