DBSP Kenya produces a quarterley newsletter as an update on what has taken place in DBSP Kenya over the past 3 months. They contain information on the latest happenings, on the programs that have been run during the past quarter, on comments made by recent students pertaining to their training, on the progress of the follow up, often containing the latest statistics and a success story is also generally included. These newsletters are available from this webpage. Seek out the newsletter you would like to see from the list below and click on it to open up the PDF file.

For Sustainable Peace

Hundreds of people gathered on the main highway in Burnt Forest, a small, rural town in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province, to prepare for a peace march. Men and women, young and old from both the Kalenjin and Kikuyu tribes participated in the march. Tribal tensions have been high since the December 2007 election, but US AID and local community groups have been working fervently for sustainable peace in the area. Realizing that one of the main contributing factors to the tensions and violence is poverty and the lack of skills to combat it, US AID and the Rural Women Peace Link contacted DBSP and requested two micro-business startup courses in the area; one for women and one for young adults. Each class consisted of an equal number of Kikuyu and Kalenjin learners. The learners were asked to work together in small groups. “It was a bit tense during the first week”, says John Mwangi, a DBSP trainer, “but we did some team building games and activities which seemed to get people working together more peacefully, and by the end of the course they said that they came to the realization that they need each other!”The DBSP training economically impacted the lives of the 45 trainees, as well as those who depend on them for food, school fees, and other needs. But it also socially impacted the community by equipping members of two ethnic communities to work together peacefully. They no longer see each other as enemies, but as colleagues and business partners.

Comments From Trainees At Recent Courses

The training has helped me to identify business opportunities, be able to run my business well and to deal with my weaknesses. - Consolata Jepkemboi

Before the training I did not know that gross profit is not the profit to enjoy. Now I know that gross profit is the contribution or margin that one uses to cover the costs in the business. - Dorcas Wanjiku

“My worst enemy is not my neighbor, but it is poverty. I now know how to overcome poverty.” - Paul Kipkorir Koech

“I have always thought of employment. I have wasted years between jobs. Now I see opportunities for business wherever I go. I am equipped in managing a business and have the confidence to start one thanks to DBSP.” - Patrick Kwova

“Never again will I borrow. I know where sustainability lies. Business is the key to addressing what is facing us. War, poverty, hatred are all fruit of the lack of good business skills.” - Isaack Ikanja

“My problem has been the lack of good record keeping. I thought business money can be mixed with personal, and that has been my problem. I can now run a successful business.” - Francis Ngugi

“You don’t need a lot to start your own business. With good managerial skills and good records my business can grow. I don’t even need a loan to start my business; I can start small.” - David Kipwambok Tum

“The program has really helped me by giving me insight on the proper running of a business and how to go about it. It was a wonderful experience. My life has changed and will never be the same again.” - Paul Njau Kangethe

“I wish I had these skills 10 years ago! I now know what a business is and how to run it. I can now differentiate records of various forms and produce a proper business plan. I can tell when I am making a profit and I can spot a business opportunity and go for it without fear because of being able to do a SWOT analysis and calculalte BEP.” - Zippora Sangiluh