Mrs. Peris Obwori and Mr. Richard Kayaga are two ReachUp! Participants who are really grateful for having taken the course as it has really impacted their lives. The two were part of my November/December class which comprised of 20 participants drawn from different areas of the Mukuru Kayaba slum in Nairobi, Kenya at the Make a Better World Kenya (MABWOK) Centre.

a) Mrs. Obwori at her grocery and fruits kiosk

b) Mrs. Obwori receives her ReachUp! certificate from DOT Kenya's Philip Sande

Mrs. Obwori, who operates a grocery and fruits kiosk, says that the training delivered through the ReachUp! program was very vital and she is in fact seeing its positive impact on her business. Her business skills of planning, marketing, budgeting and record keeping have considerably improved. She says she has gained high self-esteem and is thinking of expanding her business.

Mr. Kayaga currently operates a hotel along Aoko Roadin Kisii Village in the Mukuru area. He learnt the importance of marketing from the ReachUp! program, and also how to add value to his business. Currently, the number of his customers has increased because of improving the quality of services he is offering. His advice to entrepreneurs is never to give up despite the many challenges in business.

 a) Mr. Kayaga observes as his happy customers enjoy a meal                

 b) Mr. Kayaga during his graduation from the ReachUp! Program with DOT Kenya facilitator Philip Sande

I spent some quality time with the two as they carried out their businesses and felt really proud of the difference the ReachUp! Program is making everyday in the lives of people.

DOT Kenya, in partnership with MABWOK, has been conducting ICT and Entrepreneurship trainings at the MABWOK centre in Nairobi.
The trainings go for a month and participants get a chance to be trained in the ReachUp! program that comprises of life, entrepreneurship and ICT skills.