Meet Regina Wamuyu, a victim of the 2007/2008 post election violence in Kenya and former ReachUp! participant in Riabai Youth Polytechnic in Kiambu, whose life has changed tremendously after experiencing DOT's economic ReachUp! program
My name is Regina Wamuyu a former DOT participant in Riabai Youth Polytechnic in Kiambu.
I ventured into business when I was about 18 years old. I started off by selling second hand clothes and my specialization was in selling ladies jeans trousers and skirts. Though my business was doing well, I faced a serious setback during the postelection violence in 2007 as my business premises was set on fire and I had to relocate from Eldoret to Kiambu where I started off a small retail shop (kiosk), but unfortunately the municipal council reclaimed the space where my shop was set up and I was left without a business.
I Joined Riabai youth Polytechnic and enrolled in the ReachUp! Program in June, 2012. It is in this program that I discovered that all was not lost, especially after going through the Visioning and Self Esteem and entrepreneurship modules, I got my drive back and today I have started a second hand clothes business again specializing in track suits and children wear.
Regina showcases some of tracksuits to the former President of Botswana, His Excellency Festus Mogae, CEO & President of The MasterCard Foundation, Ms. Reeta Roy, CFO of the MasterCard Foundation, Ms. Peggy Woo and DOT's President, Ms. Janet Longmore.
The skills I gained from the ReachUp! program have really helped me run my business smoothly such that am able to keep track of my business growth, market myself and I have also managed to develop critical skills, especially when it comes to developing a future back up of my business in the event of unfortunate circumstances.
Most importantly, I have learned to embrace the power of Information and Communications Technologies, unlike earlier on in my business when I could never sell items on credit due to fear of people not honoring the debt, today I use my phone to transact business via the M-pesa application.
DOT has left a 'dot' in me. I have reclaimed my self-esteem and business all because of DOT.
7 Comments
There is power in Visioning and Self-esteem.This has been my most interesting modules in Reach Up! programe.Have been dedicating this module to my participants as even as i wrap up the course.
Thanks Tuzo for sharing this encouraging story.
Daizy, thanks for sharing this and also thanks to DOT for the opportunity to make such a remarkable change in one's life.
Daizy thanks for sharing this. May the almighty bless you all was not lost.
Congrats gal and may you continue joining the DOT
Regina, you are just what young women need to be. Live long DOT for the growth of women.
Great! When it comes to realizing one's dream then age does not matter, determination takes the lead. Congratulations!
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