PROJECT DAGO

Women Entrepreneurs

Annual Revenue

Years of Free Energy

Seeing Opportunity

Dago is one of the highest HIV/AIDS affected regions in Kenya and the average Dago family makes an equivalent of $5 per week, barely enough for food and basic necessities.

Realizing the severity and the complexity of the issues facing this community, the Enactus team from Ryerson University decided to take a comprehensive approach to help villagers lead better lives.

Enactus Ryerson developed Project Dago, a customized program that includes financial literacy training, empowering the women of the Dago Dala Hera Self Help Group as community leaders and entrepreneurs and developing a new, sustainable business model.

Taking Action

Enactus Ryerson decided the best place to start Dago’s revitalization was by addressing critical financial literacy issues. They started with women mentors and helped developed their financial literacy skills. These women now share the program and lessons with more than 300 households in 23 villages.

Once the community was armed with the necessary financial knowledge, the students then shifted their focus to entrepreneurial training. This provided aspiring entrepreneurs in the group with the tools and skills needed to turn business ideas into reality, and create a better quality of life for their families.

The Enactus team then introduced the carbon free, sustainable business of bee keeping. Bee keeping not only pollinated acreage currently cultivated for farming and increased their yields, it also introduced a brand new industry – honey production.

Enabling Progress

The financial literacy and entrepreneurship training program tackled idea consultation, resources, support and funding. It also provided a toolbox the mentors could share with other villagers. After the program and the provision of micro-loans, 20 women started successful businesses.

The bee keeping industry is now managed by a locally run cooperative and the village is thriving. Thus far, 20 hives have produced $6,000 in revenue annually and purchased enough solar panels to produce 25 years of free energy.