Kyusa
Kyusa is a non-profit business training organization that supports early-stage youth entrepreneurs in Uganda.
Kyusa is a purpose-driven organization that empowers and enriches the lives of marginalized youth and women through enterprise development. As an Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO), we offer a comprehensive suite of business training, coaching, and incubation services to micro and small businesses in underprivileged communities, including urban slums, rural areas, and refugee camps.
Our mission is to cultivate and support entrepreneurial growth, enhancing the survival rate and accelerating the expansion of micro and small enterprises (MSE). Our business support services are designed to foster personal and professional growth, building valuable business competencies, expanding networks, and providing access to market opportunities.
At Kyusa, we are driven by a vision of creating a better future for young people by identifying and nurturing their passions and turning them into profitable, scalable, and sustainable enterprises. Our focus on leadership and business development support services equips the next generation of entrepreneurs with the skills and resources they need to launch and grow their businesses with confidence.
Vision:
Improve the quality of life for youth at the margins of society
Mission:
Empowering the future of youth-led and at-risk businesses by delivering capacity building, leadership, and business development services that ensure their survival and growth. By equipping entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed, we strive to create a brighter future for both individuals and communities.
Our Core Values:
Compassion: To see every person we encounter first as a human being with dignity and to empathize in ways that move us into positive action.
Optimism: To see the good in every situation, to dare to dream amidst defeating circumstances, and to have the courage to always rise above fear.
Resilience: The audacity to rise again after every fall and the resolve to never quit no matter how tough the going gets.
Efficiency: The commitment to make the most of what we have so as to produce at our highest ability in ways that serve the interests of our customer.
Goal:
1.5 million youths supported to successfully start & scale their businesses by 2040
Objectives:
Our objectives align with our vision and mission, and they are as follows:
- Entrepreneurial Empowerment: Our objective is to equip youth with the tools and support they need to turn their passions into profitable, scalable, and sustainable businesses.
- Business Growth and Sustainability: Our focus is on supporting micro and small businesses to overcome mortality and scale for sustained growth.
- Peer Leadership Development: We aim to empower youth to become adaptive and effective peer leaders, committed to solving societal challenges and making a positive impact in their communities.
Target beneficiaries:
Our target beneficiaries are the youthful leaders of micro and small businesses from disadvantaged backgrounds in Uganda, including those from low-income families, teenage mothers, and youth in refugee camps and rehabilitation programs. These young entrepreneurs, aged 15 to 35, are passionate about turning their ideas into thriving enterprises that improve their lives and those of their communities.
Programs:
Kyusa provides comprehensive support to entrepreneurs and businesses through three interlocking programs:
Our programs are centered around three core offerings: Financing, Training & Coaching, and Business Consulting & Research.
Our financing programs are designed to help in-crisis micro and small businesses owned by youth entrepreneurs in low-income communities. We provide access to funding and resources to help these businesses increase their production capacity and achieve sustainable growth.
Our training & coaching program is tailored to the needs of each cohort, with sessions running for 6 to 12 weeks. Cohorts are divided into business and social entrepreneurs, with a hybrid format that includes in-person and virtual sessions. We have also launched an online platform offering self-paced courses to a wider audience.
Business consulting is aimed at growing and medium-sized enterprises, providing personalized business training and coaching in exchange for full consulting fees. This is a part of our earned revenue model, designed to ensure that our services are accessible and impactful.
Program outcomes:
Kyusa's impact has been far-reaching and transformative for the youth and women-led businesses we serve. Over the years, we have provided crucial capacity-building support to over 5,000 young entrepreneurs, who now run a collective 1,800 micro and small enterprises (MSEs), providing vital livelihoods for 3,600 individuals.
Our efforts to foster social entrepreneurship have also yielded remarkable results, with 95 social enterprises established to tackle pressing challenges and serving over 2,500 secondary beneficiaries.
Kyusa's innovative programs and initiatives have created opportunities for growth and expansion. Our business study trips, for instance, have provided exposure and networks that have enabled alumni to engage in cross-border trading, while our micro-grant program has supported 125 vendor businesses to recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fundraisers
Official fundraiser
Support A Teenage Mother To Acquire Livelihood Skills
Kyusa is actively engaged in working with various groups of youth in the urban slums of Kampala. During our financial education workshops targeting youth in slums last year, we observed a concerning increase in the number of teenage mothers. Many of these young mothers attributed their circumstances to the impact of Covid-19 and the prolonged absence from school. Regrettably, most of them lack the means to support themselves and their babies, leading them to turn to various informal jobs in order to make ends meet. This exposes them and their babies to diverse risks. In desperation, some of these young mothers have been compelled to live with the fathers of their babies against their will, as their families are unwilling to support them. We have had conversations with a number of these young mothers, and they express a strong desire to acquire livelihood skills to better their lives. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Kyusa is committed to addressing the needs and aspirations of these young mothers. We understand the importance of empowering them with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to break free from the cycle of poverty and vulnerability. To support these young mothers, we are expanding our efforts beyond financial education workshops. Kyusa is implementing comprehensive programs aimed at equipping them with vocational skills that are in demand in the local job market. By providing training in areas such as tailoring, hairdressing, catering, and other relevant fields, we aim to enhance their employability and income-generating potential. In addition to vocational training and job placements, Kyusa recognizes the importance of providing ongoing support to address the multifaceted challenges faced by these young mothers. We offer mentorship programs, counseling services, and educational opportunities to help them develop essential life skills, regain self-confidence, and foster resilience. Through our collective efforts, we aim to create a society where these young mothers can thrive, free from the constraints of poverty, exploitation, and violence. We believe that by investing in their potential and providing them with the necessary tools for success, we can break the cycle of disadvantage and empower them to lead fulfilling lives while providing a better future for their children. Kyusa remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting these young mothers in their journey towards economic independence, personal growth, and social empowerment. Together, we can make a tangible and lasting difference in their lives and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society for all. Project Objectives:
a. To provide 50 teenage mothers with comprehensive training in tailoring and crocheting skills.
b. To equip the beneficiaries with the necessary tools, materials, and resources to establish home-based businesses.
c. To empower teenage mothers to generate a sustainable income, supporting themselves and their babies effectively.
d. To foster independence, entrepreneurship, and economic stability among teenage mothers. Budget:
The estimated budget for this project is $25,000. It costs us $500 to support one teenage mother through a three months training and to provide her with a startup pack. This budget will cover training costs for the girls, startup packs that include machinery and basic materials to start working immediately, and some administrative costs. Additionally, we will actively seek partnerships with local businesses and organizations to secure in-kind donations or sponsorship opportunities, enabling us to minimize costs and enhance the project's sustainability. Expected Outcomes:
a. Empowerment of 50 teenage mothers through comprehensive tailoring and crocheting skills training.
b. Increased self-confidence and enhanced self-esteem among the beneficiaries.
c. Generation of sustainable income, fostering financial independence for teenage mothers and their babies.
d. Establishment of 50 successful home-based businesses, enabling economic stability and improved livelihoods.
e. Development of entrepreneurial and business management skills among teenage mothers.
f. Reduction in social stigma and increased community support for teenage mothers. Sustainability Plan:
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the program, we will explore opportunities to connect teenage mothers with local markets, craft fairs, and online platforms where they can showcase and sell their products. Furthermore, we will encourage and facilitate mentorship relationships between teenage mothers and future program participants, creating a cycle of empowerment and support within the community.
- Raised
- $220
- Goal
- $25,000
2 supporters
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