Nairobi Investors

Nairobi Investors economic empowerment programme is helping families across Nairobi slums to improve their economic situations through savings and soft loans.

All parents want to feel that they are providing for their families. This is not easy in the slums where crime, violence and unemployment are rampant.

Nairobi Investors economic empowerment programme is helping families across Nairobi slums to improve their economic situations through savings and soft loans. Men and women living in Nairobi slums worked together on saving small amounts of money and borrowing the accumulated savings as loans to start small businesses to independently attend to their basic needs such as food, education, health and shelter. The intervention has offered the households capacity to become self-reliant by providing beneficiaries with basic business, budgeting and financial skills.

Jephreys, along with her husband and son, is part of the Nairobi Investors savings and loans group in Dandora, Kenya. The family took a loan from the group to start a wood cutting business. Over time the business has grown and they have orders from individuals as well as schools and hospitals.

‘If we hadn’t joined this group, things would have been even tougher for us. I’m so happy, I’m happy about my work.’

Jephreys, member of the Nairobi Investors savings and loans group

Since this programme started, it has formed and enhanced 50 savings and loans groups in 37 Salvation Army churches and in 26 slum communities where 1,840 members participate as direct beneficiaries.

The project has empowered women to achieve financial independence, families are able to live more fulfilling lives and are lifted out of poverty, and people are able to free themselves from other social challenges, such as gender-based violence.

A sustainable livelihood offers people an equitable and dignified life. This programme hopes to double the number of beneficiaries in the future.

Caroline is part of the Nairobi Investors savings and loans group in Dandora, Kenya. She saved with the group before taking a small loan to buy a sewing machine and start a tailoring business. She now has a shop and one employee which has helped to grow her business.