Transformative Success: SBVP Sisters win Ksh. 3 Million in Youth Empowerment Challenge

Addressing poverty in rural areas is a paramount development objective acknowledged by the global community. However, conventional methods employed for poverty reduction have exhibited limitations. In response to these challenges, social entrepreneurship has emerged as a transformative and innovative approach to tackling social issues, offering a novel and sustainable trajectory for rural poverty alleviation. One of these social enterprises is the Frances Taylor Fashion Design and Production unit run by the Poor Servants of the Mother of God Congregation located in Mwingi, Kenya.

The Frances Taylor Family Learning Centre (FTFLC) in Mwingi is a multifaceted project with pillars including technical and vocational education, early childhood education, feeding programme, fee sponsorship programme, and livelihood support. Recognizing a potential avenue for business growth, the project aims to expand its garment design and production unit to offer training and employment opportunities in partnership with the Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) institution responding to community needs; the extended unit produces diverse garments, addressing the demand for quality products like school uniforms, church vestments, curtains, and various clothing items. The initiative seeks to fill a gap in the local market, providing reliable and competitively priced garments, thereby positively impacting the community and offering new ways for the Poor Servants of the Mother of God Sisters to serve and contribute to the well-being of the people. 

While their mission activities have mostly been non-profit, they have relied heavily on external support, which is currently reduced and never guaranteed. However, the Sister’s Blended Value Project (SBVP), implemented by Strathmore University in partnership with the Association of Consecrated Women of Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA), has stepped in to fill the gap by providing intentional capacity building and personalized coaching to Catholic Sisters that help them develop necessary skills and strategies for establishing and expanding their social ministries into sustainable social enterprises. The project also incorporates research, networking forums, and an integrated financial solution model. 

The journey of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God in social entrepreneurship has been nothing short of transformative. Following a pivotal leadership training in social entrepreneurship at Strathmore University in 2022, the sisters implemented strategic insights gained during the programme into their garment production business. Today, the Frances Taylor Family Learning Centre is the leading garment producer and supplier in Mwingi County. Sister Catherine Murungi, overseeing production, vividly recalls a crucial moment during their training when a facilitator challenged them to expand beyond their single-school clientele. Inspired by this, they diversified their marketing efforts, forming partnerships with multiple schools to supply uniforms. The impact of this strategic shift was substantial, with Sr. Catherine noting a remarkable increase in income—from a previous limit of USD 300 to approximately USD 3,000 per month.

One notable initiative that propelled the sisters further was their participation in the Youth Innovation Challenge by the Association of Sisterhood of Kenya (AOSK) Led Youth Empowerment Initiative (AOSK-SLYI). The challenge aimed to “Unlock Youth Talents for Sustainable Impact” by encouraging innovative ideas from the participating sisters. Leveraging their training at Strathmore University, Sr. Catherine and her team crafted a business proposal aligned with AOSK-SLYI’s vision. Their comprehensive proposal showcased profound insights into their social enterprise, competitors, and a well-structured financial plan. The congregation emerged as the winners of the Kshs 3 million AOSK-SLYI award. 

The pivotal moment before the sisters undertook the AOSK competition was the acquisition of a seed grant worth $ 10,750 from SBVP. SBVP awarded seed grants to 60 congregations that presented compelling business proposals during business plan pitching sessions organized earlier this year. Winning the AOSK-SLYI award is a testament to the invaluable training and coaching received from Strathmore University. The coaching role proved instrumental in their success, ensuring a polished and impactful pitch that was the foundation for their triumphant participation in the AOSK competition. 

The seamless transition from seed grant success to winning the AOSK award demonstrates that SBVP sharpens not only the entrepreneurial acumen of the sisters but also their ability to articulate solutions that tackle the social problems in society. St. Frances Taylor Fashion and Garment production plans to use the award money to acquire embroidery, which will further reduce their production cost and ensure the profitability of their activities. This move is poised not only to enhance the sustainability of their social enterprise but, more importantly, to generate employment opportunities for the youth in Mwingi.

The success of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God in securing the AOSK-SLYI award is a beacon of inspiration, illustrating how training, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to social impact can converge to create transformative change. This achievement underscores their dedication to improving lives and fostering enduring positive effects in the community of Mwingi. The shift from a charity model to the social enterprise model challenges Sisters to a new way of thinking that not only requires an investment in learning and effort but can also break free of dependency thinking; this is the bigger vision of SBVP funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.