Good news from Wafula

Hi!

I am working hard building my dairy business in Bungoma. My processing house is currently under construction but nearing completion. I have made contact with various small scale dairy farmers in the the area that supply me with fresh milk. I also have made contact with a local financial institution for funding US$ 7000. The major upcoming event is the installation of processing equipment. Have a good day. Regards to all,

Wafula

Another new business launched

Even with challenges of the 2007 post-election unrest, I am now happy to announce that I have started my business. Vimeta Intergrated Production deals with sunflower oil processing and honey production. I was inspired to start this business after realising that Kenya had a market for naturally produced health products. My business offers natural sunflower oil and virgin pure honey with no chemicals in it. The by-products produced from my sunflower processing and beehives are used and sold, as well. Seed cake is consumed by animals and wax is used in the leather industry. I have networked with Soya Tech Company in America who provides me with information about seed oil production, machines used in production, product development and any new inventions in the industry. I look forward hearing from you.

Your faithful,

Vincent Atitwa, Kakamega Chora Bizna participant

Update from Oscar Kimani

Hello There!!
I am doing well, though time here is flying!
We thank God for our progress as a country, we are no longer fighting, we are building the country. Tourism is picking up again and I have resumed working on the tourism project with a deadline of having the information available by the end of the month. Transtech is doing well, too, we have hired new employees and we are mapping out our growth strategy.

After the exposure through the Kenya Stories website and Carol's CNN interview, I was contracted by a a new client in London. We are to start building his website for his company next week. We have talked and agreed on terms. Thanks a lot for your support!

More later!

Oscar Kimani

Business Development
UniqueAfrica Destinations Management
P.O box 25262-00100
NrbTel:+254 20 2040 198Cell:+254 723 891 015
oscar@uniqueafrica.net
www.Uniqueafrica.net
"Africa's best places to be see and stay"

From Herman Wambugu

A message from one of the 100 entrepreneurs, Herman Wambugu (Pipex Industries):

I'd like to thank you for your incredible support through the website which is really empowering us and supporting our efforts. Through your support am now proud to inform you of my admission to the Global Leadership Institute at the University of Colorado at Boulder for a one month programme similar to the one at Brackenhurst but at an international level. Participants of this prestigious programme will have an opportunity to apply for US$50,000 in grants to implement their projects. I have already secured a scholarship of US$2,100 for the programme from the institute. What remains is US$1,300 plus travel expenses. This is my greatest opportunity to implement my project which has taken my entire life to get here.
Yours Faithfully,
Herman Wambugu.

Pen pals

Friends are being made and spirits being lifted across continents. Linda in the US shares with us an email she received from her new pen pal, David (one of the 100 entrepreneurs), after she sent him a note wishing him good luck.

"I am greatful that you came across my email. I write to inform you that you have really encouraged me. Though financially I am hit, I know that through your words I can still hang on, otherwise keep on, hope that I will go through successful.
Wish you all the best,
David."

Spreading the word

It is so thrilling to see our network of support for these entrepreneurs grow. Today I received an email from a friend who said her company had blogged about Kenya Stories: http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/blogs/investorcentric/2008/03/kenya-elections-violence-and.html Thanks Investor Centric!

This was such a heartwarming post, and it reminded me about the kind of networking support we can give just by sharing the story we care about with our friends. Pass it on.

Kenya Stories on CNN!

This week, CNN International's Inside Africa featured an interview with producer/director Carol Pineau and clips from Kenya Stories: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2008/02/27/inside.africa.kenya.stories.cnn

Already we have received many positive responses to this story.

"I just saw a compelling piece on CNN International and cannot express how proud I am of these young Kenyan business owners....I would like to offer my support."

"Hopefully this is a discussion opened to have meaningful dialogue and solutions for the betterment and upliftment of all..."

"I saw the piece on CNN featuring 'Kenya Stories'... I was very moved by this story."

Karibu! Welcome to Kenya Stories Blog!

Kenya Stories is a film-in-progress about young Kenyan entrepreneurs as they compete in a business plan competition and attempt to build their businesses. Today they struggle to achieve their dreams amidst the current political crisis in Kenya. Their stories continue......and this is where you can read about it as it happens.

The six people featured in Kenya Stories will post updates about themselves on this blog. Carol Pineau, the producer of the film, will post updates about the film. Occasionally we'll have other guests, as well, including some of 100 top participants in the business plan competition (their stories are on the main website http://www.kenyastories.com/) Kenya Stories is the brainchild of Bill Stevenson from Lenovo (check out his blog at http://lenovoblogs.com/heartofbusiness/), we look forward to his contributions here as well.

Comment, encourage, ask questions. This is where you can engage with all 100 participants from Kenya Stories. When you post, tell us who you are and where you're from. If you want to be contacted directly, feel free to leave your email address. If you have any questions for the moderator, contact us at AfricaBiz@aol.com.

We'd like to hear from you. If you do engage with these entrepreneurs, share your story.