Location: Meru County, Kenya
Funds Needed: $600
Help kickstart development in Kenya in a sustainable way where loans are given to start new family businesses. Then successful businesses repay the loan; refilling the pot which is then used to start further businesses. It's the gift that keeps giving!
Project Brief
Edfri International is working to bring families in Meru County, Eastern Kenya, out of extreme poverty through the Community Empowerment Project (CEP). Many of the families in Meru face daily struggles due to high unemployment and limited job opportunities. Yet, within these communities are people with determination and practical skills, held back only by a lack of capital and access to resources.
Edfri aims to provide small business risk free loans alongside mentorship and training to help participants launch and manage successful microenterprises. This microloan facility provides people with the tools to build businesses that lifts them and their families out of poverty in an ongoing, sustainable way that encourages entrepreneurialism, dignity and longevity.
The Need:
In Meru County, countless families live on the edge of poverty, with few reliable job opportunities. Many individuals, especially women and youth, possess the skills and ambition to start small businesses but are blocked by one key barrier: access to capital. Traditional financial institutions often require collateral or impose high interest rates, excluding those who need support the most.
Without income, families struggle to meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, and education. Children drop out of school, households remain dependent on sporadic aid, and the cycle of poverty continues. Yet, when given the right opportunity and support, these same individuals can build thriving small enterprises that lift not only themselves but their entire households.
The Solution:
Through the Community Empowerment Project, Edfri International identifies individuals who are both in need and have the potential to run small businesses, providing them with the support necessary to succeed. Participants receive start-up capital in the form of a risk-free loan with no interest rate (18% is typically charged by banks). Beneficiaries contribute a modest administration fee, which supports essential business training, ongoing mentorship from Edfri staff and volunteers, and the long-term sustainability of the program. With 0% interest, participants are not trapped in cycles of debt; instead, the model creates a supportive, low-risk environment that empowers individuals to build sustainable livelihoods and lift themselves out of poverty.
This model ensures not only that businesses are launched, but that individuals are nurtured and supported through the critical early stages. Edfri has already helped set up several small businesses, each with a modest investments equal to the project cost, that are now providing sustainable livelihoods for local families. These include grocery stalls, chicken farms, and fresh juice vendors, all chosen for their low start-up costs, income potential, and relevance to the surrounding community.
