From Mary Kiguru, Creator and Co-ordinator of Sujali and Mike Calvert, ex-York St John University The impact of Covid-19 The year started with promise. It was going to be a ‘reap’ year and the members were hopeful of new beginnings or the injection of more money to grow their businesses. Then along came Covid-19. This… Read More »
Post written by Mary Kiguru and Mike Calvert Five months on from the last post that celebrated 7 years of Sujali, I’m pleased to report that the group of women … and men now … is growing and thriving. Let’s begin with the founder members, Alice, Susan and Jacinta. Alice continues to expand her egg… Read More »
Post written by Mary Kiguru & Mike Calvert June 2019 What is there not to like about micro-finance? As we’ve said before, it’s a gift that just keeps on giving. From a modest investment and with careful stewardship, the pot must have doubled and the amounts borrowed get bigger and bigger. Sujali, the name the group… Read More »
From Mary Kiguru, Creator and Co-ordinator of Sujali and Mike Calvert, York St John University, UK. The micro-finance project, supporting women entrepreneurs in Nairobi, has continued to develop and this month celebrates its sixth birthday. We are celebrating with cakes for the women (and two men now) and, as well as highlighting news from the… Read More »
By Mary Kiguru who leads the Sujali women In June 2018, Sujali will be celebrating its 6th birthday. The organisation has come a long way from its beginnings with 3 women entrepreneurs and a small sum of £500 (KES66,000). A number of the women are growing their businesses, some quite dramatically. Grace, for example, is… Read More »
By Mary Kiguru who has led the Sujali self-help group since the start Last month I was able to meet the Sujali women who were free and have a meal with them during a visit by Mike Calvert. Understandably, not all could leave their work and meet with us. The news is positive with a… Read More »
By Mike Calvert who has been working with the Sujali women from the start almost five years ago Readers of this blog will be used to following the stories of ‘Chicken Alice’, as Mary calls her who has built new accommodation for the chickens and continues to thrive, of Jacinta with a ‘hotel’, Daisy the… Read More »
By Joy Gaki, one of the Mary Kiguru’s KeMU students who has been working with the Sujali women on their business skills. The photos show a picture of Elizabeth’s new hairdressing seat and Jacinta’s café. (July 2016) Three years since it was set up, the Sujali Self Help group is getting stronger each day. I… Read More »
The latest report from Mike Calvert on a recent visit to Nairobi. The facts were supplied by Mary Kiguru and taken from her annual report. Sujali Self Help Group in less than three years has gone from an initial investment of KES66,000 (£500) to over KES500,000 (almost £4000) thanks to further contributions, interest payments and… Read More »
Professor Karen Stanton, the Vice Chancellor of York St John University’s opening speech for the recent social and solidarity economy conference. It is reported here in full under the conference video. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning and a very warm welcome to York St John University. Welcome, too, to the beautiful city of… Read More »
This is the latest blog from Mary Kiguru who manages the Sujali Self-Help Group of women entrepreneurs in Nairobi. She wrote this in December and it fills in some of the gaps from the previous entry sent following Mike Calvert’s visit in late November. See more posts about the Group and their work with microcredits… Read More »
Following the recent conference about social enterprise and cross-sector collaboration at York St John University, UK, here are some reflections from participant Sorina Antonescu. This will be the first of several posts which report on and draw out themes of the conference. The conference video can be seen here. Information about the presentations, round tables, the social… Read More »
An update on Sujali, the Nairobi women’s group of entrepreneurs involved in micro-finance. The group met at a local hotel and the photo captures seven of the group with some of their family members. Click here for previous posts on the Sujali Self-Help Group By Mike Calvert and Mary Kiguru Those following the story of Sujali… Read More »
The video captures the essence, diversity and theme of the conference. It was held in English and Spanish with simultaneous interpretation. Powerpoints from the plenary sessions, the round tables and the parallel presentations can be found on the conference website.
Mary Kiguru reports on the outcome of the students’ entry in a national competition in Kenya. An earlier entry talks of the involvement of university students in the support of the Sujali women entrepreneurs in Nairobi. The ENACTUS Team at Kenya Methodist University participated during the 2015 National ENACTUS Competition. The competition brought 9 universities… Read More »