Working at Faulu

This trip is definitely adding perspective to my life. We, Americans, often take our educations for granted, but here, Kenyans are so eager to learn. They listen and truly make efforts to understand, so they may continue learning and bettering their lives. It's inspiring.

Much of my time with Faulu is spent attending group meetings where I ask and answer questions regarding the similarities and differences between microfinance and business in Kenya and the US. The groups ask excellent questions comparing and contrasting business operations, and we often delve into politically and economic discussions regarding the state of Kenya. They also ask me for advice for general business operations including financial management (mostly personal wealth building), understanding business cycles, and also how to maintain a profitable business here in Kenya. I try my best to answer these questions in a way that contributes to their growth and success, but often they look to me as a savior. They hope that I have the answer, but I don't. No one does. These questions and issues will not be resolved overnight.

Government corruption is a major factor in slowing down the development of Kenya's economy, as is the case with most developing nations. For example, the government still does not offer public schooling, even for primary school, even though the new constitution mandates it. I have a feeling that it will take years to fully implement the new constitution which was finalized in August of 2010.

There was an incidence that happened last Thursday that further exemplifies this point. Food prices have skyrocketed, doubling in the past month, and with banks raising interest rates, the people are getting frustrated. As a result, a group of demonstrators, mostly university students, protested the rising food prices in the city centre. The government then responded by sending the police to teargas the demonstrators and citizens nearby to disperse the crowd and stop the demonstration, even though the new constitution now allows peaceful protests. Essentially this solves nothing, while the government continues to control the Kenyan people with fear.

But Kenyans are smart, creative and remarkable mature people, as a hard life mandates. Many struggle for their educations and struggle for success. Today, a man told me his story. He was never able to go to school, even primary school, but worked in the tea fields with his parents who could never afford to send him to school. But he knew from a young age that farming was not his life; he dreamed of being a businessman. So he finally decided to move to Nairobi to start a life for himself with only 1 shilling (about a penny). But with the help of Faulu and his community, 10 years later, he is now ready to build and own his own business. I guess you could call this the Kenyan Dream.

I hear stories very similar to his every day working with Faulu. Faulu is a brilliant and successful program, and after all, Faulu does mean 'succeed' in Swahili. Faulu has been such an amazing experience for me so far, and I can't wait to share more when I return to the states.