PEACE INITIATIVE
Youthpreneur Enterprises: Peace Initiative in Migori, Kenya
The Challenge:
High school Senior Eddy Oketch wanted to create an action project that provided peace and economic growth for his hometown, Migori.
The Outcome:
Through the Entrepreneurship program at African Leadership Academy, Eddy evolved the Peace for Africa & Economic Development (PAD) to form youth-led community action projects. His vision for PAD? To become the 'Pioneering non-profit youth organization Integrating African Youth into Global Peace-Building.'
One such community action project is a full retail shop that supports the M-PESA mobile banking platform and has brought clean drinking water to a community of 5,000 people. The shop has become one of the most successful businesses in Migori district in Kenya and won the Anzisha Prize for innovation.
PAD has received funding from the British Council and Equity Bank of Kenya and has helped hundreds of young people get involved in creating community action projects.
““I learned to package my ideas in such a way that I could tell my grandmother what I’m doing in a language she understands. We therefore make PAD a community-owned project, so I don’t become the face of PAD but it becomes a product of the community.””