Yvonne is only 25 years old, but she has already faced more challenges than many people face in a lifetime. She is an orphan who dropped out of school at a young age to get married. Despite these setbacks, Yvonne was resilient and has always had an entrepreneurial spirit.
Her dream to own her business began at a neighbouring farm where she had been employed as a farmer. “I saved enough money from the wages I would receive from my employer; when I look back, I am glad I took that job and gave it my best because the money I saved funded my dream,” she recalls with a smile.
She started by selling her goods by the roadside, working long hours in the hot sun to make ends meet. But she was determined to provide for her family and make a better life for herself and her two young children.”Some days were better than others, but it was exhausting; some days, I would go home without making a single sale,” she recalled.
When Yvonne was approached and told about the Determined Resilient Empowered AIDS-Free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS Program). A CHS-supported program within Siaya County targeting and empowering Adolescent Women and Young Girls (AGYWs), she was particularly excited about the prospects the business and entrepreneurship training.
“They taught us how to write a business plan, how to account for your sales, and save,” soon thereafter, she saved enough to build a small shop within her compound. The DREAMS program provided her with initial stock on items such as cooking oil, sugar, and flour which boosted her sales.
As her business continues to grow, Yvonne’s determination has her building a home for her family from the money she makes from the shop. She hopes to keep expanding her business and urges young women to utilise whatever they have to fuel their dreams. “We all start from somewhere. Make the most of where you are, and you will thank yourself one day,’ she said.
With support from U.S President’s Plan for AIDS Relief through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CHS, through its Shinda Tena Project, has been implementing the DREAMS program targeting Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) who make up a larger proportion of new HIV infections. Yvonne is one of 18,480 Adolescent Girls and Young Women who have benefitted from the financial capability and entrepreneurship training.
