A future with a job for the Kenyan youth
We are David, Marie, Carlijn, Mark and Michelle and follow a master's degree at the faculty of Industrial Design at TU Delft and we all have a passion for social entrepreneurship. In the coming 5 months we are committed to the KenyaVision social project with the aim of reducing high unemployment among young Kenyans! Watch our video to meet our team!
Every year about 900,000 Kenyans graduate while only 100,000 jobs are available annually. This means that there is a huge gap between employment and the number of young people in Kenya looking for work. Our partner, Proportion, is actively reducing this gap by creating an entrepreneurial mindset among the local youth. Last year, eight Kenyan youths had the opportunity to become Vision Agents through the Proportion training courses. These eight Vision Agents are now trained to perform eye tests and make personalized glasses for local Kenyans using a special toolkit designed by TwoBillionEyes.
Our goal is to create a sustainable business model for both the current Vision Agents and all Vision Agents who will be trained in the future. For this, we are going to Kenya for ten weeks to speak with local stakeholders so that we can develop this business plan with the aim of building a thriving business. With this basis, the Vision Agents can develop into successful entrepreneurs and unemployment belongs to the past!
We need your support!
With your contribution you make it possible for the Vision Agents to become successful entrepreneurs and thereby support the battle against unemployment in Kenya.
Provide the Kenyan youth with a future with a job by donating and sharing!
We are David, Marie, Carlijn, Mark and Michelle we are following a master's degree at the faculty of Industrial Design at TU Delft and we all have a passion for social entrepreneurship.
Carlijn Geerse
Hi! I am a master's student in Strategic Product Design from the Netherlands. I believe that the combination of (business) strategy and design helps solve complex problems. What I find interesting about this project is the complexity and the two problems it tries to solve; entrepreneurship among young people and improving the vision (eye) of the local communities!
David The Hi! I am now in my final year of the Masters track in Strategic Product Design. I once opted for this master track because starting a social enterprise is my big dream. When I heard about this project I was immediately sold and I am looking forward to making an impact for young people in Kenya!
Marie van den Bergh Hey! I am from Belgium and am in my final year of the Masters in Strategic Product Design. I have always been interested in social design and complex problems. My goal as a designer is to add value where it is the most urgent and I look forward to the challenge to use strategic design and entrepreneurship and to work together with stakeholders in Kenya!
Mark van der Smagt Hey! I am a master student "Integrated Product Design". I wanted to use my master electives to do something valuable with the ability to do something that inspires me. That is why I am stepping out of my comfort zone for this project, both in the project and on location, to help our peers in Kenya improve the world.
Michelle Geerlings
Hi, I am an enthusiastic and ambitious Dutch student, currently in my final year of my Masters in Strategic Product Design. I have always been passionate about entrepreneurship and I have a history of volunteering, hence my enthusiasm for this project combines both. As designers, we will use our design-thinking knowledge and solution-oriented mindset to create the optimal business model that has a positive impact in Kenya.
ProPortion
Proportion is an international team of creative professionals with team members in the Netherlands and other parts of the world. The team consists of strategists, entrepreneurs, human-centered designers and context experts. The foundation realizes social impact by developing social enterprises that offer life-enhancing products and services. Proportion's mission is to accelerate social entrepreneurship in low-income areas. They are currently developing social enterprises in Bangladesh, Colombia and Kenya. Within our project we work together with the social enterprise in Kenya, called "Vijana Reloaded" (which means youth as a driver).
Vijana Reloaded
Within our project we work together with the social enterprise in Kenya, called "Vijana Reloaded" (which means youth as a driver). Vijana Reloaded aims to create employment for young people in Kenya through entrepreneurship training and offering "ready-to-go" businesses. About 35% of Kenyan youths are unemployed or have a job below their educational level. Vijana Reloaded supports a future where young people are the driving force behind job creation, for themselves and other young people.
During our project we focus on the development of the business model for Vision Vijana, a ready-to-go business from Vijana Reloaded. Trained young Kenyian locals can offer eye tests and make suitable glasses for the specific needs of their clients. These so called ‘Vision Agents’ only need two suitcases to be able to improve the visibility of their customers for a relatively low price.
TwoBillionEyes
During our project for Vision Vijana we also work together with the organization TwoBillionEyes. This cooperation focuses on the UN SDG "Good health and well-being" since worldwide, more than one billion people would be able to improve their vision if they had access to glasses. By focusing on employers and organizations, we can offer visibility improvement to Bottom of the Pyramid communities.
