Denis Opudo
Australian based entrepreneur Ygap launched its office in Kenya on 13th April 2018. The organization aims at offering support to many Kenyan entrepreneurs. This will help in changing the lives of those living in poverty. The Ygat Kenya office was launched officially at an event which took place at Australia High Commissioner’s residence in Muthaiga.
The organization has been able to change the lives of 272,184 individuals within the last three years. This took place through SPARK which is Ygap’s impact arm. The organization aims at increasing the number to one million individuals within the span of the next two years. According to Carol Kimari Ygaps Kenya Country Director, this will happen through the use of the social entrepreneurship programs.
Ms. Alison Chartres who is the Australian High Commissioner lauded the Australian Government. She said that the government worked on impacting people lives through aid program. Australia Government is working on policy and approach programs within Australia. But it is also working on its foreign policy. This includes delivery of their aid programs in different countries globally.
SPARK international was first launched in Kenya in 2015. This made Ygap one of the few organizations in Kenya that aim at investing in early-stage impact businesses. The organization first works on locating the outstanding local leader operating early stage business addressing major causes of poverty. It then selects and enters an intensive live-in accelerator that lasts for five days. Here they get advice from different experts. It also works polishes their business model to improve their ventures. The shortlisted individuals get a one year support. Each of them enters their program’s support phase with the last phase known as the growth phase.
At the growth phase, the entrepreneurs who happen to be outstanding in offering an impact on communities are shortlisted. They then get $25,000 of financial grants. The organization will serve Eastern, Western and Central African countries.
