Economic Empowerment Programme
About Programme
Overview
The Economic Empowerment Programme is a cornerstone of Ambokili Farm’s mission to create self-reliant, sustainable communities. By addressing the economic, social, and environmental challenges in Kimana, the programme fosters resilience and uplifts lives, making it a method for economic and environmental transformation in ASAL regions.
Why Economic Empowerment?
Kimana, part of Kenya’s 83% land mass considered Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Kajiado South Constituency, Kajiado County, faces significant challenges. These include:
- Gender Inequality:
Women historically lack stable employment and financial autonomy. Many earn as little as KES 200 per day from labour-intensive, short-term farming tasks, with most of their earnings appropriated by their husbands. - Economic Exploitation:
The prevalence of alcohol misuse among men exacerbates household poverty and social instability. Irregular pay exacerbates financial mismanagement. - Environmental Degradation:
Unsustainable agricultural practices strip the land of productivity, forcing locals to lease or sell their land, perpetuating cycles of poverty. - Educational Gaps:
Many children were out of school, lacking basic necessities like uniforms, a direct result of household financial instability.
At Ambokili Farm, we believe that economic empowerment is the key to breaking these cycles of poverty and exploitation.
Delve into Why it Matters:
When Ambokili Farm began operations in Kimana, Kajiado County, the community faced deep-seated socio-economic challenges. Traditional gender roles dictated that women remained at home while men worked. For the few women who managed to secure employment, their labour was undervalued, with daily earnings capped at a mere KES 200, often commandeered by their husbands. This left them without financial autonomy and perpetuated cycles of dependency.
The predominant model of large-scale conventional farming in Kimana operated by external individuals and corporations, exploits the land and its residents. These entities lease land at minimal rates, overuse pesticides, deforest, and exhaust the soil within two to three planting seasons before abandoning it. This practice not only strips residents of their ancestral lands but leaves them financially unstable, forcing some to sell their land at throwaway prices.
The community’s struggles extended beyond economic issues to visible signs of poverty and despair. Residents bore physical evidence of hardship, marked by dry lips, parched skin, and somber expressions. With only two families in the vicinity benefiting from formal employment and 20 individuals earning sporadic, unsustainable incomes from low-paying manual labour, the local economy stagnated. Children were particularly vulnerable, often unable to attend school or afford basic necessities like uniforms. Most households lacked the means to invest in planting trees or improving their surroundings, further amplifying environmental degradation.
What are We Looking to Achieve?
To improve the economic livelihoods and social well-being of Kimana residents through sustainable employment opportunities, financial education, and access to markets, access to financial resources and knowledge.
Our Approach
Ambokili Farm’s Economic Empowerment Programme was designed to tackle these intertwined challenges with a holistic, community-focused approach i.e:
Creating Stable Employment:
By offering consistent job opportunities to Kimana residents, Ambokili Farm ensured families could depend on a reliable income. Men and women alike were empowered to work on sustainable, organic farming initiatives, with monthly wages designed to align with market days for improved utility compared to paying them on weekends when it’s mostly be used on alcohol.
Fostering Financial Autonomy:
Women, previously excluded from financial decisions, were now employed and educated in financial literacy. The programme introduced workers to banking services, mobile money platforms, and saving mechanisms, enabling them to gain control over their earnings.
Breaking the Cycle of Land Exploitation:
Workers were educated on the long-term harm of conventional farming and empowered to resist leasing or selling their land at exploitative rates. Stable incomes meant they no longer had to sacrifice their heritage for short-term financial relief.
Improving Living Standards:
As a direct result of employment and financial stability, workers experienced significant transformations in health and morale. Smiling faces, glowing skin, and a newfound sense of purpose became emblematic of the community’s revival.
Empowering Future Generations:
The steady income from Ambokili Farm allowed parents to send their children to school and provide them with uniforms and essentials. By investing in education, the programme set the foundation for breaking generational cycles of poverty.
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture:
Workers were trained in organic farming practices, enabling them to grow produce on their own land without relying on harmful chemicals. Ambokili Farm also facilitated access to markets, allowing workers to sell their crops for additional income.
Projects:
- Employment Creation. Ambokili Farm is creating stable jobs for local residents, ensuring predictable incomes. Our workers get monthly wages paid strategically to maximise household utility.
- Financial literacy training. The workers at Ambokili Farm who are residents of Kimana, get financial literacy training. E.g. they are educated about banks, financial services and mobile money services and even enrolled into these services so that they may benefits.
- Market access for farmer’s produce. The workers at Ambokili Farm get access to Ambokili Farm’s markets and they sell the produce they get on their personal farms and this way they earn extra income.
- Access to Loans. Workers can get loans from Ambokili Farm. With these loans, workers have been able to educate their children, use it on healthcare emergencies, buy land and build houses.
- Knowledge-sharing. We educate our workers on organic farming and they are able to implement it, get produce and sell their produce to earn money.
Impact Highlights
Since its inception, the Economic Empowerment Programme has benefited:
- Kimana Residents: 30 individuals gained stable employment, 60+ gained financial training, and access to markets.
- Families of Workers: Improved household income reduces financial stress, enabling better nutrition, education, and healthcare.
- Kimana Community: Economic empowerment through trade, reduced land exploitation, and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Local Economy: Increased disposable incomes fuel market activities and boost community wealth.
How Can You Help?
The Economic Empowerment Programme thrives on partnerships and support. Here’s how you can contribute:
- Partner with Us: Collaborate to expand markets and opportunities.
- Invest in Our Mission: Donate to sustain and grow our impact.
- Spread the Word: Share our story to inspire more sustainable, community-driven initiatives.
Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and create thriving, self-sustaining communities in Kimana and beyond.
Visit our website to discover how we’re transforming farming practices in Kenya.
For more information or to get involved, Contact us via email or phone call.