Doris’ story

Doris used our HerVenture app in Kenya in 2020.

Programme

HerVenture Kenya

Date

2020

Location

Kenya

It gives me hope.

Doris runs a women’s manufacturing group in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2020, as the global pandemic hit, we brought our flagship business skills training app HerVenture to women entrepreneurs in Kenya, thanks to support from our partner DHL Express. Doris is one of the 1,100 Kenyan women who took the opportunity to make use of the app and strengthen her business against COVID-19’s impacts…

“My name is Doris Moseti and I’m the founder of a business called Ladies of Hope. We make bags for shopping and I use the Cherie Blair Foundation app to develop our business.

Ladies of Hope started by making sanitary pads. And in regard to women’s needs, we began making environmentally friendly shopping bags. The women in the group are able to provide for their families from this, and recently, we started making school bags for children.

This group started over three years ago and the reason we begun this business was motivated by the needs of the women, we began to make bags that don’t affect the environment. Apart from the bags we make earrings, bracelets, necklaces and anklets. This business enables me to get money for my family at least for a few months. However, there are a few challenges.

The first challenges are that it is not easy to start a business, it’s hard to find people who can assist you. And the second challenge is that it is difficult to get funds to start the business. Luckily for us, we had a woman who helped us to buy the sewing machine to start.

Doris Moseti uses the HerVenture mobile app in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. Doris Moseti is the founder of a women's group called Ladies of Hope. The group produces reuseable shopping bags and sanitary pads. Doris uses the HerVenture app, a free mobile learning app to help female entrepreneurs with business training, sponsored by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.

The benefits of women having their own income is that it helps them to organize themselves and be able to meet their needs as there are specific. You are not forced to ask money from your husband for your needs, and you can also use the money to relax and treat yourself.

COVID has affected our business because many of our clients are from overseas, and they would come and buy our bags, and also promote them in their own countries. The HerVenture app has helped us to understand an online business. And two things that I enjoy about running a business is to see your earnings and to get new customers.

Before using the app, we didn’t really know business that well. Nowadays, we check everything and keep it registered, for example what we’ve spent and what’s the profit, and we also registered the Ladies of Hope business with the government.

Personally, my motivation is to provide the group with an income. Right now, we have a good stock and it’s ready for sell, so the group could have a good salary. The app has also helped us in the marketing aspect, and especially with the current situation it’s good with minimum physical contact.

It gives me hope, and I have told many other women outside the group to download it as well. The app has enabled me to improve my business skills. When you start a business without knowledge you will not make it, but this information simplifies the business.”

“I have that big vision in me”: HerVenture makes waves with women in Kenya

Take a look at our video featuring the stories of several Kenyan HerVenture users, with important words from Professor Margaret Kobia, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service and Gender, Kenya.

Find out more!