Ten Companies that aim to promote Entrepreneurship and Business minded youth in Kenya converged at the Panafric Hotel on 15th February 2006 to launch the SIFE Kenya Business Advisory Council. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is the world’s largest university based organization operating in over 1800 campuses in 46 countries. SIFE Kenya is a network of university teams out to promote youth entrepreneurship and establish linkages between business ventures, institutions of higher learning and communities. Its main goal is to provide economic opportunities for local communities through students’ outreach projects that focus on Market Economics, Business Ethics, Success Skills, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy and Sustainability.
The SIFE Kenya Business Advisory Council comprises of companies/businesses that care about youth Entrepreneurship in Kenya and it is chaired by Nyambura Koigi, Managing Director Postbank. The companies that were represented in this landmark event include; Postbank, KPMG Kenya, Syngenta East Africa, Inter Region Economic Network (IREN Kenya), Kenya Institute of Management, Kenya Auto Baazar Association, Kenya Alliance of Residence Association, Radio Simba, Salama Pharmaceuticals and Davis & Shirtliff Ltd
"The business ventures started by the students will help them create jobs for themselves and others," said Nyambura Koigi. "We have to come up with a common stand so that teams’ projects do not only end up at the competition level, but find a way to commercialize those projects that are viable," she added.
The 2006 SIFE Kenya National Exposition is set to be held in June 24, 2006. The SIFE president and CEO Alvin Rohr will be attending this year’s National Championship. The National Champion will proceed to represent Kenya at The SIFE World Cup in Paris, France 11-13 September 2006. Last year’s national Champions, Moi University, represented Kenya at the 2005 World Cup held in Toronto Canada.
SIFE Kenya is marking 3 years of active entrepreneurship activities since its inception in February 2003 with the assistance of KPMG Kenya. SIFE Kenya has experienced a remarkable growth in the number of teams from the original 5 to the current 15, with more institutions of higher learning expressing interest to join the SIFE Kenya fraternity. Over the years, SIFE Kenya teams have developed and implemented community-based micro-businesses, training and educational projects to create and expand economic opportunities through hands-on and practical training projects. Each of these projects is designed and implemented under the mentoring supervision of faculty advisors and professional managers from local businesses and companies. These initiatives have impacted over 5,000 individuals of diverse backgrounds in different parts of the country living to the SIFE slogan, Changing the World.
By Jacqueline Sungu
SIFE Kenya Program Manager
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