According to World Development Indicators 2004, “the share of the total population living below $1 a day is higher today than it was in the 1980s and 1990s despite significant improvements in growth of African GDP in the recent years.” One reason behind this is unemployment. The rate of unemployment in Kenya currently at 14.6% is rising each day. As more young people graduate, the fear of facing a world full of uncertainties is quite evident.

A new breed of youth has emerged in Kenya. Linking their academic pursuit to create profit for themselves and the society, they do not wait to be employed but create jobs. As the Principal Western University College of Science and Technology observes, “University students have turned from throwing stones of destruction to gathering stones for development.”

“I am glad that soon I will be awarded with a Bachelors of Science Degree,” says Denis, a 4^th year Student at Egerton University, “but my greatest worry is what the future holds.” Dennis says that his brother, John, has been in search of a job for the last two years and since he had no capital, he has not been able to open his own business. There are many more graduates in Kenya today experiencing the same problems as John. Other than capital, graduates lack management and leadership skills. “When I decided to start my own Phone shop I realized I knew nothing on business management and this forced me to enroll for a management course. I invested so much time and money in this,” says Steve, owner of Pentapharm Phone shop.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE Kenya) have been able to overcome all odds to successfully churn out business minded graduates from 2003. SIFE is training small scale business traders on how to increase their business volumes. Last year SIFE impacted over 5,000 people.

Moi University SIFE team taught farmers commercial vegetable farming, a shift from subsistence farming in their Blooming Falls project. They also taught them on how to reduce fertilizer cost by producing their own through locally available materials. Africa Nazarene SIFE Team on the other hand, partnered with the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries to help children orphaned with HIV/AIDS. They trained them on how to identify market needs, make budgets for a business and what it takes to start or better run an existing business. They created their own Nazarene University Stock Exchange where they have successfully demonstrated the workings of the enterprise system, capital and financial markets, investments and business principles to their community.

By being part of SIFE, young graduates are able to face the challenges of the world; start their own businesses, maximize on the limited resources available and view the world differently.

Celestine Khangu of University of Nairobi – SIFE says, “SIFE has taught me not to rely on anyone. I never blame my lecturers, the education system or depend on anyone for my success. I explore the power in me.”

SIFE projects are impacting the communities and as Joseph Nthome, a laundry shop owner says, “I am grateful to SIFE African Nazarene University who came to our rural village and taught us business management. From the knowledge I acquired, I opened a laundry shop. Apart from helping me acquire a little more money, I am proud to be the main custodian of cleanliness in my village.”

Today SIFE has a membership of over 500 students involved in more than 80 educational projects in their communities. These projects address SIFE core values of Market Economics, Business Ethics, Success Skills, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy and Sustainability.

“These bright, enthusiastic students are making a tremendous impact and transforming the lives of many in their communities. They are also transforming the whole perception of University students who were seen as unruly,” says Nyambura Koigi, Chairperson SIFE Kenya Business Advisory Council.

SIFE is the world’s largest university based organization operating in over 1800 campuses in 46 countries. Launched on February 21 2003, SIFE Kenya has expanded from 5 universities in 2003 to 15 in 2005. The main goal of SIFE Kenya is to empower people through the creation of economic opportunities by offering a linkage between the academia, business and communities in general. All SIFE activities culminate to a National Entrepreneurial Competition judged by business people. During this event, each team presents a 24-minute multimedia summary of the projects they developed and implemented in various parts of Kenya throughout the year. The best team proceeds to the International Entrepreneurship Competition (The SIFE World Cup). 14 out of 15 universities have enrolled in the Kenyan network and are expected to compete. The SIFE Kenya 2006 National Championship will be held at the Panafric Hotel on Saturday, June 24, 2006. Kenyan champions will proceed to France for the entrepreneurship World Cup in September.