 Ya kusensad, pender 같은데 YOU couldn't even play in Vizori I don't even know what to say but that's what we're living in now Wanga taji, لگهج واق ile So Let's talk about somo. weave sumo So mo So from the name itself it's a Swahili word which pretty much involves around reading Kusoma, butikamaizo So what we do we are a business accelerator that operates in low income communities like Kibera, Kayole, other villages like Kisumu and we usually take through entrepreneurs in those communities through a 12 week butikam training where they get to get skills like business skills, financial, bookkeeping butikamaizo biasara hadia koe bol kugro and expand So we have the main training program which is known as buruka and asomo and then we have another basic one which mostly like mamamboga go through known as boost business and the reason why it's like that it's because mamamboga has to make a choice ita kapo nitangan ezenboga I need to feed my family and also need to get these skills so that I can be able to upgrade my family and community So that's pretty much about the training After the training we usually have a subset of these entrepreneurs who go through our acceleration program for 2 years What's the criteria of choosing who can go to the main training program So we have like a one month outreach program that happens where we go to these different communities we operate in So pretty much we are like in 16 communities both in Nairobi and Kisumu and we're yet to actually go to Mombasa as we're speaking So we have an outreach coordinator who goes talks about somo shares the different things somo does and what it's trying to impact After which they either have the option of applying through our website so there's an application form on our website or they can use like a hard copy paper that we leave there they fill out and then they either have the option of dropping it at our offices in the different hubs or the outreach coordinator could go back and pick them and just go through some sort of interview and then after which a subset are now chosen to go through the 12 weeks Before we continue with all that somo does for entrepreneurs, I can see you do training financing, business coaching and of course market access for entrepreneurs Now Makena you're beneficial with this When did you join somo? I joined somo last year that was around September was there for the three months like she said the training for the boot camp after that you like pitch for the judges to know like if you're qualified if you can join the acceleration program so after you've pitched you wait for like a month then they let you get the results to be confident enough to say let me be judge and see if I qualify One I'm passionate about farming and lack of finances and also a stable place for doing business and exposing myself to the community and letting them know what I do and how much I want to help women who are not employed was part of the niche so immediately I got to know about somo and then I went through it and that's how I got there and right now I'm in the acceleration program I'm going for my second year next year your second year? and that's far more in speaking as someone who's been watching from the outside in Makena's progress what can you say? what I can say is it's an inspiration to see a woman who actually ventures into a farming business that's number one and looking at a farming business in Periyaban because most people relate farming to Ushago so if somebody says that a farmer the first thing comes in Uko Ushago that's the first thing and then when she started the training there's just something about her that's packed a particular type of interest that personally I tracked throughout the training attendance in class her participation in class doing constant market research and coming back and just asking questions it was that umf and willingness and compassion she had that actually saw her through the three months did a very awesome pitch because we have different types of judging so we have the one-on-one judging where she gets to stand talk about her business why she's passionate and what she wants to get out of it and then we have other business advisors international advisors also get to see her pitch to decide so you see these are two different sides that go to see her story and how she's passionate about her business and what kind of impact she wants to have in the community and here she is inspiring story before we continue with your story because I would also want you to talk to people back at home to explain your experience in sumo and why they should join let me ask this apart from it just being free we have people who support and believe in sumo's vision and mission and the either choose to support one or two entrepreneurs who go through to cater for different costs and expenses but for any muna nanchi mone nimuna biashara you just all you need to do is identify your business apply and ensure it falls under the categories of social impact either it's education, health employment environment if it falls under those it means that you are eligible and then what you're just going to do is drop your application come in for the interview shows how you're passionate and actually that your business can have that type of impact in the communities that you will be operating on let's talk a little bit more about sumo we were talking about the founder personally I joined sumo last year as an entrepreneur trainer and mentor so it was just pretty much going to train for one hour on Friday and then this year I came on a different capacity as a partnership associate so I joined the February this year so I've been with them since Feb till date and pretty much my work apart from now training the entrepreneurs I'm also looking out for individuals, organizations institutions and even governmental bodies that would want to support either our training, the different programs create more market access for our entrepreneurs to be able to sell their products because our program is not just about giving you the skills and then you're like you're good you're gone it's a whole package you get the skills, you get funding, you get mentorship and coaching we also try our level best to provide you market access so when you get the skills you make use of what we give you back to you Makena so far what can you say about your business ever since joining sumo let me start first of all when we began the year because there was corona things were bad but after this when they opened the border and I was able to access the farm it's in Goliba you see the borders are closed but after that things are doing well we've been funded when you joined the acceleration program you funded and the farm is doing well and I'm also to do the byproducts since I'm producing the raw materials it's become easier for me to also do the byproducts nice what would you say to someone who wants to join sumo right now I think I think it's the best idea so long as you're passionate for what you're doing like you don't need to join sumo just for the three months thinking that I'm going to get some money it's not supposed to be the idea the idea is supposed to be like you have something that you're looking up to like something you'll want to crack in the future like it's a good idea I'll advise everyone something sustainable yeah it's very sustainable because you expected after some point you pick up on your own if you're passionate about something even after that you're supposed to pick up on your own be able to take care of yourself within the business and take care of the business as well I do agree with that and Maureen is there any mentorship program that is coming up or something sumo is involved in that people can join so yes 5th of December at the Alchemist Westlands we will be having like a sumo soko so ni kama soko penita patawana Biashara so you're all welcome just come and see the different entrepreneurs with the different businesses, products and services that they're offering come hear their stories support them by buying from them because that's what they're actually also aiming so everybody is welcomed and come learn more about what we do during the family during the community we make the world a better place because one thing about Kenya is it's the heart of the entrepreneurial world Kenyans have that umf about business it's just that some of the people have access to all these things some do not and that's where we come in so you just need to have that attitude you need to have that kind of mindset for you to go through what Makena went through and she actually did one of the recent we usually have like pitching competitions and she won that in competition so you get to see so I like Somo and its initiative because it's not just about funding it's not just about improving the ideas of the entrepreneurs it's also about creating business people there's something I want you guys to do before you go you know most of the time we talk about Boechal however if we're being realistic we really want more female and women entrepreneurs we need them for the benefit of our country so to the young ladies watching you back at home any last words for them Makena you can go first for me one of the most important things that I've realized in this life being a single mum is that self reliance is everything so if you have an opportunity go for it do not waste the time thinking that oh I'll be waiting for some guy who's going to come and provide for me like go for it whether you're a single mum or you have your kids or something like me I'm a single mum I have two boys go for it things are going to work so well for you just need to be patient nice thank you what I'd just like to say is life is very short you're the author to everything that you want to do and for all the young girls women ladies you have what it takes you just need to convince yourself allow yourself to be around people who can actually uplift you because once you're uplifted what remains is don't fall back down just go on with that same energy that same spirit and find ways exactly find ways to find those opportunities and once you get them just hold them don't let them go and I'd just like to finish off with one of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelu it's a quote that gets me up in the morning it's a quote that when I see her do what she's doing and the kind of motivation she gives me to want to continue doing the work I do with Samo I never lose hope and that's just the main thing so the quote goes my mission in life is not to merely survive because most of us you know in this life just want to survive and get through the today tomorrow it's fun it's nice at that point but you want to thrive and to do so you need some compassion some passion some humor and some style and to get style through Samo Africa go out there and thrive I love that pitch if you've ever had a pitch that was a pitch Samo has a website Yes SamoAfrica.org Yes and you can also get us in our social media platforms SamoAfrica underscore org camera number four if we can just have a look at that logo as Maureen tells us what she sells and where we can find it and buy it nishke duna no no izi bidah ya izi bidah for now I'm still doing them from home I'm yet to rent a place or have my own production place I have things like hot bullets that's the hottest chili there is Did you bring some? I love chili For God's sake you can still keep in touch I can bring some we have things like the normal chili powder we have mango pickle the mango pickle has chili as well it's one of the best selling products it's a oil which is known to have the omega stuff among the three six and nine Is it lunch time? My mouth is watering I want to see these products I want to see these products I will Nice, thank you so much for coming talking about Samo and I'm so happy to see the initiative is actually working, thank you for coming Maureen and Makena, we appreciate you Before we go I will laugh I will laugh I want you guys everyone to ask Mike one question Not just Mike, Meshke as well Whata na mimi? Whata na mimi? You see what we go through here Mike one question, I have to answer honestly I square business No, it's not business very personal womanly aside from what you're doing is there something else you're doing outside work that people might not be knowing Actually a lot but in terms of music it's your time production and such and such let me say such and such we don't need to reveal everything right now Thank you guys so much for coming thank you Meshke for coaxing them to asking questions We need this We need the truth We don't need it We really don't It's good to keep some things to yourself Don't you agree? No they know We'll be back after this