KCDC is a global catalyst partner of Street Business School (SBS) which aims to lift 1 million people out of poverty by 2027 with the philosophy that “When we invest in women, they invest in their communities. By increasing their incomes through business ownership, women can feed their families and send their children to school.”
SBS empowers female caregivers of children with disabilities by providing training in business and entrepreneurial skills through a participatory learning approach. KCDC has a team of 5 lead coaches who are all parents of children with disabilities that deliver training to other caregivers. The training includes 5 modules: starting small, market analysis, bookkeeping, savings and investments and does not require large capital to start. In fact, participants are taught to start a business with only $2 or $3. The objectives of the programme include; improving livelihood skills of female caregivers and improving self-sustainability for families of children with disabilities.
Since 2017, 393 caregivers have graduated from the 6-month programme and opened their own businesses, 90% still have a business one year after graduating with an average income increase of 1095% within a year of completion. A large number of our beneficiary families are female-headed households, highlighting the need to empower women to be able to meet the needs of their families. These caregivers have increased self-confidence and self-esteem, increased family income and are therefore able to support other family members financially, they are able to make repairs on their homes, pay school fees and medical costs and no longer feel isolated and ridiculed by their community, but now are accepted as valued members and enjoy an improved overall quality of life.