Precious’s Story: Leveraging Skills, Mentorship, and a Passion for Fashion

“I love fashion and shoes. People always ask where I get my shoes, then they ask me to bring them the shoes the next day,” says Precious, 20, from southeastern Kenya. What began as an interest in fashion is growing into a thriving business.

Tapping into personal passions, understanding your customer base, and marketing products are all elements of Educate!’s livelihood bootcamps.

The bootcamps are designed to provide the millions of young people unable to access or complete secondary education with an alternative pathway to employment. In some rural areas, only 1 in 20 girls are on track to finish secondary school.

Educate!’s Livelihood Bootcamps

Tailored to support young women and girls like Precious, the bootcamps equip participants with important business skills as well as transferable skills like communication and problem-solving.

Skills are developed through practical learning as young people work to start real businesses in their communities with the support of a youth mentor. The experience focuses on developing a growth mindset and building agency – providing youth with the confidence to seize opportunities.

For Precious, running a business has been transformative – both financially and personally – allowing her to provide for her three-year-old daughter after leaving school due to her pregnancy. “My daughter is growing and I want her to do well, to be the best and finish school. I want to support her in everything so she doesn’t go through the same challenges as me.”

The Power of Mentorship

Precious credits her mentor, Priscilla, a local beekeeper and entrepreneur, for supporting her with guidance and encouragement.

“When you drop out of school you believe that there is nothing more you can do with your life. I walk with youth through the journey of starting a business and motivate them. We also have to change the mindset that only a man can start a business and show them that women can be just as successful as men.”

- Priscilla, Livelihood Bootcamp Trainer, Kenya

Embracing this mindset has allowed Precious to set her sights high; in the future, she’s hoping to expand her business and rent a larger home. “I am proud of myself because I’m independent and I’m stable. Before, I didn’t have anything. But now, I’m making money, and I am happy.”

Watch Precious’s Story:

Produced by The Agency Fund