YOU + 100s of budding Kenyan entrepreneurs working this summer to create new businesses that improve lives
YOU + 100s of budding Kenyan entrepreneurs working this summer to create new businesses that improve lives
We bring exceptional young people from around the world to work in Kenya for 6 weeks with budding local entrepreneurs. Together, these international teams imagine, test and refine new business ideas. We then fund the best of these ideas and help the Kenyan businesses to grow. We believe that supporting youth entrepreneurship is the most sustainable way to tackle poverty and create change.
Complete an intensive 1 week training programme in entrepreneurship and innovation. Hone your skills in Nakuru imagining and testing business ideas with the local community. Build a creative and supportive environment with your peers and learn from each other. Develop your confidence and teaching skills.
Working in pairs, forge connections with your Kenyan groups. Build lasting friendships based on mutual trust and respect. Plan lessons, adapting the curriculum to meet the specific needs of your groups. Give them confidence to design and launch innovative new ventures, pursuing their passions and developing businesses that address problems in their local communities.
Get out of the classroom with your groups and test their business ideas in the real world. Speak to 100s of local people and understand better the needs of prospective customers. Gather feedback, challenge assumptions and test again. Go out and make sales!
Prepare your groups to pitch for funding. Help them make their financial projections and calculate how much investment their businesses need. Reflect on how far your groups have come and take pride in the fact that you have led a process working side by side with 100s of Kenyans taking control of their futures and changing their lives for the better.
Spend the night in a rural village immersing yourself in the local community. Learn Swahili, practice Kenyan cooking, camp out at Lake Naivasha, and go walking with wild animals. Form deep connections with Kenyan communities, learn about HIV prevention, ethnic conflict, the battle for gender equality and other issues affecting Kenyan society. Meet inspirational local people and have a genuinely life changing experience.
We’ve already worked with some truly inspirational young people. From Germany to India, America to England, Israel to Kenya, our 2012 cohorts exceeded all expectations, and thanks to their hard work and drive we’ve achieved some great things.
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We want to change the entire economic outlook of Nakuru Town. We want to develop and prove a sustainable model of development that can be scaled across the world to battle global poverty. And we want you to work with us to make this happen.
" For us this is mature global development "
Lord Michael Hastings
KPMG - Global Head of Corporate Citizenship
We guarantee that Balloon Kenya will be a life changing experience that will both challenge and inspire you. But don't just take our word for it! Listen to our alumni...
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" The Balloon Kenya programme truly has been the most rewarding experience I have had to date. "
Anna Rickman
University of Oxford
" Balloon Kenya was an amazing experience for me as a Kenyan. As well as learning new skills I also discovered so much about my country and fell more in love with it. "
Suraj Gudkha
London School Economics
" Having studied international development for the last 3 years this is honestly the most sustainable and impactful project I have seen. "
Oshie Shulman
University of Northampton
" Balloon Kenya was hugely challenging but also an amazing experience. "
Amy Sumaria
University of Oxford
" Within 6 weeks of returning from Balloon Kenya I had a very exciting job offer. I know I wouldn’t have been offered this position without the programme "
Felicity Cremin
University of Bristol
" Balloon Kenya was incredible and gave me so much drive to pursue entrepreneurship and create my own path. "
Pankaj Lalwani
University of Northampton
" I gained invaluable experience of entrepreneurship and how it can be used to better society. Truly, I now see the world in a different way! "
Leah Waterfield
University of Sheffield
" The programme provided me with the fundamentals to teach entrepreneurship, but also entrusted me with the freedom to adapt to change. Overall it gave me invaluable hands on experience. "
Peter Kotvis
University of Michigan
" Balloon Kenya has given me the skills and belief to pursue my ideas and not be scared to fail. I also found amazing co-ordinators, new friendships and a whole knew outlook on life! "
Vickie Clay
University of Northampton
" Balloon Kenya promotes the idea that to really understand you must experience. I have now taken this knowledge and started my own enterprise - Chalkboard Kenya. "
Jeremy Brown
Goldsmiths College
" I absolutely loved working with my youth groups and the relationships I built with them were extraordinary. I wish I could have stayed longer! "
Shoshana Dzialoszynski
University of Northampton
" My experience was compelling, challenging, and rewarding. Balloon Kenya is a fantastic initiative which I genuinely believe could have global impact. "
Youkang Jun
University of St. Andrews
" The programme was both an eye-opening experience and an investment in my future. Since returning I've experienced increased interest from graduate recruiters. "
Emma Rankin
University of Lancaster
" In my opinion the Balloon Kenya curriculum was of higher quality than the entrepreneurship module I took at my university. It gave me great confidence in my own abilities. "
Nick Bargstadt
University of Exeter
" I have always wanted to start my own company but didn't know how! Balloon Kenya has equipped me to take the first steps to realising that dream. "
Steve Finerty
University of Hull
" Balloon Kenya has already opened so many doors for me. Thank you so much guys! "
Lauren Burke
University of Northampton
