Independent (Loice Mugwe)

I am a part-time student pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability at Tangaza University in Nairobi Kenya. This course is to enable me have structure and clarity in my mission for positively impacting the community in line with the Sustainable Development Goals as an aspiring Social Entrepreneur. I am learning how to transform my business idea into a successful social enterprise, to hone the necessary skills and insights needed and to collaborate with other like minded players for sustainable impact. I also have a Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com) and a Master of Commerce (M. Com) qualifications from Rani Durgavati University in Jabalpur, India where I studied for 6 years in the early 1990s. I have trained as a Professional Mediator at Strathmore University, Nairobi and currently work as an employee in a Law Firm as a Law Practice Manager for the last 10 years. My personal journey has been characterized with hardships particularly in my pursuit for further studies where I struggled with lack of school fees. This lack impacts negatively on the lives of young people who risk giving up on life if urgent and sustainable interventions are not made. I am passionate about empowering young people to gain access to education for a better life and eradicate poverty. I am concerned about high rates of school drop out cases and joblessness particularly in informal settlements in urban areas such as Nairobi. I have interacted with and tried to help some young men undergoing untold hardships looking for ways to survive. I have seen transformation even with the limited support I could rally and this has motivated me to pursue further training, reach out and raise my voice on their behalf for support. through networks and collaboration. There is a lot of untapped potential and hidden talent in the young people which can be tapped if only they are successfully supported to complete school or enroll for further training in areas of their interests. Further support to secure jobs or start business ventures will empower them to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs as they pursue better livelihoods, earn salaries or run profitable businesses employing others, giving back to the community, become innovators and ambassadors of social enterprise. Over the years and in my employment journey. I have been at the forefront of initiating and implementing CSR initiatives. These activities however are usually one off and sometimes used for marketing benefit. The impact therefrom has not been sustainable. That is why I have registered a start-up in Nairobi though still in the development stages targeting to substantially increase the number of youth from the slums who have relevant technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. It is a hub that will also work in partnership with players in the construction industry as we also want to impact the environment.