Wazo Jema Youth Group
Wazo Jema (which means “a good idea”) is a registered youth group that started in February 2016 and has a total of twelve (12) active members (8 male; 4 female) who came together with the aim of improving the living standards of the members and the community at large.
Challenge
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the following challenges were experienced:
– Lack of market for cow milk: Our main market and raw material source, Bamba dairy farmers, had no market to sell their milk. As a group, our capacity to purchase milk for processing was low due to poor sales following school closures.
– Accrued utility bills (Electricity and water): Running the processing machines like the milk pasteurizer, milk cooler, freezers, sealing machine and fridges became difficult due to power and water disconnection due to unpaid bills.
– Accrued utility bills (Electricity and water): Running the processing machines like the milk pasteurizer, milk cooler, freezers, sealing machine and fridges became difficult due to power and water disconnection due to unpaid bills.
– Lack of employment opportunities for youth and women: Bamba ward in Ganze Sub-County, Kilifi County, is a semi-arid and remote area. Our employees and part time workers felt the pinch from delayed salaries and wages.
Action
Wazo Jema Youth Group won Ksh. 1, 000, 000 from USADF grant to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on their business. From the 1st tranche of Ksh. 400, 000 the group was able to pay salaries and wages, pending electricity and water bills, and also bought hand washing station, masks and sanitizer to ensure a safe working environment for staff member and customers. The group further contacted Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and have already paid for standardization process of our milk products.
Results
– The Group is now able to process flavored yoghurt (vanilla, strawberry and chocolate). The Vanilla flavor has already undergone branding and is currently retailing in two quantities, 250ml and 125ml. The strawberry flavor is pending the branding process but has already been introduced into the market and has a positive reception. The chocolate flavor has been recently introduced and is in the initial trial stages. The group also processes milkshakes and fermented milk (Mala).
– There are 3 full time salaried employees in the group. The members are tasked in creating awareness and providing basic training to farmers on crossbreeding, milk handling and assisting in providing linkages to markets for their milk, managing sales, managing collection of raw milk among other duties.
– The group has made strides by establishing positive linkages and working relationships with other stakeholders in the dairy value chain. One such relationship is with National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) where the group received two motorbikes to assist them in sourcing and collection of milk, distribution of our dairy products to the various market outlets and assist in expanding and discovering of new market segments.
– The group’s achievements after the USADF grant have attracted other stakeholders; for instance, the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth (NARIG) Project brought farmers to our shop for a learning tour.