ROSE Success Stories

MEET TERESIA WANJIRU

Teresia is a single mother of two daughters in Mathare slum. She started the ROSE program earning only $50/month and living hand to mouth. Through community and spiritual support of ROSE, Teresia found hope and strength to start a recycled bottle business. She grew her business’ income to over $4,000 a month within 2 years! In the fall, she received a $400 loan to purchase a stock of glass bottles, obtain a business permit, and successfully partner with Central Glass Recycling Company. She now personally saves over $300 a month, employs 10 full-time and about 20 part-time employees, and looks forward to hiring more women from the slums to help them overcome poverty. She has even empowered one of her daughters to step in and lead the team in her absence.

Teresia is an exemplary ROSE woman. Through ROSE’s Micro-Enterprise Business Training and micro-financing, she successfully became a leader in the local recycled bottle market, which is considered a “man's business” in Nairobi slums. Her company not only blesses her community but also cares for the planet, as these recycled and reused bottles reduce pollution.

Teresia is breaking the glass ceiling for slum-dwelling, Kenyan women to rise out of extreme poverty. We are honored to support such a determined and God-fearing businesswoman.

MEET FLORIDAH ANNE

Anne rescues girls from the streets by teaching them to sew sustainably and sell patchwork products to a global market. In just six months, Anne increased her income from $42/month to $462/month! She uses 100% recycled scrap materials from local tailors that she purchases at $0.20/sack. An ambitious entrepreneur, Anne is an example of how ROSE encourages women to actualize their dreams and earn a dignified income. Today, she attends trainings as a volunteer to teach other women how to escape poverty.

MEET HAWA MAKOKHA

Hawa started a small restaurant business selling French fries (“chips” in Swahili) in the Mathare slums, her hometown of 20 years. After attending the ROSE business training, Hawa’s business reached a new level just by implementing a basic bookkeeping system. She received her first grant, purchased supplies in large quantities, and substantially increased her income. Hawa dreams to open a fast food restaurant in Nairobi and model it after McDonalds to increase her customer base and revenue!

MEET ZILPA

Zilpa has a small restaurant business and sells a variety of maize and beans, and prepares lunch and dinner meals. Before starting the ROSE program, Zilpa was making $74/month and today, she is making $830/month!

One of the modules in our training program is Savings and Emergency Preparedness. Recently, Zilpa had everything in her business stolen including all of her stock and sufurias (cooking pots).

Because she had a savings plan she was prepared to re-purchase her stolen inventory and continue operating her business. Zilpa was able to purchase 5 sufurias (at $25/each!) and restock all of her supplies. She has already started to save so that she can replenish her savings! We are continuing to pray for Zilpa that God will return all that was stolen from her and that will continue to prosper as a God-honoring business leader in her community.

ROSE Success Stories

MEET TERESIA WANJIRU

MEET FLORIDAH ANNE

MEET HAWA MAKOKHA

MEET ZILPA

Read more stories from the ROSE Garden