HOW A YOUTH FROM NYERI RAISED VERSITY FEES AND NOW MAKING 4500 KSH (DAILY) SELLING CHAPATIS.

Truth be told that I raised my varsity fees through making of Chapatis.

Why did I do Chapatis for my education?. It started since I was 14 years of age when my parents separated, due to domestic violence, (both parents left home leaving me and my helpless siblings on our own). That time I was a day-scholar and a form 1 student
in a county school in my constituency which was only 5km from home.

Having no one to help in raising my school fees , helped by my bros, i ventured in charcoal burning during weekends which I sold to get money for our upkeep. I took maize and firewood to the school to pay for my fees. I thank my principal for accepting these.

After my KCSE , I passed well and with the little funding I got from my uncle, I joined Dedan Kimathi University to persue BcOM – Finance Option. In my third year, funding stopped unexpectedly. This forced me to differ and stop my studies sending me to a harsh but real world experience of ‘hustling’ in the streets of Nairobi city. Here , I did all manner of manual, and informal jobs(kibaruas) including making Chapatis in the slums of Muruku Kwa Njenga -Nairobi. Little did I know that this Chapati – making task could re-kindle and re-energize my desire for campus studies again.

On getting back to campus, the administration allowed me to establish a chapati outlet in the university compound. This was the Start of my education breakthrough. Normally, it started small, and I trusted the long tedious process until it grew to a : likable and sizeable venture employing 3 students as employees ,From making 40 Chapatis in a day to making to a tune of 1000 Chapatis daily. From making a profit of mere Ksh .180 to a profit margin of ksh. 4500 daily.

God is always faithful. I continued to pray and work with no despair in life, always growing my faith in him , paying my fees and bills and growing my business until I opened a new branch in Nyeri town -near Nyeri National Polytechnic. This also thrived well , employing 3 again until I graduated from Dedan Kimathi University.

I have connected the dots of my life since I started this venture, the venture that has benefited many lives, I thank God I have managed to educate my own siblings to complete their studies, help them get income generating ventures and still others are continuing with their education. I have taught more than 10 youths to start their own ventures using the readily available resources and knowledge, applying the knowledge gotten in class, business concepts and observation of the current trends in customer needs.

Chapati proceeds have given rise to the birth of Nyeri Pamba, a wholesale/retail outlet that deals with Baby and adult diapers, sanitary pads, baby wipes, tissue papers and other toiletries in Nyeri town.

Thanks to Quo Vadis youth hub led by Fr Bernard Watoro under the leadership of his Grace Archbishop Antony Muheria for the BodaBoda and youth mentorship programs offered, for enlightening me, motivating me and continuously enriching my business skills and expertise.

In partnership with some charitable organizations(some of which are referrals from Sylvia Gitari – Quo Vadis Youth Hub) and other persons, we provide essentials which include baby and adult diapers and sanitary pads to the less fortunate.

I am sure all this could not have happened If I got support from my parents, it was an owful testing medicine, but I guess the patient needed it.

Just like a sperm and ovum fuse biologically to produce a baby and it grows to a mature human being, – faith and business are similar. Sometimes the very little things we meet around could be the birth of any other major ventures that could exist in the future. It could be the birth of a bigger organisation to benefit mankind.

In May 8, 1886 , Dr. John Pamberton , the founder CocaCola Company, started serving 9 drinks of Coca-Cola drinks in a jug daily, today CocaCola company sells close to 1.9 billion servings daily in the whole world, employing 700000 people across the world. Success is a slow process done by a series of small things brought together with persistence and consistence.

Author:
Boniface Nzivu Musiu