Day One in Nairobi

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Day One in Nairobi

By Austin Herlihy and Abby Sharpe

The team departed JFK Airport for Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi in the early afternoon on May 13th. Though the 14-hour flight initially seemed daunting, luckily our team was seated all near each other allowing us the opportunity to chat, play games, and have fun which made the hours fly by. Plus according to Rob, Ethan, and Stella, the plain ham & cheese sandwich that was served for dinner was a “textbook classic.” Once the whole team finally made it through customs and security, the welcoming by our local guide, Rasheed, and his sense of humor rejuvenated our team morale immediately.

We packed up our van at the airport, and then made our way to House of Treasures, which is an entrepreneurial shopping market that includes Bronze Art Gallery, India With Love, Tin Roof Cafe, and one of our partners, Bush Princess. Bush Princess was founded and is managed by Lotti Lefebvre; they make beautiful handmade leather products including purses, belts, and clutches. Lotti prioritizes the sourcing of her materials — all leather used in her goods is sourced from Africa — to ensure that customers are receiving a high-quality product. She took time to explain to the group her journey of finding her passion, creating her business, and scaling up to a point of financial stability and personal satisfaction. We learned about the distribution challenges she faces from local sourcing, and how her raw leather supply is sometimes limited due to environmental factors, like rain.

Finally, right as we pulled into Homecare Retreat, we were welcomed with open arms by Irene and the rest of the Homecare staff before we could even walk inside. The hospitality and joy we were met with was truly heartwarming. Mama Irene, despite having never met the new team before, greeted us all by name and with big hugs. After settling in and walking around Homecare’s beautiful gardens, Chef Dixon cooked us a beautiful first meal with a delicious dessert. We were fortunate to be joined by Rosalyne, the owner of textile company Buttons and Bows, for dinner and to listen to her share stories about her entrepreneurial journey.

At the end of the day, the team shared an appreciation for meeting incredible people and having the chance to see firsthand what operating a small business in Kenya entails.

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