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Exploring Sustainability and Entrepreneurship in Kenya

 

By Nicole Karadimitriou and Soaryn Rutherford

 

To kick off day two, we started our day bright and early with a sunrise hike in Karura Forest — a diverse ecosystem that is home to many indigenous plants and native species. Our amazing tour guide, Jonathan, took us on an educational tour of the historical caves and impressive waterfall. On our walk through the lush forest, we spotted antelope, massive spiders, swinging monkeys, and various plant life including eucalyptus and the largest tree in the forest!

Student group posing at Karura Forest

 

Our next stop was Anchor Leather, a growing business in the heart of Nairobi that sells high-quality handmade goods, such as sustainable leather bags, pottery, and jewelry. This was the energy-booster we needed after our hike, as we were greeted by upbeat music and traditional dances that represented Kenyan culture. Our hosts welcomed us to tour Anchor Leather’s facilities, participate in hands-on activities like creating leather wallets, pottery, and beaded accessories, and enjoy Kenyan food. The samosas were especially delicious! While we gained valuable insight into business in the Global South, we engaged in deeper conversations and formed meaningful connections with staff members.

Student showing off pottery at Anchor Leather

 

After a morning filled with music, laughter, and conversation, we adventured off to the National Museum of Kenya. There, we took a Swahili lesson, compared modern music and dance to the traditional ones that we saw at Anchor Leather, and enjoyed some refreshments. This experience was enlightening and helped further develop our cultural understanding.

 

The final destination of the day was the Yaya Centre, where we visited Sandstorm and Buttons & Bows. The owner of Buttons & Bows, Rosalyne Sherabic, spent the late afternoon conducting color analyses on our team and helped us pick out Kenyan fabrics for custom clothing. Her shop was filled with vibrant textiles and yarns from floor to ceiling, providing us a perfect example of the intricacies of entrepreneurship in Kenya.

Students looking at fabrics at Sandstorm

 

The perfect way to tie up our day was enjoying dinner at Homecare Retreat Centre, where we were joined by Fred Otieno, an SU alum who is currently an analyst for the Kenyan government. Today we experienced a warmer welcome than we could have ever imagined and are so grateful for the opportunity to learn from all of our partners.

Student group posing with Fred Otieno

 

 

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