Part of my job here involves identifying entrepreneurs who would be a good fit for the VilCap/GrowthHub accelerator program. This involves countless emails, phone calls, sales pitches and hopefully meetings that eventually result in an application submission. This can set the stage for making so many contacts and connections that you don’t truly make any. Fortunately, a few weeks ago I was able to meet an entrepreneur whose story gave me chills and that touch of realness that I seek.
This entrepreneur was a photographer. He was telling me of his struggles and eventual successes. He’s a self-taught, self-made success story, now shooting for weddings, magazines, as well as other media outlets. He also teaches, and has moved into the multimedia space as well.
As he was telling me his vision for a photography school, he spoke of bringing in kids from the slums to work and learn about photography. I said imagine how much more meaning a picture of the slums would have, if you knew it was taken by a kid who grew up in the slums. Just thinking about it impacted me to the point where my heart started beating a bit faster. Then this young man, all of 27 years old, told me his story.
He was that kid, he grew up in a slum in Kenya, he barely graduated high school, he had to choose work over college to help support his family, and pay for his brother’s schooling who was getting better grades. He worked his way up from selling bookmarks for the equivalent of 5 cents, to becoming a self taught web designer and photographer.
I instantly got the chills and was reminded why this space means something to me. It’s about the people, the connections, the story, and eventual empowerment from within to help the country’s economy grow and create opportunities for locals. I left inspired.
