Figure 1: List of Courses offer at Dandora Green Light VTC

May 12, 2025

Building Hope and Opportunity in Nairobi: Partnering with Dandora Green Light VTC to Empower Young Women Entrepreneurs 

As part of our 2025 Projects for Peace initiative, we are proud to announce a new partnership with the Dandora Green Light Vocational Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya. Located in one of the most underserved areas of the city, this center has long been a model of hope, offering young people access to technical training and life-changing opportunities. In this sense, as part of our project, we’re joining that mission to launch a Business Incubator for 80 young women between the ages of 18 and 27. 

These young women come from challenging backgrounds. Many of them work in low-wage or informal jobs, often carrying the responsibility of supporting their families. They face daily barriers to economic independence, from limited access to capital and training to the deep-rooted gender inequalities that restrict their ability to participate fully in local and global markets. 

Through our partnership, we will provide these women with tailored workshops in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, financial literacy, and access to technology. This program is not just about developing businesses, it is also about building agency, dignity, and the tools for long-term empowerment. Importantly, participants will be onboarded to the KULETA digital marketplace (an initiative developed at Booth Business School at UChicago and co-founded by Judith Nguli and Manda Bwerevu) where they will be able to sell their products internationally and connect with a broader community of customers and mentors.

We are currently working closely with the school principal and administration to finalize the paperwork and logistical planning. In July, we will begin program installation directly within the Nairobi slums, bringing this vision to life where it is most needed.  

By investing in the potential of young women, we are investing in stronger families, resilient communities, and more peaceful societies. Our partnership with Dandora Green Light VTC is a crucial step in creating a sustainable pathway for inclusion and opportunity. 

Finally, it is important to mention that, originally, our project was designed to be implemented across four counties in Kenya’s North Rift region, working with women leaders in underserved and conflict-prone areas. However, due to ongoing security concerns and instability in some of these regions, we have had to adapt our approach to ensure the safety of participants and staff and the successful delivery of the program. In this context, our partnership with Dandora Greenlight Vocational Training Center emerged as a strategic and timely opportunity. Not only does this institution serve a highly vulnerable population of young women in Nairobi’s informal sectors, but it also offers logistical advantages, from classroom infrastructure to local trust networks, that allow us to install and operate the business incubator efficiently. This shift enables us to maintain the integrity of our mission while maximizing reach and impact in a community equally in need of support and inclusion. 

Stay tuned as we prepare to launch this transformative journey and meet the courageous young women who will shape the future of entrepreneurship in Kenya! 

Figure 1: Ximena Valenzuela is a lawyer and founder of WISTA Peru, a nonprofit that empowers women in ports and maritime sectors. With nearly a decade of experience in public, private and social sectors in Peru, she has led efforts to improve infrastructure and promote gender equity in underserved regions

April 21, 2025

“Empowering Kenyan Women Entrepreneurs for Global Impact” has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2025 Davis Projects for Peace Award, and we are happy to share this big news with the I-House and University communities!!

When we received the news a few weeks ago, we were overwhelmed with joy and deep gratitude. For us, this award is more than recognition; it is a powerful opportunity to bring to life a vision we have both been passionate about: a world where women, especially in underserved and conflict-prone regions, have access to the tools, mentorship, and networks they need to succeed and thrive.

Our project will work directly with Kenyan women who want to become entrepreneurs in a place where gender inequality, economic exclusion, and systemic poverty have created multiple barriers for women. Through targeted training in business development, digital marketing, financial literacy, and access to global markets, we aim to transform lives and foster lasting peace, a peace rooted in dignity, opportunity, and inclusion.

We, Judith Nguli from Kenya and Ximena Valenzuela from Peru, are two Master of Public Policy students at the University of Chicago, united by a shared passion for gender equity and social justice. Our paths crossed through a shared belief that women’s empowerment is key to sustainable development. The knowledge and inspiration we’ve gained from our experiences as International House Fellows, Obama Scholars, and public policy students has shaped our conviction that grassroots solutions can drive systemic change.

Our project is not just about building skills. It’s about rebuilding trust, restoring hope, and empowering women to become leaders in their communities. With the support of our local partners in Kenya, we are committed to ensuring that the impact of this initiative continues beyond the project year.

We believe deeply in the potential of every woman entrepreneur we engage. With every business plan written, product launched, or digital platform accessed, we are planting seeds of economic empowerment and peace.

We can’t wait to share our progress with you in the coming months. Thank you, International House, for believing in our vision. We will work hard to build something meaningful, sustainable, and transformative!

Judith Nguli & Ximena Valenzuela