SMART CULTURE

Empowering minority and indigenous people of Kenya living in arid and semi-arid regions, to re-design fashion and food systems through cactus farming to produce bio-degradable fabric and nutritious foods.

The arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya are home to more than 10 million members of indigenous and minority communities. As the global community works to fulfill the sustainable development goals. These communities have been negatively impacted by climate change, making it nearly impossible for them to achieve inclusive, sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all.

The proposed solution is to utilize cactus plants found in arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya to produce sustainable and eco-friendly products such as leather, silk, juice, jam, and wine. The cactus farming process is 100% natural, requires minimal water, and does not use chemicals or fertilizers. Additionally, we intend on using Avocado waste such as peels and seeds as a tanning/dying agent after creating leather and fabric from cactus. This will not only reduce waste but also make the process more sustainable. The waste products from this process will be used to create fodder for livestock and flour as an alternative to traditional staple foods. The resulting products can be used in a variety of industries and small businesses, creating employment opportunities for 5,000+ people with potential to expand to 15,000+ people. The enterprise also looks to revolutionize the fashion industry by introducing 100% biodegradable leather and fabric. Additionally, it aims to improve the livelihoods and nutrition of 50,000+ minority and indigenous people living in arid areas. A corporate responsibility program will also be implemented to positively impact the lives of over 100,000 young people through educational outreaches and mentorship. This program aims to positively affect 30,000+ households. We aim to move to mechanized production methods to increase efficiency and scalability.

The solution seeks to empower minority and indigenous communities in arid and semi-arid regions. This communities are continually loosing pasture grounds for their livestock and are unable to engage in alternative farming. They also feel that the cactus plant which for long had been viewed as a plant without any economic gain has been encroaching on their lands. Therefore by creating awareness on the benefits of the plant and by diversifying their income and revenue streams we can improve their livelihoods. 

We'll purchase/make partners with the communities to get the cactus from their land and also train them on cactus farming this will benefit 2,500+ individuals directly. We intend to create employment for 5,000+ people in our factories. We also intend on setting up physical retail outlets across the counties that we'll operate on and thus creating employment to 200+ individuals.

The products and by-products from the factory which will be used to create fodder for their livestock which we'll sell at 1 USD per bale will go a long way in easing the struggle of sourcing for pasture for their animals. The flour which will be produced from other waste materials will be donated to the community providing an alternative source of food. Thus advancing sustainable development goal 2, Zero hunger and SDG 8, Promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

In addition, by establishing partnerships with our customers, governmental and non-governmental organizations, we'll reach 100,000+ students through our mentorship programmes.

1. Vincent Muriithi Muhoro is deeply committed to the pursuit of joy and happiness for humanity. He is passionate about advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 8, specifically focusing on quality education and promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. To further this cause, Vincent has participated in several fellowships, including the Millennium Fellowship as the Campus Director at Moi University, Class of 2023 and the President's Fellowship run by the Global Peace Foundation.

As Campus Director of Moi University, Vincent founded a social enterprise called Dunia Bora, which aims to improve the livelihoods of minority and indigenous communities through innovation. Through this initiative, he has positively impacted over 15,000 lives through educational outreach programs to high schools across the country.

Vincent, at 22 years old, is a final year student at Moi University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics, Media, and Communication. Additionally, he is also a student at the Voiz Academy studying to become an ESG fund analyst. He is also a fellow at the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation. Currently, he serves as the Partnership and Programmes Manager at the Center for Minority Rights Development.

Vincent is the Founder and Executive Director of Dunia Bora. And lead of the Smart culture project.

2. Muhuhu Peter, who has previously served as President and Enactus team leader from February 2022. Owing to his vast knowledge from Bachelors’ degree in Entrepreneurship and skillset as head of communications and design at Leverage Online, He currently serves as the Dunia Bora Chief Operating Officer. 

3. Peter Chege is an active member of Dunia Bora and student at Moi University. Through his passion for visual storytelling, Peter tells stories of the minority groups in Kenya and advocates for their equity. Serving as a public relations manager at Dunia Bora, Peter has organised both internal and external volunteer programs to benefit his community. Chege lives by the mantra that everyone has a role in making a better place.He serves as the public Relations Manager.

4. Hafsakeen Mohamednur, an economics enthusiast from the Somali community graduated from Kenyatta University and later went on to further her studies in economics at KCA university. Having come from one of the Kenyan minority groups, Hafsakeen understands and empathizes with her people and would like to be a trailblazer through economic empowerment. Hafsakeen currently serves as the Finance Manager at Dunia Bora. 

5. Mwanaisha Sharif, a member of the Bajun community, is a final year undergraduate student pursuing Civil Aviation Management. One of the most important aspects of her university experience has been participating in associations that advocate for society sustainability, climate action and upgrading livelihoods in the community. She has been a part of several projects that deal with the sustainable goals, mostly zero hunger, quality education, clean and affordable energy and partnership for the goals. Mwanaisha's aim is to always be a part of the positive change in her community. She serves as the Community Outreach Manager.

 We conducted a market survey by interacting with community leaders and members of the community we plan to work with and obtained verbal agreement for our operations. We also had discussions with government leaders for security support and with community members and business owners for potential partnerships. The majority of those we spoke with expressed interest in our program and have allowed us to learn from existing organizations in their community. We also had discussions with companies in the leather, silk fabric, and food industries, who expressed interest but requested working prototypes to evaluate our products. As the Partnership and Programs Coordinator at the Center for Minority Rights Development and through my volunteer work, I have gained experience working with these communities and built a network of contacts that I plan to use in running the social enterprise.

We intend to utilize the human resources within this communities so that the products we create reflect on the heritage of the people who work on producing it. To tell the stories of minority and indigenous communities through fashion.

The production of leather, fabric and the introduction of alternative food systems using the cactus plants is innovative. In the sense that this has not been explored before in the country. It is also innovative as these processes are 100% eco-friendly and produce fabric that can last up to a decade. We utilise waste products from the Ovacado industry which we can get for free in our tanning processes, in so doing we'll help the government in disposing of this waste by inserting it into the circulars economy. As for the food systems the food produced from this plant are highly nutritious as opposed to most of the food that is available for consumption by the community.

The innovative aspect of this idea lies in its utilization of cactus plants for the production of sustainable leather, fabric, and alternative food systems. This approach has not been previously explored in the country and offers a 100% eco-friendly solution. Furthermore, the utilization of waste products from the avocado industry for the tanning process not only helps with disposal but also promotes a circular economy. The use of cactus for food production also provides highly nutritious options for the community, contrasting with the commonly available food options.

1. Create an alternative source of revenue for over 2000 families in  communities in arid and semi-arid regions struggling to repurpose the invading opuntia and pricky pear cactus to make a living out of them by selling and helping repurpose them into garments.

2. Take charge in creating awareness about the need for sustainable garments in the country through a series of social media and insight campaigns. 

We aim to reach 1,000,000 people through our digital campaigns.

3. Revolutionize fashion in the country through modern designs from modern way of life, the sustainable way of life, this will involve us having our own fashion event to future sustainability and the possibility of going green in the fashion and garments industry. 100% bio-degradable, follows the principles of a circular economy.

4. Create job opportunities for 5,000 young people as designers, manufacturers and other roles that are vital for the success of the project. This young people will mostly be from the arid and semi-arid areas. Enabling the minority and indigenous people of Kenya to tell their stories through fashion.

This will all be achieved by being able to set up a factory.

5. Create use for the Ovacado wastes which are up to 100 tonnes in the country in a week. By using the Ovacados in the tanning process.

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Bio-degradable cactus leather, fabric and food systems. Made in a 100%  eco-friendly manner.

For decades fabric from cactus. For example the silk from aloe Vera cactus has been hand-made. While the manufacture of cactus leather remains untapped in the country. In Mexico Naopolis have a level of mechanisation. We intend on borrowing a leaf from them and working on improving the existing mechanisation. 

However we can use locally available threshers in the market to cut the cactus stem and mash it to extract thread. The process of producing. The process will rely heavily on sunlight which is readily available in arid and semi-arid areas.

The process of extracting the other by-products such as jam, juice and wine is already in existence.

1. Create employment for 2,500 people on the farm/lands.

2. Create employment for 5,000 people in the factory.

3. Mentor 100,000 students through our corporate social responsibility programme.

Financial- insufficient funds to design a fully functional prototype and market awareness to shift the focus of consumers to a climate friendly garment and stress the reason they should do so

Technical- Our team is missing a technical wing, textile and chemical engineers will go a long way in realizing our dreams in an expedited way.

Legal- Licensing for a cactus made garments is non-existent in Kenya and there are no clear legal understandings on how to go about it, in terms of manufacturing, processing, growing and quality assessment of the garments. Also patenting, and legal protection is a field most of our team is not well versed with.

Cultural- Most communities are open for us to work with and are championing for the project as we're providing an alternative to the nuisance cactus and by-products from the process can be used as feed for their animals.

Market barriers- consumers are still low as most don't know that eco-friendly or sustainable garments are one of the best ways to take action against climate change. Also awareness on the shift from second hand clothes that are considered affordable(cheap) is a debate Kenyans are not willing to divulge in.

We have a partnership with the Center for Minority Rights Development. 

We have engaged this non-profit organization that has worked with minority and indigenous communities for the last 20 years. Advocating for their rights and their development agenda. 

On a consultancy basis, we have been able to learn about these communities and the best ways we can work with them.

The business model of the project allows for revenue and financial sustainability to be moderately attainable. Our products through B2B are sold directly to customers and through other business in a B2B2C business model. Sales of the products are estimated to bring about 60 percent of return on revenue. This is expected to cover for almost half the expenses. Finances can also be attainable through Government financial grant programs that contribute to environmental and social advancement. The cactus products don’t need use of chemicals in manufacturing, it is eco friendly, less wasteful and does not directly or indirectly cause harm to wildlife or humans. More importantly, Prickly pear cactus are perennials hence only need to be planted once and can be harvested every six to eight months for at least eight years. This saves on financial investment such as replanting expenses, need to source new raw materials and on water. We use avocado peels and seeds as our dying agent that have no more use for the farmers which enables us to obtain the agent readily and also attain proper waste management around the country.