FOUNDER BIOGRAPHY

Shafi provides solutions targeting Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) challenges. He is passionate about developing communities that are self-sustaining and self-dependent. Being the managing Director at Yida Garments Koyonzo, he is in charge of coming up with projects and programs. His passion in promoting peace through art (screen printing) has enabled him to create employment for several youths. Shafi has participated in Africa YES program in 2019, where he gained knowledge on Leadership and social entrepreneurship. He attended a four week workshop on executive assist training by Executive assist Africa LTD. In 2012 and 2013, he participated in a volunteer clean up at Mbagathi Hospital and Kenyatta national hospital.

Being an entrepreneur with extensive experience in rural settings. He is passionate about developing

communities that are self-sustaining and self-dependent, by providing alternatives for decent work and

economic growth.

At Yida Garments we raise the profile of disenfranchised youths around Kenya’s villages to a point of empowerment and knowledge to be self-sustaining and able to engage in meaningful policy related programs affecting them. In order to increase interest for youths to participate in economic development, it is imperative to address their most urgent need; poverty and unemployment.

For the last two years, we have developed programs targeting rural based entrepreneurs with Business Development services (BDS) where we support them to run and manage businesses. I hold that controversial school of thought, that it is high time that the world shifts its attention towards low-profile entrepreneurs. By this I do not mean merely during data collection and social impact assessment, no. It is time that those driving the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the world to strongly provide direct links to low-profile entrepreneurs to access not only grants and soft loans but also the infrastructure and resources that will help them accelerate and reach local and regional markets. They need reliable, affordable and stable electricity, internet connectivity and co-working spaces, and social media marketing skills (among others) just like the rest of us freely enjoy.