ReachUp! inspires community participants to establish new micro-enterprises such as a local restaurant, a cyber-cafe, a mobile phone shop, a soap-making business and a construction enterprise. Other graduates have developed community development initiatives and projects to engage marginalized groups in community activities, while simultaneously generating income.

For more information on projects like these, please visit our Kenya, Ethiopia and Lebanon Featured Projects pages.

Here's one participant's story:

Damaris Toboso was born in a slum in Nairobi. She had never touched a computer before joining the DOT ReachUp! training and had no idea of the impact that technology would have on her life. She always thought that computers were made for people who work in banks and hotel industries, and that ordinary people have no use for them.

During the training, Damaris and seven other women in the ReachUp! program decided to launch a micro enterprise based on their own talents and assets. They knew they could string beads and market the jewelry in their community. They each contributed 200 KSH to purchase the beads and bead supplies to produce the first necklaces. Using the computer and entrepreneurial skills gained in the ReachUp! program, the women beaders created their own presentation materials, learned to navigate the Internet for marketing and business purposes, and discovered the power of email communication.

Damaris's dream is to bring the ReachUp! program into her slum village, and give the gift of learning to the many poor young people in her community.