>> 2008 SME symposium, has been Organized, for the second year Running, by the Kimathi Information centre. With the theme “Emerging People, Emerging Markets, Emerging Technologies”,

>> It aims to bring together business leaders, Micro finance
institutions and organizations that help young entrepreneurs start or expandtheir businesses. This years’ symposium will include inspirational speakers, microfinance institutions such as the Kenya
Youth Business Trust and Technoserve.Faulu Kenya who featured in last year’s symposium will also be there.The whole aim of this meeting will be to match up and inform the budding business people on the opportunities available and how to take advantageof them. Kimathi Information centre has put together a panel of speakers to inform you on these opportunities. There will also be mentors: people running successful enterprises who will give one on-one information and tips in the afternoon to all attendees.Who are we? Kimathi Information Centre is a community centre established in December 2006. Our main role in our community is to use computers as a tool to bridge the digital divide and to encourage enterprise to blend it to their everyday endeavors in a realistic sustainability model.Our primary objectives are to train enterprise to use computers as a tool to ease and make their work more professional and clear, hold symposiums for marketing and networking grounds and there after create job opportunities through workshop trainings. We achieve this through intense one month trainingand mentorship programs plus creatinga conducive environment within the Centre for knowledge based sharing,teaching and incubation of enterprise.Our strategy is to focus on sectors and enterprise with potential for economic development, which has resulted in increased involvement on individuals enquiring about how to build up on business plans and proposals, hints on presentation skills plus ways in pitching for funding.Kimathi information centre offers opportunities to participate in businessstart up workshops on its three phase yearly calendar. The workshops bring in professionals from the financial sectors;women capacity building institutions,

>> Financial institutions like Faulu Kenya, Kenya Women Finance Trust and the lists is endless. We welcome you to participate in this workshop.Highlights for 2007 workshop July through August 2007, Kimathi Information Centre collaborated With the University of British Columbia (Canada). The University brought a team of 10 graduate students and one outstanding professor Nancy Langton who were on internship to train young entrepreneurs in Kenya. Through the 2007 symposium, we got a list of 30 young entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs were able to attend a 30 day workshop that focused on Social Entrepreneurship. The workshop was a great success. All delegates graduated from the class having done a presentation of the kind of business that they would like to start up. The requirement for graduation was to have a complete and typed business proposal ready for presentation to a
microfinance institution for funding.

>> This year, high profile speaker’s have been invited to grace the symposium. Among them are:
1. CATHERINE GITONGA - Founder of ‘Scars to Stars foundation’ an orphan to orphans project. A victor by choice, she has drawn strength from the death of her parents and strived to find her
Purpose in life: Uplifting orphans to excellence in their lives. Her deep passion for the orphans, the broken and destitute cause is beautifully captured in a book she has written on inspiration.
2. PETE ONDENG - The Africa Regional Director for the Millennium Promise Alliance New York based, international development organization dedicated to the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) He is preceded by a successful three-year stint as Executive director of Faulu Kenya; currently one of East Africa’s fastest growing microfinance institutions. Until the end of 2006, the host of a popular weekly, prime time television program called “Money Matters” on KTN. Apart from ‘Starting a small successful business’, Pete is also the
author of ‘Africa’s Moment’ (2004), a thought provoking, personal reflection
on Africa’s economic and social challenges.

KENYA YOUTH BUSINESS FINANCE TRUST:
This supports young people living in Kenya to obtain financial support for
assisting them in establishing or expanding an enterprise. In its varied services, the Trust provides training, assistance with composing a business plan, marketing support,
Opportunities to participate in exhibitions and trade fairs along with information another relevant sources of finance

3. .Mr. ISAAC KATAKA: An entrepreneur and successful businessman.

4. MR. TOM MUSILI: Executive Director of Computer for Schools Kenya, who provides computers to learning institutions, there after bridging the digital divide.The symposium, will also have an Exhibition of various small and medium enterprises around Nairobi from aviation related to art, from eco-saving products to various other businesses that have been established and are doing well. All delegates will be able to network with these exhibitors to learn more on how they do business and about the products they deal in.Among the exhibitors are:Beatrice who manufacturers Mabati Suitcases, Ghetto FM 99.5 a slum-based radio station,Sport Pilots Association who provide access to aviation, Unfinished Art, who do manicure and pedicure service, Joseph Achega with his art creations,among others. We would appreciate your views about the symposium on the feedback form attached. Please feel free to comment on the quality of activities at this event which will help us improve and serve you better.