"For us this is mature global development"
Lord Michael Hastings, Global Head of Corporate Citizenship, KPMG
YOU+ 100s of budding Kenyan entrepreneurs working this summer to create new businesses that provide jobs and improve lives.
Balloon Kenya is an award winning social enterprise working to defeat poverty through entrepreneurship. We team up passionate young people from around the world with ambitious Kenyan youth groups to work together for 6 weeks, launching sustainable new businesses that tackle local problems.
We are building a team of exceptional young innovators to join us in Kenya this summer to work with more than 500 young Kenyans and create 75 new businesses.
This is a remarkable opportunity for anyone wanting to develop outstanding entrepreneurial skills, get hands on start-up experience, manage an international development project, and above all, embark on a life changing journey.
We believe our generation can lead change. Join us.
The Role
- LEARN: Balloon Kenya recruits young people from across the world (Enterprise Fellows) to complete an intensive week-long programme in business design, developed with leading entrepreneurship educators and 100s of young people.
- SHARE: Fellows then work for 5 weeks with budding Kenyan entrepreneurs, leading classes and supporting groups to devise, develop and test new business ideas.
- PITCH: On the last weekend groups present their business proposals to our Microfinance Fund and we invest in the best ideas. Last year we invested £4880 in 20 start-up businesses. This year we will invest £15,000 in 75 businesses.
What's in it for you?
The Balloon Kenya programme offers:
- an exciting yet challenging experience leading a creative process supporting Kenyans to defeat poverty through enterprise, not aid.
- the environment to develop a hugely impressive range of business and interpersonal skills rated highly by major employers.
- an investment in your future. Our alumni have gone on to set-up their own businesses, get top jobs in a variety of sectors, and 3 are even now employed by their university teaching social enterprise.
"The Balloon Kenya programme has truly been the most rewarding experience I have had to date." Anna Rickman, Balloon Fellow 2012, University of Oxford
"Within 6 weeks of returning from Kenya I received a very exciting job offer which I wouldn't have got without my experiences on the programme." Felicity Cremin, Balloon Fellow 2012, University of Bristol
"Balloon Kenya has equipped me to take the first steps to realising my dream of starting a business." Steve Finerty, Balloon Fellow 2012, University of Hull
Programme Dates
Programme 1: June 22nd – August 4th 2013
Programme 2: August 10th – September 22nd 2013
For more information visit www.balloonkenya.com
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
February 25th 2013
Awards
- 'International Social Enterprise of the Year' 2012 – Finalist at the Social Enterprise UK Awards
- Winner of Cass Business School New Venture Creation Programme Santander Prize 'Best New Venture' 2011
- Voted as one of the top 100 most promising young start-up companies 2012 Intuit 100UP
- Powered by the Young Foundation - Accelerator Programme "2012-13 Venture"
