Consultants: Kate Crowley Samantha Silva The Project: Summary The - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The East African Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children Consultants: Kate Crowley Samantha Silva

The Project: Summary The East African Center hopes to increase their income by launching an e- commerce site to sell the products made by their producers’ group.

Background • In Kenya, more than half of the population is poor, and per capita income has declined every year from $378 in 1992 to $360 in 2003. • Infant mortality rate is 7.9% and the under 5 mortality rate is 12.3% (2003). • Gender inequality in the distribution of wealth and income. Courtesy www.usaid.gov and www.ruralpovertyportal.org

The Vutakaka Community Center • Opened in 2003. • Built by local and international volunteers. • Houses the primary school, the sewing club, adult education rooms, and a library. • EAC hopes to expand the center to house a full primary and secondary school and a health clinic.

Children’s Education • Community asked the EAC to start a top-notch preschool and primary school. • Currently serves approximately 120 children aged 3-8 in four classrooms. • Public school classes have up to 200 children. • After-school tutoring program operates five days a week for public school children.

Women’s Education • Daily adult classes in reading, math, and business skills. • Sewing club: classes of 14 students meet five days a week to learn how to sew by hand and on a pedal sewing machine. • Upon graduation women receive a sewing machine. • If desired, they can continue making items at the EAC, joining the producer’s group.

Project Description • Choose products and fabrics for initial e-commerce site. • Create merchandising plan. • Begin building a sustainable e- commerce site for the EAC.

Project Work: Methodology

First Stage: Planning • Terms of reference and timeline • Determine client vision and roles of consultants • Professional opinions on fashion, marketing and consumer products. • Research on e-commerce and examples of fair trade marketing • Background reading on relevant topics

First Stage Results: Linesheets and Product Changes • Initial merchandising plan with photos of each product and of each fabric • Product design changes, shown through linesheets created by one of our consultants, Julianne Spehar

Second Stage: Design and Production • Design research on fair trade and international product web retailers to create website layout • Product discussion with client • Specific products, colors and fabrics

Second Stage Results: Design and Production • Functional, easy-to- implement website layout that will ensure increased business and web traffic • Product development ideas, opinions and growth strategies • Additions, website changes

Website Creation • Initial plans included creating a website through a hosting site with help from Chand Nirankari • The EAC was not technically ready for website development with an outside designer. • Decision to use a private, professional designer for the new site