Posted October 2008

As part of his academic work, Chris Baker had researched the role micro-finance strategies were playing to reduce poverty in the world's poorest communities. The University of Wisconsin student wanted a chance to see those theories fleshed out in practice, so he signed up for a two-month internship this summer at the J9 Entrepreneurs Project in western Kenya.

All of his research paid off, not only for Chris, but for the project as well. His observations, analysis and recommendations excited the program team and Joseph Kwaka, head of Community Aid International, which implements the program in partnership with The J9 Foundation.

"Chris made a great contribution," Kwaka said. "We want to have him back."

For Chris, the experience also netted him academic credit as an approved independent study at his university. He recently completed a 25-page paper required by his professor. The J9 program team turned out to be as interested in Chris' findings as his professor.

"We will be implementing many of his recommendations," Kwaka said.

Chris lived for two months at the Community Aid International training center in Bondo District, a rural and impoverished area in western Kenya's Nyanza province. The center houses the J9 Entrepreneurs project, which provides training and loans to help young adults launch businesses and learn to give back to their communities through compassionate service. Chris supported the program team and also Community Aid's network of local village banks in the region. Village banks provide basic banking services such as savings and credit to people in impoverished areas who traditionally cannot access banks.

One of Chris' contributions was to observe and make recommendations about the peer groups the entrepreneurs join to support and encourage one another as they take their loans and launch their businesses.

In one group, members discussed how to strengthen the acts of compassionate service they providing in the community. The J9 program stresses the vision of "compassionate entrepreneurship," which states that entrepreneurs are gifted by God to not only improve their own lives, but to help others as well. J9 entrepreneurs are encouraged to write and carryout a compassionate service plan.

Chris observed several discussions among the peer group about their desire to reach out to the community. He later wrote this recommendation:

"What I think many of them do not realize is how much more they may know than their community because of the training they went through with J9, and that the dissemination of information on health, social, life, and business skills is probably worth more to their community than their Shillings. As many of the entrepreneurs are already poor themselves and struggling to pay for their own expenses, the idea of practicing compassion through teaching instead of cash or food donations is a good one. I suggested that they try to involve other members of their community in the beginning of their meetings. They could start off each meeting by sharing with these people the skills that J9 taught them. This also acts as a refresher on these skills for the J9 members themselves. If these training sessions catch on and start to attract a crowd, then great. If not, nothing is lost. Equally important will be stressing the impact of information sharing during the next round of training, as this will influence some of the entrepreneurs to include these elements into their compassionate plans."

That is just one of the many excellent recommendations Chris provided that will make the program stronger.

The J9 Foundation is working to establish a formal internship program that will provide opportunities year-round for students like Chris.