Welcome to Tyfa Agency, Kenya

Hard-working people struggling to care for their families. Children lacking food, education, heath care and a brighter future. Gracious men and women using meager resources to provide meals for guests. This is what we experienced every time we visit a rural community in Kenya. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking. If you visit a rural village you will be stunned to see so many industrious men and women in such dire straits.
Many Kenyans can sustain themselves with little amount earned rightfully but not many have skills to run and manage small business successfully.

How we Work

We employ a grassroots model of economic development. Because we invest in poor local people, our program is wide reaching, cost-effective, locally sustainable and proven effective at reducing poverty.

The key to our rural program delivery is a network of 80+ village business mentors. These individuals are uncommonly dedicated to helping the communities in which they live and work. Many have spent their entire lives in rural villages excluding time away for higher education. A substantial number hold leadership positions in local churches, hospitals, schools and small businesses. They assist with help from of our team, they assist to:

• Qualify and recruit prospective entrepreneurs
• Deliver business training
• Assist in crafting business plans
• Provide long-term coaching to business owners

Our mentors receive a small stipend to cover their administrative costs. Most will stay us for at least five years; some have been with us for over 10 years.

By partnering with leaders who understand the local language, culture, customs and markets, Tyfa has the greatest impact on the people we are committed to serve.

For more information please inquiries or comments through tyfagency@gmail.com or call:+254720466479.
Or contact the CEO at
Cornelius O/brien
P.o Box 18127
Nairobi, 00500
Kenya, East Africa
Call:+254720466479
email:nelobrien@gmail.com

About us

Background history

Hard-working people struggling to care for their families. Children lacking food, education, heath care and a brighter future. Gracious men and women using meager resources to provide meals for guests. This is what we experienced every time we visit a rural community in Kenya. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking. If you visit a rural village you will be stunned to see so many industrious men and women in such dire straits. Our empathy for the poor led to the founding of Trans Youth Fund Agency (TYFA) in 2007.

O’Brian studied several models of development before charting our course. Most of them provided temporary relief with relatively little long-term benefit. Many failed to reach rural areas. Brian envisioned a program that would have a profound impact on extreme poverty - not just for a day, or even for a year, but for a lifetime.

Over the past one year, TYFA has developed a successful program that combines training, seed capital grants and ongoing mentorship to help committed, hard-working people launch small businesses. A dedicated collective of staff and volunteers in-country lend their expert skills, experience and passion to this vital work.

Our zeal for rendering poverty obsolete is contagious. In the next 3 years, we anticipate to see donations grow from $300,000 to $930,000. Most of our support comes from caring individuals who want to make a difference. Foundations, churches and corporations have also caught the fever. The combined pool of funds supports over 66,250 people in every fiscal from 2008-2013. Just think: The total cost of transforming one person’s life through VEF is only $14!

Mission and Vision statement

TYVA is committed to providing Kenya community with a helping hand in small business management and help organized individuals in starting and operating small business i.e. providing small business management training, providing practical specialization in poultry farming, photography, Video taking and record keeping and also online research.

The main object of this project is commitment toward holistic liberation of the members from their afflicting circumstances namely: spiritual, physical, emotional and economical bondage. The ultimate goal is to see that the targeted community become healthy and fulfilled with a steady income even if it will be small but with a well written plan they will manage to account for every penny they will raise and use in efforts to eradicate poverty.

Founders:

Cornelius O’brien serves tirelessly as TYFA CEO. He is among the TYFA founders. He has considerable marketing expertise from managing her own consulting practice and through his prior work with Marahills Computer Systems and KPLC. He is involved in leadership roles with TMD. O’brien received an undergraduate degree from KIHBT. Serving with Trans Youth Fund Agency is an ideal match with his interests in business, faith, Kenya and Africa.

Wesley Korir is Director of Finance. He holds accounting degree from university of Nairobi and has been involved in financing and building small enterprises. Trans Youth Fund Agency provided Wesley with an opportunity to rekindle his interests and apply his financial expertise to encourage entrepreneurship in Kenya.

Kistus Onditi is the Training Director. He holds a BSc. Degree from Kenyatta University, Nairobi. He has worked in various public and private high schools throughout Kenya. His experience has really moved Tyfa to another stage in Training.

For more information about our agency, we welcome your comments/inquiries through our email: tyaagency@gmail.com or call: +254720466479

Make a Contribution

Your support provides hope and opportunity for those with the desire to work and a drive to succeed in running small income generating business but without the resources to do so. We have a long waiting list of approved applicants whom we cannot take without funds to sustain them. There are many, many needy people behind them and all await our response.

We invite you to join us in the privilege of helping impoverished but deserving people help themselves.

Make a Donation

A modest contribution by US standards makes a big difference in East Africa. For example:

• $50 funds a training session for 5 new business groups (25 people total)
• $100 provides seed capital to purchase 20 chickens or 5 goats
• $150 provides seed capital for a tailoring or carpentry business
• $300 funds an Empowerment Grant for business expansion among our top performers
• $1000 covers training, seed capital and mentoring for 5 new businesses

Wire funds to our account:

1. A/C Name: Trans Youth Fund Agency
2. Bank : Equity Bank
3. Bank Branch:
   
4. Swift code:
   

Or, if you prefer, feel free to mail a check payable to:

Trans Youth Fund Agency (TYFA)
P.o Box 18127,

Nairobi, 00500

Kenya, East Africa

We would be happy to accept your gift in the form of capital stock too. In addition, please take a few moments to see if your employer or friends has a matching gift program that can help us in away. It will multiply your effect on East Africa you know.

Spread the Word

We would be delighted to describe our micro-enterprise development program and share success stories with your friends and colleagues. They'll learn about the TYFA business model and listen to interviews with our in-country staff and beneficiaries. They'll walk away with the clear understanding of how TYFA moves people into economic self-sufficiency.

The choice of venue is up to you. We are as comfortable in the board room as we are in the living room.

For details on how you can contribute please email: tyfaagency@gmail.com or call:+254720466479

Our Programs

We combine education, financing and mentoring to create sustainable income-generating businesses for poor communities groups.

The training is tailored to be covered in 2 weeks in our spacious headquarters compound in Karen, Nairobi. The groups trained will be able to experience first hand business demonstration in the Capital Cty, Nairobi with various visits tours to weel established businesses that started as microeenterprise.

Business training empowers groups of five or more people to select, create and operate a small business. It covers:

• Assessing the market for the product or service
• Marketing skills
• Re-investing profits for growth
• Basic record keeping
• Small business financing
  
• Group dynamics and decision making
• Confidence building
• Business proposal writing

Computer training empowers groups of five or more people training in business, basic computer skills more especially on internet & emailing since it is our most preferred means of comm

• Introduction to computers
• Operating systems (Windows XP, Vista , etc)
• Basic word processing (Ms Word)
• Internet & Emailing

Professional training empowers groups of five or more on professional specialization for self employment whether part-time of full-time. It covers

• Photography
• Video taking
• Video editing (Previous computer certificate required)
• Simple Maasai Ornament making i.e. bangles, rings, necklace, etc.

Seed capital grants of $100 or $150 go to trained groups with approved grant applications. We provide grants in two installments. The first $50 or $100 (depending on the type of business) gets the operation up and running. The balance ($50) follows approval of a progress report that shows several months of revenues and profits. Rural start-up businesses include:

• Studio (Video, photography and computer digital studio)
• Agriculture (maize, cassava, tomatoes, peanuts)
• Animal husbandry (goats, chickens, pigs)
• Skilled service and construction (tailoring, carpentry, welding, bicycle repair)
• Retail (vegetable kiosks, restaurants and cafes, household goods)

On-going mentoring provides personalized advice and encouragement for at least one year. This coaching helps new entrepreneurs gain confidence, overcome the typical challenges of a new venture, understand local market opportunities, become self-sufficient and grow their businesses.

Empowerment grants of Kshs. 20, 000($300) go to our most successful entrepreneurs. These incremental investments take an existing business to a new level. They facilitate additions of employees, branch office openings, acquisitions of capital equipment and inventory expansion.

For more information please email: tyagency@gmail.com

Services

Tyfa also specializes in the following types of service to small business owners and trained members.

• Internet web site design / creation / hosting
• Database creation and administration
• PC / Network troubleshooting / maintenance
• Software design and development
• Digital equipment education i.e. Camera etc
  
• Web site promotion, search engine placements
• Web site testing and English language proof editing.

Our headquarters is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya. Tyfa can offer many services for your company or personal / home enterprises and income is used to facilitate training for small business owners. Tyfa services include:

§ Setup a personalized domain name with web site, emails.

§ Troubleshoot your PC or Network problem.

§ Virus scanning, removal.

§ Operating system / memory upgrades (Windows XP, Windows 2000 professional / server)

§ New equipment installation, recommendation, purchasing (printer, router, ADSL, wireless networking, scanner, digital camera, etc.

§ Create a database for your products, services, customers.

§ Advice on computer / laptop or other digital equipment purchase.

§ Increase your existing web site's rankings in Google search engine.

§ Check the quality and accuracy of your English language web site.

§ Test your web site for flow, logic or programming errors.

§ Web site performance review, tips to increase speed of download.

If you wish to use the services and help us train small business owners from Rural areas in any of the above or any other computing task, please email us at: tyfa@gmail.com or call:+254720466479

Join Our Vision Trips

“Which way to go?” Have you ever lost your way?

Our vision trips are a powerful way to link a diverse group of volunteers, organized groups with Tyfa staff, mentors and business owners in rural communities in Kenya. Meet small business owners in various parts of Kenya and share small business management ideas.

Vision trips contribute to the exchange of perspectives, insights and experiences that stimulates innovation and inspires hope for the future unity. A vision trip includes:

Training itinerary. We deliver micro-enterprise training, offer seed capital to groups of 5 and establish ongoing mentoring to them, this play a big role in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Volunteers will spend time with youths who own business, learn how income-generating businesses provide a path to self-sufficiency and strategize how they will improve they income and management through a micro-enterprise and basic computer with internet training.

We explore the local education and health issues that are interwoven with village economics. It's a truly unique opportunity to experience village life, cuisine, music, dance and culture beyond the reach of most any tour that take years of planning in the big city.

Fun Itinerary. Tyfa arranges debrief and relax with trainees while exploring the incredibly diverse landscape and highlands of Kenya. Trip includes a wildlife safari to one of the countries premier parks, such as the Massai Mara, Tsavo, Lake Nakuru, Fort Jesus in Mombasa, etc.

Others surprise visits include gorilla treks, mountain climbing, diving and relaxing on white-sand beaches and enjoying the sea breeze.

All trips are 14-16 days long: 5-6 days in training, 1 day on fun, 5-6 days training and 1 day for Tyfa awards.

Per person costs average of $50 depending on the number of group attending - this covers certificates, medical cover, meals, 2 day Safaris excluding beverages and gifts to the youths. Tents are used for larger number of trainees.

Intern Program

At Village Enterprise Fund, success not only stems from the dedicated employees in our offices and volunteers working in the field, but also with the work of many committed interns.

The goals of our internship program are:

• To develop and empower future leaders in the fields of international development, poverty reduction and microfinance; and,
• To engage dedicated, intelligent interns in the evaluation of existing
  programs and development of new ones.

Tyfa offers two kinds of internships – Field and training Internships. Both offer the opportunity to:

• Become involved with an innovative and rapidly growing not-for-profit organization
• Develop important skills and relationships in the field of international development
• Work on projects that directly impact the people and communities with whom Tyfa works in East Africa
• Design their specific project and work independently to realize certain project goals

Previous experience in Africa or in the non-profit sector is not required to apply for a Tyfa internship. Tyfa is excited and willing to provide candidates passionate about a career in the field with their first work experience abroad. Tyfa is also excited to provide experienced candidates with leadership roles that will equip them to take the next steps in their careers.

For more email:tyfagency@gmail.com or call:+254720466479

Make a Contribution

Your support provides hope and opportunity for those with the desire to work and a drive to succeed in running small income generating business but without the resources to do so. We have a long waiting list of approved applicants whom we cannot take without funds to sustain them. There are many, many needy people behind them and all await our response.

We invite you to join us in the privilege of helping impoverished but deserving people help themselves.

Make a Donation

A modest contribution by US standards makes a big difference in East Africa. For example:

• $50 funds a training session for 5 new business groups (25 people total)
• $100 provides seed capital to purchase 20 chickens or 5 goats
• $150 provides seed capital for a tailoring or carpentry business
• $300 funds an Empowerment Grant for business expansion among our top performers
• $1000 covers training, seed capital and mentoring for 5 new businesses

Click here to make your tax-deductible contribution through bank account . Or, if you prefer, feel free to mail a check payable to:

Trans Youth Fund Agency (TYFA)
P.o Box 18127,

Nairobi, 00500

Kenya, East Africa

Mobile:+254720466479 or +254729277217

We would be happy to accept your gift in the form of capital stock or machine i.e. Tailoring Machine, Camera, Video Camera, Photograph printer etc. In addition, please take a few moments to see if your frineds have a matching gift program that can help us. It will multiply your effect on East Africa.

Spread the Word

We would be delighted to describe our micro-enterprise development program and share success stories with your friends and colleagues. They'll learn about the TYFA business model and listen to interviews with our in-country staff and beneficiaries. They'll walk away with the clear understanding of how TYFA moves people into economic self-sufficiency.

The choice of venue is up to you. We are as comfortable in the board room as we are in the living room.

For more information please feel free to email:tyfagency@gmail.com or Chat wih our team through gmail just email us on how.. Or you can reach us or above contacts.