The Challenges in Mdada

We all have ups and downs in life in both our personal and professional lives. Mdada has definitely had its share. As a start up trying to build a sustainable business as well as have an impact in the society, it has not been an easy task. There are times I question if I'm actually doing the right thing in terms of my business model. Most people working to solve the problem of lack of school fees are either NGOs or Foundations which makes sense because it would take a lot of sales to happen to pay school fees for one girl for just one term, particularly if the product is costing Ksh 1000 or less. Whereas NGOs and Foundations can collect donations of any amount which allows them to impact more girls.  For Mdada we chose not to be an NGO because we believe that businesses are more sustainable than donations. We also wanted to give individuals an opportunity to be a part of this beautiful cause through purchase of products. Perhaps T-shirts may not be the product to get us to where we want to be as far as impact is concerned, but we're working on that and great things are coming soon.

Other challenges we've had like most startups include:

1. Lack of capital- I've been selling stickers and scarves from office to office just to generate capital to start my T-shirt line and also contribute something to the girls' school fees.
2. Lack of transparent systems in the schools we partner with- it's difficult to get accurate information about a girls' school fees because the schools are lacking in a proper accounting system and sometimes it could be that there's a shortfall in integrity. We are looking at implementing better systems to avoid such problems.
3. Finding business partners- we have tried to partner with businesses who can either sell our products or help us fundraise but that has been quite challenging. 
4. Sustaining the entrepreneur- as a young person trying to build a business, it's quite tough with a tight budget. It's so hard to do what you want when you're trying to figure out how your bills will get paid. 

The good thing is that Mdada has a great support team. The people who encourage me to keep going and give me ideas and support when needed. I guess, this is what keeps Mdada going together with prayers. I really believe that this is my calling and it we will prosper. I just hope this changes sooner rather than later!

Bless,

L

This is the Mdada Team

I'm so grateful to have a supportive team behind me.

I got so much love for this group of smart,talented and beautiful people. A team is a necessity, not a luxury. God bless each one of them!


Love,
L

Thank You!

Thank You!

This is just to thank you for your support towards our girls. Whether you bought a sticker, a scarf or a t-shirt, you made a contribution and helped them stay in school. We really appreciate your generosity. We thought it would be great for you to see  the thank you note written by one of our girls (Mitchell). All the girls are now in school and focused on their studies. Maureen and Faith are in their final years of school, Maureen in her 4th year of secondary school and Faith in class 8. Mitchell is in Form 3 and Janet, our youngest is in class 7.

You can continue supporting us if you like. We have lovely custom made gifts for Valentine's Day going for Ksh 250 for a customized e-card to Ksh 1200 for a customized mug. Check out our images below. Simply tell us how you met that special person in your life and send us your pictures via whatsapp (+254717832311) or email lila@mdadaforgirls.com and we'll do the rest :)

Thank you so much.

Have a lovely day!

Mdada

Santack Estate, Ngong Rd, Nairobi, Kenya

+254717832311

 

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Being one of Kenya's changemakers 2015

I think it was around November, 2014 when I saw on Amani Institute's twitter handle about an organization seeking social entrepreneurs to support. I applied and didn't quite think I would get through because I hadn't really started making an impact in terms of the number of girls whose school fees I'd helped pay. I'd sold some stuff and at the time it was just stickers and scarves, but not enough to make a meaningful contribution. I'm not even making any money out of this to cover my own bills! My savings are quickly running out. Long story short, in Jan I was selected. We were 18 social entrepreneurs from all over Kenya.  Basically we were going to get free training on running a social enterprise, logo and website creation if you needed it. Legal support and $250 to test your ideas/register your business as a company.

I really appreciated this opportunity because it was like an indication to me that I was on the right path. I met some brilliant people doing amazing things and even made a few friends who I've been in touch with ever since. My favorite is this guy called Mapesa, he's looking to have digital villages across the country to bridge the digital divide. This guy is consumed by his idea. He never talks about anything else and that is why I like him. I like people who are passionate about what they're doing. Another one was a lady called Teresa Njoroge who was falsely incarcerated when working at the bank and now she started her enterprise to support women  get jobs when they leave the prisons. She has won several awards and I just admire her. When I grow up.....lol

                                         (i'm second from left, standing)

However,  it was also tough for me and draining at some point. I had to REALLY THINK about what I was doing and see whether it was the right path to take. We needed to come up with 100 ideas of solving the problem we're trying to solve. For me it was paying school fees for girls in high school. As we speak, I'm pivoting my ideas and big things are coming soon.  I feel like I'm on the right path.

It was also difficult because of the group dynamics in the sense that sometimes you get into a place and sense that there is some tension especially among women and some guys too! Some people try to make you feel less than good in subtle ways which makes no sense at all to me. We're not even working in the same industry to say that we're competitors! I just thought it was stupid but I shook them off Taylor Swift style;). I have significant experience with haters ;) who are sometimes even seniors to me! It's crazy!!! It's as if they want you to break. Some sadistic types. You see, the thing is, my confidence has grown over the years and I have learnt to project myself with confidence around people.  Some people may take it as arrogance which I believe is actually a reflection of their own insecurities, and because they don't know how far I've come. They have no clue about the pain and rejection  I've had to go through to develop this thick skin. They probably imagine it's been all roses and candies for me. My battles deserve a book and maybe one day I will put them in a book. For now I'll just say,  I believe in God, myself and in my calling. I'm definitely not perfect and I don't even want to be. A lot of things happened that I wouldn't want to discuss in depth in my blog because I'm moving on and plus it's just embarrassing to see what massive egos can make people resort to. I have a purpose to fulfill dammit, so I choose to FOCUS. I believe in respect for others and uplifting those around me because I believe in doing that, I'm sowing a good seed that I will one day reap. You know what they say about Karma. However, I withdraw from those who don't want to share the love. They'd rather just be haters. I tend to have a good judgement of character and I know it doesn't matter what level of success you have, whether you are a CEO or a gardener, if you have no character and if you're the kind of person to delight in seeing others in misery, you're dead to me (like Kevin O. Leary says it, Shark Tank fans you know what I mean :)).

Okay, clearly I needed to let this off my chest. To my readers, I want to encourage you and remind you that no one fights losers, and if no one's talking about you then you're probably not making an impact. Be strong, even Jesus had haters ;)

Tip: Listen to good music. My favorite is Divine Sorrow by Wycleaf Jean ft Chidinma, Shaa et al and Elani songs. Also, surround yourself with quality people (QP), the kind who support you and can also be critical with you. But be very careful, some people only support you because they're being politically correct when in a group. Learn the difference. If you haven't found QP keep searching, you will find them and most importantly BE ONE.


Blessings,
Lila

Basic White Tees That Brings Happiness

“There are three things that will never go out of style; a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a Chanel jacket” Fashion Mogul Karl Lagerfeld. How true is this statement especially for the basic white t-shirt aka the basic white tee? It’s the one item that pairs well with literally any garment or accessory easily.  Ever wondered who started wearing the basic white t-shirt and made it so popular? In the 1960s an actor by the name Brandon wore a basic white t-shirt in a playwright that ended up winning a Pulitzer Prize. The fact that he was also a hunky male made the basic white tee look so cool to wear.

Quality and Cut

The first step in finding happiness with a basic white tee is having a seamless bra to go with it and finding a t-shirt that is of good quality and cut to suit your body type. When it comes to quality, the fabric used has a big hand in it. The fabrics normally used include cotton, polyester or eco-friendly ones such as hemp, bamboo and organic cotton. The cuts on the other hand include the loose hanging tees or the form fitting tees which also vary in the cut on the neck. Some have a V neck, scooped neck, crew neck or raglan. The V neck tees shaped as the letter V can flatter any body shape giving a sexier look. The scooped neck tee on the other hand, has a more rounded neckline and when paired with a blazer is perfectly suitable when going for a formal look. The crew neck has a more modest rounded neckline and can also look stylish particularly if it is fitted and accentuated with a scarf.  The Raglan t-shirt that was adopted from baseball players’ uniform, has a rounded neck and sleeves that attach to the neck diagonally. The sleeves are normally ¾ in length and this type of cut is more suited for a casual look.

What makes us Happy

Lasting happiness however, comes when our tee shirts serve a bigger purpose than covering our nakedness or boosting our confidence. According to Economist and Ted Speaker Paul Zak, while doing research on what makes people happy, he found that a molecule called oxytocin associated with the feelings of love and pain, was released into the blood when someone was happy. He noticed an increase of oxytocin among a group of people who were looking at pictures of their loved ones on social media and in a man who was watching a video about a father who refused to leave the side of his son when he was dying of cancer. His conclusion was that people are happier when they feel connected with other people and are able to empathize with others’ situation.

Tees that bring the Happy in You

When it comes to basic white t-shirts, there are those  sold by companies that allow us to feel connected to other people. Normally they ascribe to a certain cause or movement where wearing a particular tee expresses an individual’s support for or belief in the movement. There are also t-shirts that allow people to give to various charities like education for girls who would otherwise become victims of early marriage, feed starving people or those that help clothe the homeless. These are the kind of t-shirts that give a whole new meaning to feeling good about what you wear. Different researchers have observed that the happiest people are givers. It’s interesting that people who give end up receiving happiness themselves. Being able to support Janet’s education, a 14 yr old girl in Kenya whose parents can barely provide more than one meal a day brings things into perspective. What you wear can have a positive impact in someone’s life. You realize that you actually don’t have it as bad as you think and there are people in the world who are having challenges that you couldn’t possibly imagine. To be able to buy a basic white t-shirt and see the difference it made to someone’s life, can bring true fulfillment and happiness to the wearer. 

Meeting the Girls

Today I had a somewhat emotional day when meeting the girls. Some of their stories went deep into the core of my heart. I had asked the school Principal of the school to identify two girls in high school who needed a bit of help as far as paying their school fees. He instead got me 4 and 2 are in primary school. I couldn't say no and so I interviewed them all.

A little profile of the girls is below. However, I have to say that my eyes teared up when I heard Faith's story because it somewhat reminded me of how I felt being in high school. I felt like the poor kid around all the other girls. The fact that Faith was made fun of by her friends because she was always on the list of those to be sent home broke my heart and that's what motivates me to work harder.

Faith

           12 years old, in Class 8 at Jagiet Academy in Kawangware
·   Lives in an informal settlement in Nairobi called Kawangware
·   Has one older brother
·   She likes to skip rope, play hide and seek
·   Her dream is to become a Doctor
·   The most challenging thing about school is being sent home for lack of school fees. She gets embarrassed being called out in front of the class as one of those to be sent home.
·   She's one of the smartest students in her class. 

  

Janet

·   11 years old, in class 7 at Jagiet Academy Kawangware

·   Lives in the informal settlement in Nairobi called Kawangware

·   Has 3 siblings

·   Her favorite subjects are Math and English

·   She wants to be a model when she grows up

·   Lives with her mother who earns less than $3 a day

Mitchell

·   16 years of age, 10th Grade

·   Has 4 siblings

·   Her favorite subjects include Biology and English

·   She loves to play football

·   Her role model is Michelle Obama

·   The most challenging thing about school is lack of school fees and sanitary towels

Maureen

·   17 years old, in 11th grade

·   Lives in the informal settlement of Kawangware

·   Has 6 siblings

·   She loves English and Biology

·   Her dream is to become a pilot

·   She enjoys cooking and swimming

Fashion that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside

Fashion makes us feel good, feel confident, it gives us a sense of belonging, we're able to express ourselves with our style in a world where we're bombarded by different points of view every day. We all have an insatiable need to be heard, to make our point known even through our style alone.

What if we haven't found fashion that encompasses completely who we truly are? Fashion that says I want to look good and touch someone's life. Fashion that allows me to connect to someone I have never met in a place I've never even dreamt of. Fashion that keeps me updated on the difference I'm making. Fashion that goes beyond the artistic expression and beyond covering the nakedness underneath. Fashion that gives you meaning, connection, purpose. That feeling you get when you do something for someone who could never pay you back and it made a whole lot of difference in their life. This simple item that could be a basic item in your closet is now connecting fashionistas and T-shirt wearers all over the world to a special cause. 

For every purchase of this basic white tee you get connected to a girl in Africa who needs to stay in school but can't because they lack the resources. It could be school fees, sanitary towels, school uniform or simply a meal a day. When you buy from mdadaforgirls you will receive updates from the specific girl you have supported for a certain period of time. Could be a term if the item you're purchasing will keep them in school for a term. Basically, you get to see their world through their eyes. It's almost like adopting a girl, digitally at least :)!  That is the essence of the basic white tee by Mdada for Girls, a social enterprise working in Colorado, US and Nairobi, Kenya that is making the basic right to education just as basic as the white tee is in a girl's closet. I also love that the tees are eco-friendly. I have never come across a tee made from bamboo and organic cotton. How about that for fashion that makes you feel REALLY good inside and out?