A joint report published in 2007 by the government of Kenya and United Nations Development Program indicates that up to 65 percent of the population in the Upper Nyakachregion lives on less than 80 cents a day. 

The goal of Dala Development Program is for households in the village to be self-supporting and thriving through various forms of income generating activities. In the future we hope to provide business mentoring and micro-loans for people with entrepreneurial interest. Until then, providing employment and mentoring employees is a key step towards self-employment and small business development.  To facilitate that step, we invested in two small businesses to create jobs within the community: brick making and sewing. 


Brick Making Industry

This specific area of Upper Nyakach is known for good brick-making soil and brick production.  Our company utilizes a large manual machine to compress soil and cement into a strong and perfectly shaped brick.  It is a process that not only produces a superior product but also has a substantially lower impact on the environment. Currently, this business employs six people and there is definitely room for growth.  We hope to acquire more machines and hire more employees as the business grows.

Sewing

There are two trained dress-makers in the community.  However, only one of them had a sewing machine and it was in disrepair.  Dala initiated a brainstorming session which resulted in the development of a new product: a mini clutch purse with keychain and bangle. To produce it, not only did we fix the broken sewing machine, but we were also able to provide a new, multi-function machine to make production easier.  Currently two women are employed making the purses, which are now being marketed in the US by Alume Imports. With the success of this product we will be able to employ more people. Ideally the women will be able to expand their skills and market to meet local demands and have a full-fledged tailoring business.