Applied Global Innovation Program: Empowering Social Entrepreneurs

At Global Innovation Valley, we empower young refugees and disadvantaged youth to become agents of change, social entrepreneurs, and job creators. We achieve this by providing transformative education and entrepreneurship training in the form of an incubation that provides a holistic approach to both individual and business development and facilitating the establishment of social and tech enterprises to ensure the actualization of ideas into tangible enterprises.

Applied Global Innovation Program (AGIP), an initiative under Global Innovation Valley, is designed to empower young refugees and marginalized youth from host communities through a series of self-organized educational stages that focus on personal development, social entrepreneurship, and innovation. 

During the 12 months of AGIP training, participants undergo intensive, multi-layered training programs meant to assist them transform their concepts into viable businesses. The five key steps in the training process include:

1. Transformation stage. This is a three-month training focusing on personal growth and breaking limiting beliefs, leading to holistic transformation.
2. Catalyst stage. Here, scholars take on responsibilities, learn through self-organization, and gain skills in understanding community problems, target markets, potential solutions.
3. Venturing stage. Here, scholars develop viable social enterprises through concentrated bootcamps and practical business model development.
4. Acceleration stage. At this stage, scholars’ ventures transition into legally compliant social enterprises over 12 months.
5. Legacy stage. In the final stage, the scholars achieve independence, continue to work on growing their enterprises, and join the GIV network as alumni or partners.

We first implemented AGIP in Kalobeyei refugee settlement and later expanded the program to Kakuma refugee camp due to the demand. Since its inception, we have seen impact through the number of social ventures created by our scholars. So far, about 15 ventures have been created. Among the most successful ones include:

Green at Mind. This enterprise, founded by Vincent Ubeling, develops innovative, space-saving desk cook stoves that enhance efficiency and sustainability. The product is designed to combine functionality with durability, transforming everyday cooking into a smarter and more convenient experience.

Khalifast Fashion Design (KFD). This enterprise, founded by Christine Fazili, is a dedicated to empowering vulnerable single mothers in Kakuma refugee camp by providing hands-on cloth tailoring training. The aim is to equip single mothers with skills they need to create own job opportunities. KFD specializes in transforming recycled plastic waste into sustainable and innovative African cultural clothing, wedding dresses, and accessories like bags, blending environmental responsibility with cultural creativity.

Al-Imran Integrated Academy. This enterprise, founded by Said Mohamed, creates a sustainable and accessible learning environment that equips refugees with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to overcome the challenges posed by displacement. The enterprise seeks to bridge educational gaps, promote cultural exchange, and nurture a sense of hope and purpose among the students. Among the lessons include English and Swahili tuition, children empowerment, and community exchange programs.

AGIP focuses on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and equipping marginalized communities with the tools to drive social change. Contact us for more information about the program, including on joining the program.