3rd Creek Foundation (3CF) has partnered with Village Enterprise for the past 3
years through supporting programming in western Kenya. We initially chose to
work with Village Enterprise because its approach to poverty alleviation aligned so
closely with our own organization’s mission, vision, and principles. We have also
been thoroughly impressed with Village Enterprise’s commitment to robust
monitoring and evaluation. This commitment means we feel reasonably assured
that our funds indeed contribute to meaningful impact. Furthermore, we value the
systems that Village Enterprise employs to identify when poverty alleviation models
are not working, and adjust accordingly. The outstanding reporting that we receive
from Village Enterprise is something that we deeply appreciate.
Poverty alleviation is key to 3rd Creek Foundation’s reason for being, and our
mission is to help individuals achieve economic independence. I’ve further
explained our mission below to give a better sense of what it is we do, and how it is
that we do it. For more information on 3CF, please check out our website and blog.
What do we mean by economic independence?
In its most elementary form, we refer to economic independence as the ability of an
individual to access and mobilize enough economic resources (land, labor, and
capital) to meet his or her basic needs and those of his or her dependents. But what
we strive for through our mission is to support individuals to access economic
mobility. In other words, 3CF aims to support economically disadvantaged
individuals to become capable of generating and earning enough disposable income
to reshape their lives and the opportunities available to themselves and future
generations. We also believe that economic independence generated across
households translates to increasingly vibrant communities and society at large.
How do we promote economic independence?
We know that increased access to economic resources is key to alleviating poverty,
but how to achieve that can be a contentious issue in the development sector.
At 3CF, we apply the following principles:
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Disposable income is key to promote and protect basic needs such as health,
education, and shelter.
Entrepreneurship and employment are the primary drivers of disposable
income.
Small enterprise is a key driver of employment.
Education prepares people with the skills and capacity to advocate for
themselves and navigate their access to economic resources, as well as to
secure their property and protect themselves from violence.
Everything we do should consider the sustainability of our natural
environment.
Based on the above understanding, we chose to promote economic independence
through funding programs that support social entrepreneurship, micro-small
enterprise development, and access to education in regions suffering from high
rates of poverty. Within the scope of each program area, we look for opportunities
to integrate environmental sustainability, to promote better health outcomes, and to
improve living standards.
We have been impressed with Village Enterprise’s programs, results, and impact at
promoting economic independence among the rural poor in East Africa and hope to
continue working together for many years to come!