Partnership Ref.:	KEN13b
Commenced:	25/06/2021
Funding Status:	Completed - Self-sustaining
Partnership Type:	Micro-enterprise / Micro-loans, Evangelism / Church Planting
Funding Size:	$0 - $2,999
Annual Budget:	US$ 0

Partnership Overview

Bob Abdalla pastors a church on the outskirts of Kisumu and invests much of his time helping the vulnerable in his community. With the help of Bright Hope World he was able to purchase a Tuk Tuk and run a transport service with it. This project generates income to financially support Bob and his family enabling him to more effectively serve and minister to the community. This project also provides employment to a member of Bob’s congregation who works as the driver. 

Background

The church Bob Abdalla pastors is in a medium to low income area with many needy and vulnerable people, especially widows and children. The church members have raised enough funds to send eight children to school but there are a number of others who just cannot get there. There are also many widows who need to be able to generate some income for themselves and their families. BHW is already assisting some of them to do that (KEN13). We have also tried on a couple of occasions to support a chicken project in this area (KEN13a) but due to disease, flooding and other factors outside their control, this project has continued to fail.  

Although Bob was keen to continue trying with the chickens, it was decided to explore other options where the success is less reliant on factors that are out of his control. A tuk tuk business was put forward as a feasible income generating activity. Although it is a larger up-front investment, once they have the tuk tuk it will continue to generate them an income for years to come. Bob has a member of his church who is experienced in this area and who will be the full-time driver. As Bob is in full-time ministry as a pastor the extra income would help to support him and his family, covering their basic needs such as food, health care support and assistance for the children's education. 

History of Partnership

BHW's New Partnership Facilitator has known Bob and Lillian Abdalla since 2005 when Bob was part of the team at MCO-OCC (KEN01b) and a church planter and pastor with them in Kisumu. He first met Bob when BHW introduced MCO-OCC to Harvest Partnership (INT05) and we were involved in training their people. Since that time he has caught up with Bob on numerous occasions and in 2009 BHW provided funds to enable them to re-establish their tailoring and materials business after it was destroyed in the post-election violence (KEN05).  

During a visit to Kenya in 2016 Pastor Bob alerted us to the needs in this community on the outskirts of Kisumu and in May 2017 funds were provided to commence an embroidery business (KEN13) and then in October 2017 a chicken income generation project was commenced (KEN13a). In 2020 and 2021, due the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, BHW's Kenya Partnership Facilitators have been unable to travel to Kenya but have remained in contact with Pastor Bob and they have been exploring other options for generating income to support him conduct his ministry.  In mid-2021 the BHW Executive approved financially supporting this project.  

Beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries here are Pastor Bob, his family, and the church member who will be employed however indirectly the whole community will benefit as Pastor Bob seeks to share the love of God and assist the many needy and vulnerable in that community.  

What We Like About The Partnership

We have known Bob for a long time now and have been impressed with his holistic understanding of ministry. 

Unlike other self-sustaining projects Bob has set up in the past such as the chicken project, the tuk tuk business is not as susceptible to the elements. It also does not involve as much daily maintenance and there is an ongoing demand for tuk tuk transport in the area. This allows Bob more freedom to support his family while focusing on his ministry. If everything runs smoothly there are also opportunities to expand the business in the future. 

 

Key People

Bob and Lilian Abdalla

Bob and Lilian have three children, one girl and two boys. Bob is a pastor and a church planter. In 2005 he was trained in church planting movement (CPM) although had planted a number of formal churches including the church in Kisumu prior to that. Following the training he began a number of churches in houses as a means of reaching out from the formal church. The progress has been such that he leaves the main church for most of the month and travels to train other leaders and to share his experience about multiplying churches through home outreach and discipleship centres. His work takes him to churches around Kenya and neighbouring countries.

Lilian lost her mother before her marriage and was exposed to the practical experience of loss of parental love. She saw the widows in the church and the community struggling to survive and developed a passion for holistic development, both spiritual and physical. She mostly works with women who are despised by society making them more desperate, especially at times when they lose their husbands. Lillian and Bob mobilize and train them with skills and they are encouraged to establish small enterprises and income generating activities.

 

Vision And Annual Strategy

The vision here is to commence an income generating activity that will provide financial support for Bob and Lilian thereby freeing them up to be involved in the community and local church. 

A tuk tuk will be purchased and a church member will drive it six days a week. They anticipate earning Ksh48,000 (US$418) per month which once the driver's salary and petrol costs are deducted will leave Ksh15,000 (US$139.34). Bright Hope World has agreed to cover the cost of the tuk tuk but half the amount will be a loan which Bob will need to pay back. He will save half of the profit into a separate account to pay off this loan with a view that, once the loan is paid off, the funds will be re-lent to him to expand his business. Bob anticipates it will take him three years to repay the loan. 

 

Annual Budget

A one-off amount of US$5,520 was required to purchase and insure the tuk tuk.