1. Establish collaboration with NGOs
The first thing we need to do is seek contact with NGOs. They are working there for a long time and can thus provide us with a lot of information. Next to that we would like to collaborate with them to find a suitable management team and a group of possible employees.
Milestone: Establish at least one collaboration with an NGO by week 3
Deliverable: Report about the content of the established collaboration
Activities needed to reach this:
- Mapping all the NGOs in the region
- Contact at least 5 of them
- Meetings with these NGOs
2. Forming a team of possible employees and managers together with NGO and supervisor
Together with this NGO we want to indicate a management team and possible employees. These NGOs already work with street youths and know better which ones of them are suitable to work at a company like this. We also hope that they, together with our supervisor, can help us with finding a management team.
Milestone: Form a group of 10 possible employees and managers by week 5
Activities needed to reach this:
- Follow up meeting with NGOs
- Meetings with street youth
3. TEST: Organise a training in producing wooden belts for these 13 people
We want to organise this training for multiple reasons. It gives us a good chance to test our assumptions; Do these guys work well together? Are they able to produce the belts? Do they like this work? Next to that this training already gives the youths a chance to learn skills they could use to set up their own business for example.
Milestone: Organise a training in producing wooden belts in week 6
Deliverable: Evaluation report about this training by week 7
Actions needed to reach this:
- Contact person who can give the training
4. Form the actual group of employees and managers
From all the participants of the training we have to choose 5 employees and two managers. This are the ones we are going to support in setting up the business. We will preferably choose them together with the NGO.
Milestone: Inform the actual group of employees and managers that we want to support them in week 7
Actions needed to reach this:
- Plan meeting together with NGO to discuss whom we choose.
5. Brainstorm session with employees and managers
For this project to succeed the engagement of the employees and managers is very important. To increase this engagement we want to organise a brainstorm session with lunch. That gives everyone the opportunity to give his opinion about the business. Next to that we will make a planning for setting up the business and the actions they need to undertake.
Milestone: Organise the brainstorm session in week 8
Deliverable: Report with outcome of brainstorm session and a planning by the end of week 8
6. Establish collaboration with suppliers
Together with the employees and managers we will contact suppliers to see what they can offer us. We want to be sure to have good quality material for a reasonable price. Although it might not be possible yet to make a deal with them it is important to maintain in active contact with them so it will be easier to make a deal when production is actually starting.
Milestone: Be in good contact with suppliers and have negotiated a fair price by week 10
Actions needed to reach this:
- Map all suppliers in the area
- Contact those suppliers
- Meet with them to negotiate
7. Make an estimated budget
Together with the managers we will make an estimated budget to know how much money is needed.
Milestone: have an estimated budget ready by week 10
Deliverable: Estimated budget
Actions needed to reach this:
- Gather all information on possible costs
8. Write a complete business plan
The goal we set for the minor is to have a complete business plan ready for the wooden belt factory. This will help the managers and employees to set the business up and to run it and it will help us with finding sponsors to finance the start-up costs.
Milestone: Write a complete business plan by week 12
Deliverable: Complete Business plan
Crowdfunding
We will continuously keep up with our crowdfunding to finance our expenses. The training for the employees and managers need to be paid and we might have to hire a room to do the brainstorming. Next to that we aim at financing the start-up costs of the business so it can actually start producing. However, if we are not able to collect enough money before we leave, we will try to find funding when we are back home.
Keep blog up-to-date
In order for companies to trust us and to sponsor us, we will regularly update our blog. Here we will show what we have accomplished so far and what we aim to do in the future.
Keep in touch with home for market test
While we are in Kenya one of our mothers will sell a test batch of belts at Christmas markets in Germany. This way we can already test how big the market is, which marketing elements we should aim at and who our customers are. To be able to anticipate on this in our business plan we will closely follow the developments.
