Annemarie:
What a treat, a cappuccino and a chance to meet and talk with an inspiring young woman who is determined to do her bit to tackle social issues in Kenya.
I am in a café in Nairobi waiting to meet Maggie Muthuma who is founding director of AM Café: AM Café is a small start up social enterprise that sells all manner of things from brownies and sumptuous chocolate cakes to chapatis and soup but is not your usual coffee shop. For one thing at the moment it doesn’t have any premises, the baking happens in people’s homes and is sold to order. But that’s not the only difference; Maggie arrives and enthusiastically explains. Her vision is to create a space for people to discuss and decide on ways to address society’s pressing social and economic challenges. Much like the coffee houses of the 1700s in London, which were a hotbed for debates, she hopes to create a means of people finding a voice and creating some collective action or simply finding a way forward as an individual. So far the business is in early days and she has held just a handful of discussion sessions but she’s already helping one person take up a place at catering college and find a job that’s fulfilling her ambition. As Maggie says, it may be small steps initially but empowering people to help themselves then supporting them in their journey through peers and ‘buddies’ is a very viable option in today’s Africa where the concept of aid and financial support sees so many projects start strong then fail.
All over Africa we have been hearing similar stories and I am provided with a lot of food for thought as I make my way through the affluent crowds in the shopping centre. I am sure it’s the people like Maggie, determined to make their own way and to help others in their society realise their potential that will move the agenda in Africa forward.