Empowering Caregivers Through Social Entrepreneurship
Building skills, creating opportunities, and strengthening families through the Empower Her Project.
For many parents and caregivers of children with disabilities (CWDs), finding a balance between caregiving responsibilities and formal employment can be a significant challenge. Frequent medical appointments, therapy sessions, and the need to provide daily support often make it difficult to maintain full-time employment.
At Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi (ERCN), we recognize that empowering caregivers means looking beyond immediate support and creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. Through the Empower Her Project, ERCN is investing in social entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic empowerment, resilience, and greater social inclusion.
A New Cohort, A New Journey
The Entrepreneurship Training for Cohort 3, 2026, brought together 29 parents and caregivers—10 men and 19 women—for a two-month learning journey designed to equip them with practical business skills and entrepreneurial knowledge.
But this training is about more than simply starting a business.
Participants are being introduced to the principles of social entrepreneurship—creating enterprises that generate income while also addressing community needs and contributing to positive social change.
Through this approach, caregivers are gaining the tools to build livelihoods that can support their families while contributing to more inclusive and resilient communities.
From Ideas to Opportunities
The training covers essential areas of entrepreneurship and business development, including:
- Entrepreneurship and identifying business opportunities
- Financial management and record keeping
- Customer care and relationship building
- Sales and marketing
- Understanding local markets
- Managing business challenges and competition
During the introductory session, caregivers explored the qualities that make successful entrepreneurs and assessed potential business opportunities within their own communities.
They also reflected on some of the challenges they may encounter—including limited access to capital, competition, and the challenge of balancing business responsibilities with the demands of caregiving.
These conversations are helping participants move from simply having business ideas to developing practical and sustainable approaches that can work within their unique circumstances.
Entrepreneurship That Fits Their Reality
For caregivers of children with disabilities, social entrepreneurship offers a unique opportunity.
Unlike traditional employment, a flexible business can allow caregivers to generate income while remaining available for their children’s therapy appointments, medical needs, and daily care.
At the same time, these enterprises can grow beyond individual households. Successful businesses have the potential to create employment opportunities, promote inclusion, and inspire innovative solutions to challenges within local communities.
In this way, entrepreneurship becomes more than a source of income—it becomes a tool for dignity, independence, and social transformation.
Building Entrepreneurs and Agents of Change
At ERCN, the journey does not end with the training sessions.
Through mentorship, networking, and continued business development support, caregivers are being encouraged to grow into resilient entrepreneurs and confident agents of change within their communities.
With the support of our partners, we are working to strengthen household livelihoods while building inclusive communities where caregivers and children with disabilities can thrive with dignity, opportunity, and hope.
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