Hi, my name is Alex. I was recently in Kenya for around two months. While I was there, I met a lovely family, the mother of whom, Rose, I have remained in regular contact with. Rose has four children, all in primary school (one younger!). During my time there, I spent such a nice evening with them. They were so welcoming and generous. Meeting them was one of the highlights of my time in Kenya.

This is Rose and her family:

Her family are currently really struggling. Because she has younger children, Rose needs to stay home, and her husband's job pays very poorly. They are currently unable to cover the costs of their son's education. This fundraiser is to help them out but also has the potential for wider benefits.

In Kenya almost everyone washes their laundry by hand. This takes a long time, and given the changing climate, laundry can now take days to dry outside due to increased rain.

I thought of a possible business idea. It would involve a pick-up and drop-off delivery service where laundry is washed, dried, and ironed. The cost per load would be low, making it beneficial to the community, and it has the potential to grow. Currently, there are no services like this available, and the few laundrettes around are really expensive. Everyone I posed this idea to in Kenya thought it was a good one. Rose was extremely excited about it too, and she wants to make it happen. This business has the potential to make a huge difference for her and her family. Ultimately, it could also lead to employment opportunities for others in the community (Nakuru).

I personally donated a lot of money while I was away, and even though I would love to financially back this business myself, I cannot afford to. I thought a GoFundMe might work! If possible, I want to raise at least £1,000. This money will cover a washing/drying machine, an iron, laundry baskets, detergent, and the cost of an initial bundle of leaflets and posters (see designs below). Any amount above this will be sent directly to Rose's family. If the amount is significantly more, Rose will be able to buy more than one machine. The electricity costs have been taken into account and will be manageable. Rose has already mentioned the business to people she knows, and they are interested in becoming customers.

Importantly, this business will not be mine (or anything to do with me)! It will be Rose's. This is just an initial start-up.