Tools of Trade Initiative (TOTI)

Jeffrey Sachs, the author of “The End of Poverty,” describes the process of economic growth as a ladder, with the poorest of the poor unable to reach the lowest rung. He believes that countries can make progress on their own once they reach the first rung, but that poverty traps make it difficult for poor countries to do so. This is true for vulnerable individuals and groups like people living with disabilities and unemployed youths, particularly from technical colleges.

Working with people with disabilities to provide them with mobility devices and tools relevant to their training, is one way of helping them to get their foot on the first rung of the development ladder. For example, SIT is currently working with 4 groups composed of people with disabilities in Meru County to learn how to save and start small businesses. The new partnership between SIT and The Trade Aid from the Rotary Club of Grantham Kesteven, will see this initiative grow to include the many young graduates particularly from the village Polytechnics. Practically, the Tools Of Trade Initiative (TOTI) will seek to work with village polytechnics to provide tools to graduates who will have joined the microcredit program so that they can start small businesses to support their extended families.