I want to share with you a story—a story rooted in humble beginnings and built on dreams. I grew up in a community where basic necessities were hard to get. In my neighborhood, access to essentials was a daily struggle, and education—a critical key to opportunity—was often seen as a luxury. Going to school was a luxury and home chores were considered major as was directly affecting the NOW problem… Like we used to call it, “MLO.”

 

My journey was shaped not only by these challenges but also by the wisdom of those who walked beside me. One such guiding light was my mother, Angelbertha Katundu, famously known as “Teacher Katundu”. She taught me that every obstacle, however daunting, is merely a sign telling us to try another way to find another path. I fondly recall how we would sometimes laugh at her gentle reminders, only to later affirm her words by saying, “But you know better, mama.” Her strength instilled in me the resolve to seize every opportunity and transform adversity into achievement.

In my community, family businesses were common, and the major economic activities were small-scale trades and everyday services. The energy of Mbogamboga, the hustle of Genge, the trade in Mkaa and Maji ya Kupima, and the creativity in Salon and Ufundi Viatu defined our local economy. People earned their living by selling Samaki, running Butcher shops, offering services as Mamantilie, working in ujenzi, driving taxis, and more. These informal enterprises formed the backbone of our community, sustaining families and driving local progress, even though they often went unrecognized and lacked the support needed to grow into formal businesses.

 

My work as a tax consultant exposed me to various business models, and it got me thinking about the businesses in my community. I started researching why they never seemed to grow. In my research I noted that these businesses lacked structure, limited access to resources, and inadequate market linkages. That realization sparked something in me. What if I could take the lessons I have learned as a consultant, and use them for my community to help others find their path to success? What if I could create a program that helped young people not only find their purpose but also develop the skills and mindset to thrive in a competitive world!

 

Having lived the questions of how do we rise from scarcity to abundance? How do we break the cycle of generational poverty? How do we build businesses that stand the test of time? RASIMISHA PROGRAM was and is the answer. RASIMISHA is my answer to those questions—not just for myself, but for the youth I meet and interact with every day. It’s a personal mission, driven by a belief that every person has the potential to change their life and by extension, change the world around them.

 

The RASIMISHA Program offers a groundbreaking solution to unemployment by focusing on formalising and strengthening existing businesses and sound models that currently operate in the informal sector. Recognizing the untapped potential within these enterprises, the program provides a structured pathway for individuals to register their businesses, ensuring they meet regulatory requirements and gain access to wider opportunities. Beyond formalisation, Rasimisha equips entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools needed to transform their ventures into sustainable, scalable businesses, capable of creating jobs and driving economic growth.