Future Entrepreneur

Parent Visit Day--Lockwood Girls High School in Nakuru, Kenya
July, 2007

We send care packages to Rosa as often as possible. But, while she is away at boarding school, it is difficult to get something to her since there is the chance that it could become lost or stolen. So I've discovered that mailing a card and/or envelope is a safer bet. Last Spring, I sent Rosa some stickers, thinking she could use them to decorate her textbooks.

When I had the chance to spend quality time with her in August, I asked her what she had done with the stickers I had sent. She informed me that she had been selling them to her classmates. I was not very happy with the fact that she was using my gift to make a profit. But then she continued. Rosa explained that she was saving the money to pay for her brother and sister's school fees (since they don't have the means to pay for tuition). Needless to say, I felt like a shmuck.

A few months ago I sent Rosa another fresh supply of stickers thinking she could make some more money to pay for Wycliffe's and Martha's school fees. Here is the e-mail I received from Rosa a couple of weeks ago:

Hi,

I am back for holiday and I will call you when I go to Hurlingham this weekend. I cannot call you from here because of the bad connection. I miss you and say hi to Casey. Thanks for the package and the stickers . I sold many of them and made 1200 shillings . I am also started on the business but people keep buying on credit so it has not grown yet . I am also selling shirts and my friends like them a lot. I go to the market and buy them for like 20 or 30 shillings and then I wash and iron them and then sell them for like 150 or 200 shillings, depending on how many people want it. I may as well do business after school.

Have a good day!

Love,
Rosa

Conversion Chart:
20 shillings=$0.50
150 shillings=$2.50
1200 shillings=$15.00

It won't be long before I have her begin to plan our retirement for us....