About Us

Our mission & Vision

Our Vision

Our vision is to have A just, socially, economically, inclusive and empowered society

Our Mission

EMAC’S mission is to influence norm change through Economic Empowerment of Sexual & Gender Minorities, Women, Youth and people Living with Disabilities to realize economic outcomes, Social Norm Change outcomes, Mental Health outcomes, Climate Change Outcomes, equity and equality of our beneficiaries through a robust, resilient and sustainable Social Enterprises Programming (SEP). We mobilize grassroots movements under a farmer’s cooperative model to sustainably livestock & Regenerative Agriculture as envisioned in out theory of change.

THE HISTORY OF EMAC SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROGRAM

Our peer educators were leaving. After carefully training 18 passionate individuals, we were losing them within just three months. The reasons cut deep: overwhelming stigma, limited economic opportunities, and a sense of disconnection from the work they were doing. We knew something had to change. Instead of accepting defeat, we did what we always do. We listened. We sat down with our peer educators, heard their stories, understood their struggles, and most importantly, invited them to be part of the solution. Their insights were our roadmap. We designed an innovative agribusiness project that would do more than just provide income. It would restore dignity, create opportunities, and challenge the systemic barriers our community faces. By combining poultry farming with greenhouse vegetable production, we created a lifeline that was about so much more than money. The results have been transformative. We created four direct employment opportunities for sexual and gender minorities. Thirty-eight peer educators found self-employment. One hundred fifty beneficiaries started their own small poultry farming projects. Our monthly gross revenue reached KES 290,000, and we retained 1,658 beneficiaries in our community health programs. With support from the AJWS, we established a robust agricultural initiative. We procured day-old chicks, implemented a sophisticated cage system, and generated substantial revenue from egg and chick sales. But our success isn’t measured in numbers alone. We were breaking down stigma, creating economic pathways, and giving our community a chance to write their own stories. Our vision extends far beyond this single project. To date, we aim to empower minority populations, enhance economic participation, and address intersectional discrimination. We believe in creating sustainable, long-term social change that respects the inherent dignity of every individual. This is more than a program. It’s a movement. By combining economic innovation with deep community understanding, we’re demonstrating that true empowerment is holistic, collaborative, and transformative. We aren’t just providing opportunities. We’re reshaping entire social landscapes, one life at a time.

Project Background

Women, Sexual & Gender Minorities (SGM), Youth, Girls and People Living with Disabilities bear the vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. They face financial exclusion, with limited access to public services, bear the wrath of poverty and Gender inequality. On the other hand, they are the central actors in food security, water collection and energy production.

This Project therefore, aims to advance Gender equality and equity, financial inclusion, economic growth, reduce poverty and adverse impacts of climate change and center Women, Sexual & Gender Minorities (SGM), Youth, Girls and People Living with Disabilities as the essential change agents

Exclusion

In eastern Kenya, agricultural landscape tells a story of both persistent challenges and untapped potential. Women, Sexual & Gender Minorities (SGM), Youth, Girls and People Living with Disabilities in their small-holding farming face daily struggles, amplified by systemic exclusion from traditional agricultural value chains and community support systems

FINANCIAL& ECONOMIC INCLUSION

The agricultural systems have left Women, Sexual & Gender Minorities (SGM), Youth, Girls and People Living with Disabilities with minimal access to modern farming technologies and formal markets. The financial institutions remain largely out of reach. They are suffocated into weak bargaining power, vulnerable to accept whatever terms the market offers. They can’t maximize returns due to improper value addition infrastructure and post-harvest management.

CULTULRAL & RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVE SOCIATAL NATURE

Worse still, Women, Sexual & Gender Minorities (SGM), Youth, Girls and People Living with Disabilities face deep-rooted discrimination that manifests in their limited representation in community leadership and decision-making processes. Social stigma casts a long shadow over their market access and community participation. For Queer-Youth in particular, the challenge often begins at home, where family rejection and community isolation severely impacts their mental health and overall wellbeing. The absence of adequate support systems leaves many struggling to navigate these socio-economic challenges while pursuing their agricultural ambitions.

ADVERSE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

Environmental pressures add another dimension to these challenges. Climate change increasingly threatens agricultural productivity. while limited access to sustainable farming technologies makes adaptation difficult. Water scarcity is a pressing concern. soil quality degradation and loss of biodiversity threaten long-term agricultural sustainability. Dependence on non-renewable energy sources increases both operational costs and adverse human-made environmental impact.

RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES

In response, EMAC through constant consultations with these marginalized populations, coupled with 10 years’ experience of grassroots movement building with these populations designed this simple, tested & tried, sustainable and resilient Social Enterprise programming transformation Strategy. The strategy builds an enterprise ecosystem of a robust cooperative system: to farm raw materials for processing poultry feeds, rear poultry, Pig, green energy(biogas) and vegetable seedlings propagation. The cooperative through loan products contracts Beneficiaries to farm raw materials for feeds processing factory, rear poultry, Poultry faeces/waste is dried and enriched to feed Pig farming, Pig waste generates biogas, biogas powers poultry-brooder to raise chicks, and biogas sludge is packaged as green bio-fertilizer sold to vegetable farmers. The project is emboldened in climate justice principles of

IMPORTANCE OF THE EMAC SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROJECT

Empowerment of Marginalized Groups

The EMAC Project focuses on empowering Women, Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM), Youth, Girls, and People Living with Disabilities. By providing training, resources, and support, we enable these individuals to become leaders in their communities. This empowerment fosters self-confidence and encourages active participation in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and

Economic Growth and Financial Inclusion

The project promotes economic growth by facilitating access to low-interest loans and creating cooperative structures. Members can invest in their farms, buy necessary tools, and improve their livelihoods. This not only boosts individual incomes but also strengthens the local economy, creating jobs and increasing community resilience

Enhanced Food Security

By improving agricultural practices and providing training, the project aims to boost food production within marginalized communities. This increase in local food availability reduces reliance on external sources and ensures families have access to nutritious food throughout the year, enhancing overall food security.

Promotion of Gender Equality

The EMAC Social Enterprise Project prioritizes gender equality by actively involving women and marginalized genders in farming and leadership roles. This approach challenges traditional gender norms and promotes a more equitable society. When women are empowered, they often reinvest their earnings in health and education, benefiting entire families and communities.

Sustainable Environmental Practices

The project emphasizes the use of sustainable farming techniques and renewable energy sources, such as biogas production. By promoting environmentally friendly practices, we help communities adapt to climate change while ensuring that agricultural productivity remains viable for future generations. This focus on sustainability not only protects the environment but also improves long-term food security.

Improved Mental Health and Well-Being

Marginalized groups often experience social stigma and discrimination, leading to mental health challenges. The EMAC Project creates a supportive environment where individuals can connect, share experiences, and build friendships. This sense of community enhances mental well-being, instills hope, and motivates individuals to pursue their goals, contributing to a more positive outlook on life.