In 2009 Rob Foxall and Les Robertson were a part of the Sauder Africa Initiative: Social Entrepreneurship 101 (SE101) team under the leadership of Associate Professor Nancy Langton. Learning and eventually teaching the principles of business education for social development, Les and Rob both fell in love with Kenya, it’s people and their students while helping them learn business planning and entrepreneurship.
Witnessing first hand the spirit, drive and potential these students brought with them to the 3-week SE101 course, Rob and Les found that the biggest challenges their students faced was investing in themselves to do the research needed to really finalize and solidify their plans for financing and start-up. While the UBC Sauder SE101 team worked in Nairobi, Kenya, and one of the largest slums in Africa, Kibera, their students flourished, but once the team headed back to Canada it was much more difficult for them to access this knowledge and mentorship.
Fast forward, Les was committed to returning to Nairobi and working on the SE101 project for a second year with the 2010 team. Rob, obligated to his new employers, was stuck on the sidelines, working from Canada and finding it hard to continue making an impact. Both knew that advancing the goals of SE101 and helping find the resources necessary to open a year round office in Nairobi, the SE101 Centre for Entrepreneurship pilot project, was the best way to help their students receive the mentorship and support they needed to be successful.
Les and Rob, both avid hobbyist longboarders and fans of Rayne Longboards out of North Vancouver, Canada were inspired by the Long Treks on Skate Decks series Rayne sponsored and approached the founder and president Graham Buksa for support and sponsorship. Graham, an entrepreneur who got his start through writing the Rayne business plan, was happy to help and supplied the tools to make the trek.
This August, Rob and Les will be leaving from Nairobi, in the centre of Kenya, to make the long trek to the port city Mombasa on the eastern coast, around 480 Kilometres. Their hope, to help spread the message of change through education, international co-operation, and social development, the cornerstones of the Sauder Africa Initiative and Social Entrepreneurship 101. Education is a right, not a privilege. Working together, we can create a more just world for all.
Please join our journey through our website, follow us on twitter and like our facebook fan page. Check out how you can help Skate4Kenya and please support Social Entrepreneurship 101 and our goals with your generous, tax deductible, contributions. (Fund T589 – Social Entrepreneurship 101: Africa)
