My name is Arsaneth Cheptoo. I reside at Kericho County in Rift Valley Province. I completed my primary school in the year 2002, then I went to a secondary school called Kipsigis Girls High School and I completed in 2006. After completing my secondary school, I had to stay at home for four years without joining college due to lack of school fees. I had to venture into farming where I planted vegetables for sale at least to enable me to have something in my pocket. I did that for a year and I had accumulated a good sum of money.

I went to register in a college of business management (KIM) in the year 2010 and I got my diploma in 2 years. Nothing is impossible with God for those who trust in him. I graduated with flying colours but I got no job with it. One year down the line, I thought of a business idea and I came up with the stationery business. The community I come from is in the center of Kericho where people grow tea and other crops.

I am a mother of one daughter called Marleen Chemutai and she is in class one at Holy Trinity Academy in Kericho County. My business has seen us through all these years. My daughter want to be a medical doctor in future.

My stationery shop consist of: photocopy papers, receipt books, exercise books, pens, chalks, hardcover notebooks, hand notebooks, marker pens, rulers, cardboard, manila papers, bank rolls, laminating pouch, binding covers, spirals, envelopes, cartridges, toners, and all sorts of files and many others. I am in a strategic place where everyone is able to access my shop all day so most of my stock moves faster. I chose this business because many offices, schools and industries use the stationery material for office use. I buy one ream of paper at 3.2 dollars and sell at 4.7 dollars. The revenue is 1.5 dollars per ream. I use the profit of my business to reinvest in my business and, at times, use it to educate my daughter in paying her school fees.

Animal feeds processing

I would like to expand the business of animal feeds processing. I learnt a lot about the business and I have just realized its good and profit generating, so given the chance I will fetch profit from the business.

First I will purchase a weighing machine worth 45$ and the remaining amount will be use for raw materials such as, maize worth 50$ , wheat bran worth 20$for feeds processing.

With this weighing machine I will be able to do accurate weighing.

I also expect more sales since dealing with accurate measurements you will earn more sales and more profit.

This has greately changed my living standard i thank zidisha for the initiative