From Salonist to Sustainable Fish Farmer: How the YISA Project Empowered Risper

In the vibrant markets of Siaya County, economic security for young mothers often hinges on the unpredictability of daily casual labor. For Risper Adoyo Akello, a mother of two, the path to financial self-reliance began in a local beauty salon. Despite her hard work, the hair salon yielded thin, irregular profit margins that barely covered basic household needs, leaving her trapped in a cycle of financial stress.

Seeking a more stable anchor for her family, Risper made the bold choice to pivot into fish mongering. However, without access to structured business training or financial capital, she quickly found herself restricted to trading small volumes—barely managing to scrape by on the margins of the beach markets.

The GALS Blueprint for Enterprise Growth

The turning point in Risper’s journey arrived through the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme. Implemented by Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), the initiative provided her with comprehensive training in Business Development Services (BDS) and the life-changing Gender Action Learning System (GALS).

Through GALS and the “Vision Journey Map” tool, Risper learned how to transition her mindset from survival trading to running a corporate, data-driven business unit. She mastered the fundamentals of record-keeping, strict profit calculations, and long-term goal setting.

“The GALS training changed everything for me. It forced me to map out a clear path for my family, save with intention, and run my business like a professional enterprise.”

Scaling with the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

The structural shift in Risper’s business became reality when she accessed an interest-free KES 20,000 loan via the YISA Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). With this targeted capital injection, Risper scaled her daily trade volume and diversified her stock.

The economic ripple effect has directly transformed her household structure. Today, her fish business stands as a primary economic anchor, allowing her to easily co-share household responsibilities, cover school fees, and establish a reliable savings plan.

Charting a Permanent Legacy

Risper is no longer trading just to survive—she is building a permanent asset base. Guided by her Vision Journey Map, she has successfully started repaying her loan and is actively saving to invest in her own deep-water fish cage production on the lake.

Her journey proves that when young women are equipped with the right combination of market capacity, financial literacy, and inclusive capital, they can navigate their way directly to the forefront of Kenya’s blue economy.

About YISA: The Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme is a strategic partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and a consortium led by Farm Africa. As an implementing partner, Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) focuses on the socio-economic elevation of young women, dismantling market access barriers, and helping them transition into independent, dignified entrepreneurship.

Amina’s Vision: How YISA Transformed a Kilifi Entrepreneur

“Through the trainings in business management and the Vision Journey Map, I learned to set goals for my life and plan the steps to reach them; now I see clearly where I want to go.” > — Amina Katana

In the quiet village of Mgandini, Kilifi County, Amina Katana’s story stands as a powerful testament to resilience. Her journey into adulthood took an unexpected turn when she left school early to raise her first child as a single mother. Returning to her family home with limited options, she faced the harsh reality of irregular income and daily financial strain.

The burden of survival intensified following the passing of her father. Determined to forge a path forward, Amina’s mother introduced her to fish mongering, a trade deeply woven into the fabric of their coastal community. While this small business allowed Amina to contribute to the household, her growth was stifled by a lack of investment capital, leaving her family trapped in a cycle of subsistence living.

A Strategic Partnership for Growth

A defining shift occurred when the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme reached her village. Through the Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), Amina and the Amkeni Widows Group received intensive training in Business Development Services (BDS), where they mastered record-keeping, profit calculation, and market competition. For Amina, this was not just a lesson; it was the blueprint for a professional enterprise.

This impact extends far beyond the financial ledger. Amina participated in the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) training, a community-led methodology championed by the programme to promote inclusive economic participation. Through the Vision Journey Map tool, Amina was challenged to look past daily survival and visualize a secure, prosperous future for her children.

Scaling for Success

Empowerment became completely tangible when Amina’s group accessed a KES 200,000 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) facilitated by ENAF. With a personal loan of KES 20,000, Amina immediately scaled her operations. Previously restricted by limited capital to selling only 5 to 10 kilograms of fish daily, she now handles between 15 and 20 kilograms, fundamentally transforming her household income.

Today, Amina is a mother of two, and her thriving enterprise serves as the primary livelihood for her household, ensuring her children have consistent access to nutritious food and education.

“I am very grateful for this interest-free loan that helped grow my fish business,” Amina reflects. “Without this support, it would have been very difficult to increase my capital.”

Building a Permanent Legacy

Amina’s journey is no longer a search for daily survival, but a march toward a lasting legacy. Guided by her Vision Journey Map, she is saving to purchase her own land and build a permanent, safe home for her family. Her success serves as a shining beacon for her community, proving that when equipped with targeted financial inclusion and business literacy, mothers can turn small opportunities into lasting independence.

About YISA

The Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme is a strategic collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and a consortium led by Farm Africa. As a vital partner in this consortium, Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) focuses on dismantling the structural barriers that hold young women back from dignified, sustainable livelihoods.

How a Single Interest-Free Loan Changed Addline’s Life

For 28-year-old Addline Atieno, the shoreline of Sindo was once a place where she worked for others, possessing the ambition for ownership but lacking the necessary capital to break free. Despite having a deep knowledge of the local fish trade, she remained an employee, stunted by the high cost of entry into the market.

“Before, I was working as a casual employee for someone else, where I learned the basics of fish handling and customer service” Addline reflects. “I had acquired the skills to fry and sell fish, but I needed the capital to start my own business and manage it professionally.”

Addline is a member of the Omoyo Entrepreneurship Self-Help Group, a collective of 17 women and 3 men based at Sindo Gateway. Before external support reached them, the group’s financial options were dire; they were often forced to rely on shylocks charging an exorbitant 10% daily interest. This cycle of debt meant that most earnings were returned as interest, forcing some members to abandon their businesses to work for larger traders for just KES 300 a day.

Through the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme, the trajectory for Addline and her group shifted. She received specialised training in loan management, savings strategies, and business planning, which provided the foundation for her to transition from precarious labour to stable entrepreneurship.

The group eventually accessed a KES 250,000 interest-free Revolving Loan Fund, a tool designed by ENAF to provide a financial safety net for young entrepreneurs. Addline utilised her portion of the fund to launch her own fish-frying business and hotel, moving from the sidelines of the market to the centre of her own enterprise.

Addline did not just use the funds to survive; she used them to pivot. She launched her own fish-frying business, moving from the sidelines of the market to the centre of her own enterprise. The transformation was rapid. Within a few short months, the woman who once took orders was now giving them.

Today, Addline is a thriving employer who has hired three other young women from her community, providing them with the daily wages and dignified work she once sought for herself. Her hotel is now a busy landmark in Sindo where she serves local fishermen and residents.

“When I started, I was working completely alone, struggling to fry even a few kilograms of fish just to get by,” Addline explains. “Today, my business has grown so much that I have employed three young women to work alongside me. We are constantly busy, especially from noon into the afternoon when the fishermen come in to eat. I am proud that I can now pay my staff daily wages and manage a business that serves my entire community”.

Her success stands as a vivid example of how targeted training and inclusive financial support can turn individual potential into community-wide economic stability.

YISA is a partnership program with the Mastercard Foundation and consortium partners led by Farm Africa, designed to revitalise Kenya’s blue economy by integrating young people into high-value aquatic trade. Within this collaborative framework, Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) focuses on the socio-economic elevation of young women. ENAF’s role is to facilitate the transition from precarious labour to stable entrepreneurship by providing specialized training in loan management and savings strategies.