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.