Amazing Potential Ltd continues to engage communities and institutions to better understand the realities people face and identify opportunities for meaningful capacity development.
During a recent community engagement in Donholm, Nairobi, conversations with local leaders, county staff and residents provided valuable insights into youth development, community needs and the importance of preparing for life after employment.
One of the conversations was with Anita, who works within the county administration. After learning more about Amazing Potential’s work, including entrepreneurship and retirement preparedness training, Anita expressed particular interest in the Business training and indicated an interest in exploring the possibility of organising training for a group of colleagues and friends.
The engagement also provided an opportunity to speak with Madam Rose, the area Chief, about the challenges facing young people in the community. One issue she highlighted was the difficulty many young people have in coming together and forming organised groups. While government programmes such as NYOTA provide opportunities for young people, she noted that limited youth organisation can affect their ability to access and benefit from available opportunities.
The conversation also highlighted a less visible aspect of Donholm. Madam Rose identified three informal settlements within the area — Vumilia, Kwa Mola and Kwa Otieno. She explained that one of the challenges faced by residents in these communities is that their needs can sometimes be overlooked because of the perception that Donholm does not have informal settlements. This can become particularly difficult when communities require assistance following emergencies or disasters.
A Different Perspective on Retirement
Perhaps the most striking conversation of the engagement was with Robert, a boda boda rider in his mid-sixties and a former airport employee.
Robert shared his personal experience of preparing for retirement. Having observed what happened to some of his former colleagues after leaving employment, he became concerned about the lack of preparation for life after work. He subsequently chose voluntary retirement and began researching how people could better prepare themselves for their post-employment years.
For Robert, retirement preparedness is not simply about leaving employment. It is about preparing financially, investing in oneself and creating a meaningful life beyond formal employment.
He shared that he has invested in land and rental property and continues to acquire assets as part of his long-term preparation.
Reflecting on his current life, Robert offered a powerful perspective:
“You see me here with an old motorbike, you may feel pity for me, but I sleep in my own home in Njiru. I own rentals and continue to acquire more. Make your own investment, and not in children. Give children their right to education, but they are not your investment.”
His words offered a different way of looking at retirement and financial independence. What may appear from the outside to be a modest life does not necessarily tell the full story of someone’s financial position, priorities or preparation for the future.
Robert’s story reinforced an important lesson for Amazing Potential: conversations about retirement preparedness need to begin before retirement arrives.
These engagements are helping Amazing Potential better understand the realities within communities and shape programmes around the issues people are actually experiencing.
From youth organisation and access to opportunities to the often-overlooked needs of informal settlements and preparation for life after employment, the conversations continue to demonstrate the importance of listening before designing solutions.
At Amazing Potential Ltd, we believe that sustainable change begins with understanding people, their experiences and the environments in which they live and work.
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