This Yogurt story will inspire you to want more for your family.
In the wake of 2016 after finishing my Internal attachment, I had learned about lots of food products that ranged from sausages, doughnuts, cookies, ice cream, tomato sauces, yogurt, and wine among other products. Of key interest to me was yogurt since I wanted to impress my family that they did not waste their hard-earned money on paying my school fees. So I was given a few coins to purchase the necessary tools and equipment to prepare homemade yogurt. But Maina (Kenyans will understand this) let me tell you, after doing all everything step by step, and pen to book, I discovered the very first thing that will prevent someone from making homemade yogurt. In other words, I meant to say, I failed. I remember that morning I had woken up early to show my parents and siblings, something delicious, nutritious, and probably something that was going to be an alternative to our usual bread and tea for breakfast. My Mum saw my disappointed face that I had even forgotten to wash, she laughed to ease the frustration in me and said to me words that I will never forget in my life. She said, “next time you’ll make us some yogurt.”
Fast forward to 2020, my small sister has just finished her high school studies and she needed to transition to college to pursue further studies. Everything moved so fast and the next thing I knew we were sharing the same roof. At some moment I was scared what if I run short of money and I fail to take care of my sister. What a shame would it be if I allowed us to sleep hungry knowing that my parents have entrusted her under my roof. It was during this moment that I asked myself what is the one transferable skill can I share with my little sister so that in case of anything, she can turn that into a living. Yogurt struck my mind knowing that I owe it a rematch from the 2016 incident. So I decided, for the love of yogurt, am going to train my sister and she is a living testimony.
I love yogurt due to its nutritional value to our body and I have spent a fortune buying them, especially fruit yogurts. As soon as covid struck I was in a financial valley and I needed to cut down on stuff that was taking a huge chunk of my pocket minus compromising on my nutritional intake. So the solution to this was to start making my yogurt since a litre of milk in the estate was selling at Ksh. 55 as compared to a 500 ml cup of yogurt which I could purchase at the local supermarket for Ksh. 125. Even if you were poor in mathematics and economics, you can see there is an opportunity of getting 2 litres of homemade yogurt. I did not hesitate to get the necessary tools and it was a successful venture. At the end of it all, I was able to train my sister and I sold over 200 litres of homemade yogurt. My work colleagues and friends have been major pillars in my homemade yogurt journey. They’ve supported the course by purchasing my nutritious tasty homemade yogurt.
I no longer want this to be my journey alone. I want to pull more people to this journey. There is this profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others and that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others. That’s is UBUNTU right there as stated by one of the world’s greatest leaders, Nelson Mandela. On the 25th of May 2022, I’ve prepared a virtual cross-training session for making Homemade yogurt using simple tools available at home. This will be the 1st cohort and I’d like to invite you to be part of this and make history. Would you like to be part of this?
