From Campus Hustle to Sustainable Enterprise: Newton Munene’s Journey with HopeCore

Newton Munene at his dairy farm in Kiraro village, Tharaka Nithi County.

Newton is steadily building a better future for his family through welding and dairy farming. With discipline, support, and access to financing through HopeCore, he has transformed his skills into sustainable livelihoods.

“Before I joined HopeCore, life had many struggles,” Newton says. “I was fresh from campus, and hustling meant struggling up and down just to survive.” Fresh from graduation and with welding skills, he expected opportunities to come quickly, but he had no equipment, capital, or permanent workshop. Youth and lack of experience were barriers, and he found it difficult to build trust.

Everything began to change when a friend introduced him to HopeCore. Newton learned that access to HopeCore support requires membership in a self-help group, where members save together, support one another, and learn financial discipline.

“It wasn’t just about getting money,” he explains. “HopeCore taught us to be disciplined and to use money with a clear purpose.”

Through his group, Newton qualified for his first-cycle loan of Ksh. 30,000 ($233), which he used to purchase a welding machine. Without a permanent workshop, he began offering mobile welding services, traveling from one homestead to another.

Slowly, trust began to grow.

After two years of saving and consistent loan repayment, Newton qualified for his second-cycle loan of Ksh. 70,000 ($543). This time, he made a strategic investment by purchasing a motorcycle.

“The motorcycle helped me reach other communities and deliver materials faster,” Newton shares. “It really expanded my work.”

Newton’s dairy cows provide a growing and reliable source of income for his family.

With his welding business now stable, Newton chose to diversify his income. After receiving a third-cycle loan of Ksh 100,000 ($775), he invested in dairy farming. He already owned one cow and used the loan to purchase a second, bringing his herd to two.

Newton’s dairy cows provide a growing and reliable source of income for his family.

With income from both welding and milk sales, Newton was able to repay his loan and move beyond survival. From the profits, he began constructing his own house, a major milestone in his journey.

As his experience and confidence grew, Newton qualified for HopeCore’s highest, premium loan cycle. With this loan, he expanded his herd by two cows, leading to higher milk yields, more calves, and increased income.

He invested in building a proper cowshed and continued with his house construction. His improved income has also enabled him to pay school fees and meet his family’s needs more consistently.

Ongoing house construction made possible through income from Newton’s welding and dairy enterprises.

Newton’s welding business continues to support his dairy farming. From welding profits, he purchased a chaff cutter, improving farm efficiency.

Beyond his household, Newton’s progress has had a lasting impact on others. His welding workshop now employs casual laborers. “We are improving other people’s lives,” he says. “In the workshop, casual laborers get their daily bread. There is hope for them, too.”

Reflecting on his journey, Newton describes HopeCore as the catalyst that helped him move from struggle to sustainability.

“HopeCore has been good to us. It is improving lives,” he says. “I believe that in the next two to three years, my farm will grow and I will major mainly in cattle farming.”

His message to others is simple and direct: “Just join HopeCore, be disciplined, and eventually you will make it.”

Newton at his dairy farm, which now complements his welding business.

Newton’s story demonstrates how HopeCore’s Micro Enterprise program empowers young people to turn skills into sustainable livelihoods through discipline, purpose, and opportunity.