The Story
After learning that 1 in 5 children in Kenya dies before their 5th birthday, Lucy Wambui Kaigutha founded Toto Care Box to bring education, supplies, and prenatal healthcare to mothers and newborns in disadvantaged communities. Based on Finland’s proven approach to reducing infant mortality, the central piece to Toto Care Box is a box that doubles as a crib and is filled with supplies to prevent the leading causes of infant death in Kenya.
A box costs about $30, and initially they self-funded and crowdfunded the expense. However, to help underwrite the costs, Toto Care Box created a social enterprise selling products and services like diaper bags and Lamaze classes. This led their entire leadership team to join the Sinapis Entrepreneur Academy. In less than 6 months of graduating, their monthly sales nearly tripled.
The Impact
Sinapis built the team’s confidence in business and in Christ. “God has transformed me from a timid person to someone who confidently trusts Him because I have seen Him provide. I have completely surrendered to God.”
As of October 2019, Toto Care Box has distributed 1,550 boxes to mothers in Kenya. And their life-changing work is getting noticed. BBC featured the impact they are making. They are beginning to get corporate partners to join in the effort. In September 2019, Africa Star Railway donated 100 boxes to mothers from a Nairobi slum.