What We Do
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The foundation has four primary programs:
J9 Scholars:
Motivating students toward entrepreneurship and service through scholarships, internships and training, including:
J9 Entrepreneurs
Moving people living in poverty toward economic self-sufficiency and community service through business development projects.
The J9 Entrepreneurs Project combats global poverty by equipping young entrepreneurs to catalyze economic growth in their communities and model community service and philanthropy. The project seeks to support the development of successful micro-enterprises and also small- to medium-sized businesses capable of generating capital, employment, investment and expansion.
A pilot project is underway in western Kenya’s Bondo District. The first class of young entrepreneurs was trained in 2007. A second class was trained in 2008. The intent is to develop a replicable model grounded in a vision of “Compassionate Entrepreneurship,” which merges business principles with Christian values of stewardship and service.
The project puts capital – in the form of loans and investment – into the hands of previously unemployed or underemployed young entrepreneurs living in impoverished communities who:
The project utilizes two economic growth tools: micro-loans for the development of micro-enterprises, and investment capital for larger-scale business development.
Micro-enterprise has been found globally to be an effective poverty reduction tool to improve the livelihoods of individuals and families. The J9 Project will be a catalyst for the development of successful micro-enterprises that benefit J9 Entrepreneurs and their families and will allow them to give back to their community.
At the same time, research has shown that micro-enterprise has not proven to be the kind of economic growth engine within the formal economy that can generate employment and benefit entire communities or regions. Recently, a great deal of attention has been placed instead on the development of “small and medium enterprises,” or “SMEs.”
As the J9 Project trains a group of young entrepreneurs, it looks to identify the few whose ideas and vision are ready for scale-up beyond micro-enterprise to the level of an SME. In these cases, investment capital along with, or in place of, loans can be provided. Additional technical support and capacity building is also made available.
J9 Mentors
Engaging successful business people and entrepreneurs in mentoring, service and business development.
The first class of J9 Mentors from North America traveled to Kenya in September 2008 to train, advise and encourage the young entrepreneurs preparing to launch businesses. The trainees benefit from the experience of the mentors in areas of business development, finance, marketing, human resources and more. The Mentors benefit through their exposure to both the challenges and opportunities faced by people living in an impoverished area. Both groups benefit through the development of personal relationships and friendships that extend beyond the trip.
Mentor trips will be scheduled each year to J9 project sites. Contact the foundation for more information.
J9 Business Development
Generating economic growth in impoverished communities through profit-making enterprises.
The foundation has partnered in the establishment of Jaynine, Ltd., a Kenyan corporation that will provide construction materials and services for projects in Kenya’s Lake Victoria region. The company has two primary purposes: 1) serves as a model enterprise to help train J9 Entrepreneurs, 2) a portion of the company’s profits support the entrepreneurship project.
J9 Scholars:
Motivating students toward entrepreneurship and service through scholarships, internships and training, including:
- Jacob J Nyenhuis Scholarship
An annual college scholarship given to a graduating senior from Glynn Academy, a public high school in Brunswick, Ga.
Jacob J Nyenhuis, the foundation’s namesake, graduated in 2006 from Glynn Academy. The foundation annually grants a four-year college scholarship valued at $8,000 ($2,000 per year) to a student who articulates a passion for both entrepreneurship and compassionate service.
The foundation will remain in contact with these J9 Scholars through their college careers and beyond in order to share stories of success that will inspire other students.
Get More Scholarship Information
Get the Scholarship Application
- Internships
The foundation provides internship opportunities for college students at its project site in Kenya. The interns can earn credit from their universities while working directly with young Kenyan entrepreneurs and learning both the challenges and opportunities for economic development in impoverished rural communities. - CE Institutes
Partnerships with high schools and youth ministries to provide exposure and experience in the principles of compassionate entrepreneurship (CE).
J9 Entrepreneurs
Moving people living in poverty toward economic self-sufficiency and community service through business development projects.
The J9 Entrepreneurs Project combats global poverty by equipping young entrepreneurs to catalyze economic growth in their communities and model community service and philanthropy. The project seeks to support the development of successful micro-enterprises and also small- to medium-sized businesses capable of generating capital, employment, investment and expansion.
A pilot project is underway in western Kenya’s Bondo District. The first class of young entrepreneurs was trained in 2007. A second class was trained in 2008. The intent is to develop a replicable model grounded in a vision of “Compassionate Entrepreneurship,” which merges business principles with Christian values of stewardship and service.
The project puts capital – in the form of loans and investment – into the hands of previously unemployed or underemployed young entrepreneurs living in impoverished communities who:
- Have a basic education
- Have a strong desire to succeed and a proven work ethic
- Are well-trained in entrepreneurship, business development, life and social skills and Christian values of stewardship and service
- Develop and implement sound business plans
- Act with integrity and accountability
- Give back to others.
The project utilizes two economic growth tools: micro-loans for the development of micro-enterprises, and investment capital for larger-scale business development.
Micro-enterprise has been found globally to be an effective poverty reduction tool to improve the livelihoods of individuals and families. The J9 Project will be a catalyst for the development of successful micro-enterprises that benefit J9 Entrepreneurs and their families and will allow them to give back to their community.
At the same time, research has shown that micro-enterprise has not proven to be the kind of economic growth engine within the formal economy that can generate employment and benefit entire communities or regions. Recently, a great deal of attention has been placed instead on the development of “small and medium enterprises,” or “SMEs.”
As the J9 Project trains a group of young entrepreneurs, it looks to identify the few whose ideas and vision are ready for scale-up beyond micro-enterprise to the level of an SME. In these cases, investment capital along with, or in place of, loans can be provided. Additional technical support and capacity building is also made available.
J9 Mentors
Engaging successful business people and entrepreneurs in mentoring, service and business development.
The first class of J9 Mentors from North America traveled to Kenya in September 2008 to train, advise and encourage the young entrepreneurs preparing to launch businesses. The trainees benefit from the experience of the mentors in areas of business development, finance, marketing, human resources and more. The Mentors benefit through their exposure to both the challenges and opportunities faced by people living in an impoverished area. Both groups benefit through the development of personal relationships and friendships that extend beyond the trip.
Mentor trips will be scheduled each year to J9 project sites. Contact the foundation for more information.
J9 Business Development
Generating economic growth in impoverished communities through profit-making enterprises.
The foundation has partnered in the establishment of Jaynine, Ltd., a Kenyan corporation that will provide construction materials and services for projects in Kenya’s Lake Victoria region. The company has two primary purposes: 1) serves as a model enterprise to help train J9 Entrepreneurs, 2) a portion of the company’s profits support the entrepreneurship project.
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