Help Center

Getting Started

What is Mara by SDVEN?

Mara by SDVEN is a platform that empowers talented students in Kenya to sell their creative products—both physical and digital. We connect students with customers while providing schools with a revenue-sharing opportunity.

How does the revenue sharing work?

Every sale is automatically split as follows:

• 75.00% goes directly to the student who created the product
• 15.00% goes to the student's school
• 10.00% covers platform operations, payment processing, and support

Who can join Mara by SDVEN?

• Students: Enrolled in a registered school, any age with parental/school consent
• School Administrators: Authorized representatives of Kenyan schools
• Customers: Anyone 18+ with a valid payment method

For Students

How do I join as a student?

1. Check if your school is registered on Mara by SDVEN
2. If yes, ask your school administrator to add you as a student
3. If no, request your school to register or submit a verification request
4. Once added, log in and start creating product listings!

What can I sell on the platform?

You can sell:

• Physical products: Artwork, crafts, baked goods, handmade items, books, etc.
• Digital products: E-books, digital art, music, photography, educational content, etc.

Note: All products must be original creations and approved by platform administrators.

How do I create a product listing?

1. Go to "My Products" in your dashboard
2. Click "Add New Product"
3. Fill in product details (title, description, price, category)
4. Upload high-quality images (up to 5 photos)
5. For digital products, upload the file (max 10MB)
6. Submit for review—you'll be notified when it's approved!

How do I fulfill orders?

Physical products:

• You'll receive an email notification when someone orders your product
• Check the shipping details in "My Sales"
• Prepare and ship the product within the agreed timeframe
• Coordinate delivery with the customer if needed

Digital products:

• Customers receive automatic download links after payment
• No action required from you—it's instant!

When and how do I get paid?

• Payouts are processed monthly
• Minimum payout threshold: KES 100
• Set up your M-Pesa or bank account details in your profile
• View your earnings breakdown in "My Sales"

Can I edit or delete my products?

Yes! Go to "My Products" and click "Edit" or "Delete" on any listing. Note: Products with pending orders cannot be deleted.

For Schools

How do schools register?

1. School administrator creates an account (user type: School Admin)
2. Fill in school details (name, registration number, location, etc.)
3. Pay the one-time registration fee of KES 500.00 via M-Pesa or card
4. Wait for approval (usually within 24-48 hours)
5. Start adding students once activated!

Why is there a registration fee?

The KES 500.00 fee covers:

• School verification and onboarding
• Platform maintenance and support
• Payment processing infrastructure
• One-time fee—no recurring charges

How do I add students?

1. Go to your School Dashboard
2. Click "Add Student"
3. Enter student details (name, admission number, grade, parent contact)
4. Student receives login credentials via email
5. They can now create product listings!

How does the school earn commission?

Your school automatically receives 15.00% of every sale made by your students. No additional action required—it's calculated and tracked automatically!

When do schools receive payouts?

• Payouts are processed monthly around the 5th of each month
• View detailed earnings reports in "Payout History"
• Set up bank account or M-Pesa details in School Settings
• Track each student's contribution to school earnings

Can I manage student access?

Yes! School administrators can:

• View all student listings and sales
• Suspend student accounts if needed
• Review join requests from existing students
• Monitor commission earnings per student

For Customers

How do I make a purchase?

1. Browse products or search by category
2. Click "Add to Cart" on products you like
3. Go to Cart and click "Proceed to Checkout"
4. Enter shipping details (for physical products)
5. Complete payment via M-Pesa or credit/debit card (Paystack)
6. Receive order confirmation via email

What payment methods are accepted?

• M-Pesa (mobile money)
• Visa, Mastercard, and other major credit/debit cards
• All payments are securely processed through Paystack

How long does delivery take?

Physical products:

• Delivery time varies by product and location
• Students typically ship within 3-7 business days
• Shipping cost calculated based on your county

Digital products:

• Instant download after payment confirmation
• Download link sent to your email
• Valid for 30 days with up to 3 downloads

Can I return or get a refund?

• Digital products are generally non-refundable once downloaded
• Physical products may be returned within 7 days if not as described
• Contact us through the Contact page with order details and issue description
• Refund decisions are made on a case-by-case basis

What if I have a payment issue?

If your payment fails or order status shows "Pending Payment":

1. Check your email for payment instructions
2. Go to "My Orders" and click "Retry Payment"
3. If issue persists, contact support with your order number

Technical Support

I forgot my password. What should I do?

1. Go to the Password Reset page
2. Enter your registered email address
3. Check your email for reset instructions
4. Create a new password

How do I update my account information?

Log in and go to your Profile to update:

• Personal details (name, phone, address)
• Profile picture
• Payout information
• Email notifications preferences

The website isn't loading properly

Try these troubleshooting steps:

• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
• Check your internet connection
• Disable browser extensions temporarily
• If issue persists, contact support

How do I report inappropriate content?

If you encounter products or behavior that violates our Terms of Service:

1. Take note of the product/user URL
2. Contact us via the Contact page
3. Provide details and screenshots if possible
4. We'll investigate and take action within 24 hours