Summary
The day Okuto Community Library opened its doors in January 2021 in West Seme ward, Kisumu County, it was a celebration. The community had surmounted many challenges and prevailed over the Covid-19 pandemic to raise the required funds. At last, they could smile. It was a long journey coming.
Over the years, members of the community had noted that education in this region was dwindling, and they lacked a designated hall to hold meetings and other community related events. There were conversations around starting one but one question lingered in all forms—where do we get the funds?
It was Benta Ndeda, Director and Founder of Aniga Women Community Based Organisation who came up with a solid plan. Running the organisation had equipped her with vital skills for local fundraising.
This is the story of a local organisation that persevered, against all odds.
KCDF published the example too. If you enjoy reading their slightly longer version of this success story, here is the link:
Community Library Built Thanks to a Successful Local Fundraising Training (kcdf.or.ke)
Tips and lessons learned
1. Everybody you see around is a potential donor.
2. Don’t be tired of asking for support and contributions.
3. Learn how to pitch your projects.
4. Not only cash is money; in-kind contributions and voluntary work may be just as important.
Review by Wilde Ganzen Foundation
This is a story of resourcefulness in the midst of a pandemic. After an initial harambee in Okuto to finally realise the much-needed library, COVID-19 prevented further events where people came together. Strengthened by a training in local fundraising by KCDF, Change the Game Academy partner for Kenya, the organisation in charge of the fundraising and the local school decided not to give up. Careful donor mapping and fundraising through online media (and some advice and encouragement by their KCDF mentor) then led to the desired result.
Have a look at the fundraising message at the end of this example. It is short, urgent and convincing. No wonder that they succeeded!
Details
Short description of the organisation the funds were raised for
Benta Ndeda, Director and Founder of Aniga Women Community Based Organisation, tells the story of the organisation:
“We started Aniga in 2006 as a self-help group before formally registering it in 2010. Our mission is to empower communities in the areas of education, food security, mentorship programmes and community volunteer work. When we started, HIV and AIDS were rampant, and I had lost two brothers almost at the same time. I decided to open up about it and with some members from my clan, we started doing outreaches in the community. Then we asked ourselves, “How do we ensure that we have food on our tables and that women do not fall prey to sexual predators?” The Aniga Women Initiative kicked off and we started with a kitchen garden. Through this, we networked and got a lot of support from the community and other organisations.”
Short description of the project or programme the funds were raised for
Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), Change the Game Academy alliance partner for Kenya, has developed an innovative granting scheme, called Pamoja for Change. The basis is a 1:1 grant matching model for local organisations that have demonstrated ability to locally raise 50% of the total project cost. Through Aniga Women Community Based Organisation, the Okuto community presented a pressing need for a library as the local school had recorded below-average performances, which they felt could be improved with the instillation of a reading culture among the pupils. The project therefore aimed at removing the burden of the cost of textbooks from the parents and literacy development, thus improving the reading culture with the provision of more spaces for knowledge acquisition both to the school and the community. The community contributed Ksh 1 Million in kind and cash and KCDF contributed a similar amount to the building and equipping of the Okuto Community Library. In addition to serving as a one-stop Youth and ICT Hub, the Okuto Community Library serves as a Modern Community Resource Centre.
Summary of fundraising action
“At first, many didn’t believe that we could raise Ksh 1,000,000 from the community in 6 months’ time”, David Omoso, the school’s patron for the past 10 years, says. “We had been having harambees for classrooms before getting support from the NG-CDF (National Government Constituencies Development Fund), but this was a bigger challenge. Determined, we decided to forge on. We had a meeting with members of the community and representatives from Aniga Women Community Based Organisation and resolved to give it a go.”
“We held the first harambee in 2019 and raised Ksh 250,000, then the Covid-19 pandemic happened and threw us off course,” says Maureen Anyango, project coordinator at Aniga and the secretary general to the fundraising committee. “Some people had even started suggesting that we shelve the dream but if there is something that I learnt from Change the Game Academy, it is to be innovative. We decided to have a WhatsApp group, make small cards for members to give out, then mapped out our donors and contacted them. Admittedly, it was not easy,” she says.
One of the strategies that Benta adopted is having her mentor, whom she had got from Change the Game Academy, join the WhatsApp group. “She came in to encourage me and implore people to make contributions.”
The construction of Okuto community library was completed in December 2020 and the library was officially opened in January 2021.
Objectives
Establishing a fully equipped community library, the Okuto Community Library.
Targeted donors
1. The stakeholders including school parents, board of management, staff members, local business community, alumni, local leaders, and well wishers.
2. Partner organisations.
3. Local community and those in the diaspora.
4. Local government.
Results
| Cost/benefit |
National currency (KES |
Euro |
| Total amount raised |
1,000,000 |
8,730 |
| (-) Total amount invested |
0 |
0 |
| Net amount raised |
1,000,000 |
8,730 |
Accounting details
1. Cash donations Ksh. 756,750
2. In-kind donations Ksh. 243,250
Result comments
Apart from the financial results, we would like to mention two very important qualitative results:
1. Community engagement and ownership increased.
2. The project enhanced everyone's capacity to pull together resources and raise funds.
Description of preparatory work
1. Identifying the project.
1. Defining goals and budget.
2. Forming a fundraising committee.
3. Researching for funding resources.
4. Developing a fundraising plan.
Description of implementation
1. Launching a fundraising campaign that clearly communicates the importance and impact for the community.
2. Organising fundraising events, planning and execution of the events.
3. Engaging with donors and supporters, implying cultivating meaningful relationships with potential donors.
4. Looking for sponsorships and support.
5. Tracking progress and adjusting strategies.
Follow up: Donor appreciation and acknowledgement
We sent personalised thank you notes, emails, text. We used the same WhatsApp group (donor wall) to appreciate the team. Social Media shout-outs and mentions. Public acknowledgment during community events. Handwritten thank you notes.
Plans to repeat the action
Undoubtedly. With the first leg of the project completed, it is now time to look for ways to address other emerging challenges. “We’re still trying to furnish the library through local fundraising. The library lacks toilets and computers for the ICT room,” says Mr Ondula, head teacher.
And there are other wishes too, such as an ICT teacher, a librarian, and a guard. Water catchment is also on the list.
