Summary
Malnutrition is still a very big problem in Mukono District. In 2017 the malnutrition unit of Noah's Ark Family Clinic registered the highest number of malnourished children in its history. This was attributed to the fact that Uganda faced the worst drought for years, leading to lack of food in most parts of the country.
In order to raise funds for the operational costs of the unit, a charity walk was organised, with the intention not only to mobilise financial support, but also to create awareness on how the clinic and the community together can reduce the rising numbers. The initiators and their planng team came up with a catchy statement: war on malnutrition, which was also translated in the local language and used on all flyers and banners. The charity walk took place on August 10, 2018.
At the end of August a charity dinner will be organised to raise even more funds for the 2018/2019 budget of the malnutrition programme.
Tips and lessons learned
1. Visuals help a lot. The clinic made a malnutrition album which clearly shows the before and after pictures of the beneficiaries of the programme in the past years, so the prospective donor is able to see the impact of the programme.
2. Noah's Ark also used former beneficiaries’ testimonies to win the hearts of the people.
3. Noah's Ark realised that sensitisation plays a big role in what they do and can help to reduce the numbers of malnourished children, which in the long run reduces the necessary budget.
4. Noah's Ark also realised that if you actively pursue community involvement, people open up more and feel part of the programmes. Some members of the community may not be able to afford a financial contribution, but can help you mobilise masses or can contribute in-kind.
Review by Wilde Ganzen Foundation
Noah's Ark Family Clinic in Mukono District, Uganda, is running a malnutrition unit for children. Malnutrition is an important problem in their catchment area and they need a lot of money each year for operational costs. Some of the staff of the organisation recently followed a Local Fundraising course, offered by Uganda National NGO Forum, Change the Game Academy partner for Uganda. They decided to put what they learned into action, by organising a charity walk and - later - a charity dinner. The walk took place on August 10, 2018. A strong point of this action is the use of visual materials. Apart from banners and flyers, the initiators of the fundraising activity put together a malnutrition album, showing pictures of the children before and after their treatment. In their pitches they used this album, as well as testimonies of former beneficiaries. This resulted in broad support for their initiative.
Details
Short description of the organisation the funds were raised for
Noah’s Ark Children’s Ministry Uganda (NACMU) is a non-denominational Christian organisation giving a home to more than 190 children aged 0 - 17 years who are abandoned, abused or thrown away as little babies. Most of the children they receive have been literally thrown away with trash, left with a stranger or are mentally or physically abused. When there is no place to go, Noah’s Ark opens its doors through the probation offices and child protection units of police. NACMU focuses on holistic childcare and development programmes that put children first in all its interventions. More than 700 children from the poorest families including those in the children’s home and in the surrounding communities enjoy sponsored education in the three NACMU owned schools: nursery, primary and secondary vocational school where practical skills training is blended into the normal Ugandan Secondary School Curriculum. NACMU also runs a health center III clinic offering free quality health care services to the children plus the surrounding community, which has led to the reduction of infant and maternal mortality.
Short description of the project or programme the funds were raised for
Noah’s Ark Family Clinic is a programme of Noah’s Ark Children’s Ministry Uganda and has been operating a Malnutrition unit as a department under the Clinic. The main goal for this department is to reduce infant mortality rates which had become an epidemic in Mukono district. According to the clinic's research, infant mortality in this district is attributed to poverty, drought and ignorance. Children are often the first ones to suffer, which has led to the increase in the numbers of malnourished children.
For 3 years, Noah’s Ark Family Clinic has been making a life changing difference in the lives of children in their children’s home and those from the community plus their families. The clinic does not stop at just treating symptoms, but connects with the families to educate them on how to provide nutritious meals for the children. A small change in diet can have a huge impact, even when times are difficult.
In those 3 years of operation, Noah’s Family Clinic has managed to treat over 300 children with only 3 deaths which were children living with HIV/Aids that hadn’t started on ARV treatment by the time they were enrolled in the programme.
Objectives
1. Reduce malnutrition increasing numbers by the year 2020, through sensitisation on the importance of small backyard gardens and diet feeding emphasis.
2. Bring the community on board and share knowledge from other influential people like police, Mulago hospital representatives, former beneficiaries of the programme, district officials as well as encouraging more ambassadors.
3. Raise financial assistance from the offices and the individuals approached.
Targeted donors
1. People living in the community neighbouring the organisation.
2. Surrounding schools, churches and the bussiness community.
3. Influential people like community heads, neighbouring health centers, Mulago National Referral Hospital, bankers and the Asian community.
Results
| Cost/benefit |
National currency (Uganda Shilling |
Euro |
| Total amount raised |
21,134,500 |
4,906 |
| (-) Total amount invested |
1,300,000 |
302 |
| Net amount raised |
19,834,500 |
4,604 |
Accounting details
Specification of in-kind donations:
1. Received plumpynut (a nutritious supplement for malnourished children) from Mulago National Referral Hospital worth 2.500.000.
2. Baby milk from the Indian community worth 7.500.000.
3. Rice worth 2.000.000 from individuals.
4. Refreshments from Harris International worth 200.000 for the band and those present during mobilisations.
Costs:
Banners and flyers – 400.000
Fuel for mobilisation - 300.000
Community mobilisation – 100.000
T-shirts – 500.000
Description of preparatory work
1. Held a meeting with the people mentioned in the fundraising plan.
2. Wrote invitation letters/appeal letters with the help of the Missionary Doctor and attached pledge cards.
3. Got chief walker.
4. Informed the police and probation office – Mukono District.
5. Collected pledges and donations in-kind.
6. Worked on banners and flyers.
7. Mobilised the community.
8. Organised requirements for the day.
Description of implementation
1. The meeting involved every person that could come in as a resource as well as getting ideas all geared towards making the event a success.
2. Appeal/invitation letters were taken to the targeted individuals and groups.
3. The help of the CEO was instrumental in the recruitment of the chief walker who is very influential in Mukono District.
4. Contact with police and probation office was maintained by the General Manager because the voice of someone in her position would easily be heard.
5. The initiators, together with the missionary doctor and the procurement person collected the pledges, including some donations from suppliers.
6. The PR Department designed the artwork on the banners and sent them for printing which made it cheaper.
7. Volunteers, social workers, community heads, church leaders and school heads took a role in mobilising the community.
8. The initiators made a checklist of items necessary on the day of the walk and made sure that the roles they had delegated were done, including those assigned to community members.
9. On August 10, the initiators, with their banners and other statements about the subject written on manila papers, the band, the ambulance, police and walkers assembled in one place to begin the walk.
Follow up: Donor appreciation and acknowledgement
After the event thank you letters have been sent to every local donor, as well as to the members that were influential in the charity walk.
Later this year the initiators of the present fundraising campaign will make a report with pictures, which will be shared with the donors, showing the impact of the funds plus the donations in-kind they made available.
Plans to repeat the action
There are plans to repeat the action, this time in more remote villages within the catchment area of the clinic, especially those near water bodies where children are more prone to waterborne illnesses.
