Summary
Marimanti Girls School was in need of a new sanitation block and RIDEP Kenya decided to help raise the necessary funds locally. A joint committee was formed, that identified various donor groups and developed strategies to involve them. A series of activities in the community (goat eating parties, harambee) produced good results, while the parents also contributed their fair share. RIDEP organisation and staff contributed too, while RIDEP moreover mobilised its network of stakeholders, even as far as Meru and Nairobi. Much attention was given to publicity. The events were announced on posters, banners and leaflets.
The beneficiaries themselves explained the need for the project in the local churches.
Tips and lessons learned
Required resources are available within the community, but they are seldom tapped.
If people are mobilised they can help solve their own problems and be part of the solution.
Don´t be put off by the challenges at the start, but solve the problems as you go along and be consistent.
Review by Wilde Ganzen Foundation
This is a good example of the combination of various methods of fundraising for a specific project that resulted in a high return on investment. Specific fundraising activities were designed for various donor groups such as parents, community members, government officials, churches, etc.
Details
Objectives
To have a flush toilet constructed.
To have the local community realise many problems can be solved through locally available resources.
Targeted donors
General public, funding partners, local churches, institutional stakeholders.
Results
| Cost/benefit |
National currency (KES |
Euro |
| Total amount raised |
1,160,000 |
9,976 |
| (-) Total amount invested |
60,000 |
516 |
| Net amount raised |
1,100,000 |
9,460 |
Accounting details
| Income: |
|
|
|
| RIDEP Organisation |
|
30.000 |
| RIDEP staff |
|
15.000 |
| School parents |
|
220.000 |
| Stakeholders/pledge forms |
251.200 |
| Harambee |
|
643.800 |
|
|
|
|
| Costs: |
|
|
|
| Mainly food |
|
|
Description of preparatory work
1. Development of project proposal to improve the sanitary situation in the school.
2. Organisation of a stakeholders meeting to lay down strategies for fundraising. Formation of a project committee. Formation of an implementation committee including representation from RIDEP and school board members.
3. Contribution strategy focusing on different categories of potential donors set up. Deadlines stated for every activity.
4. Sharing of responsibilities during preparations of the resource mobilisation.
5. Project committee came up with ideas of getting resources from the community, such as students explaining the situation to the local churches.
Description of implementation
1. Parents were given deadlines to contribute their share as part of ensuring ownership and meaningful participation.
RIDEP mobilised resources from their networks including opinion leaders and people from the community working in bigger towns like Meru and Nairobi.
2. The committee and school administration were able to identify guests who would make significant contributions during the planned public fundraiser commonly known as ´harambee´.
3. Committee and stakeholders attracted potential donors through goat eating parties, where donors would make their contributions after a good meal.
4. Creating awareness through publication on posters, banners and leaflets helped with popularising the goat eating parties and the main fundraiser.
5. Stakeholders were encouraged to sign pledge forms, an exercise facilitated by students of Marimanti Girls.
6. On the material day, a public fundraising event was held. Local community members came with farm products for auction. Those from urban centers brought money.
Plans to repeat the action
This successful campaign made RIDEP and the community realise that local resources to solve local problems are often available. Already a second fundraiser has been organised to fund the construction of classrooms in another school.
