Thursday, November 10, 2011

Donation update: potential projects

So I've been searching for some good option for the money many of you donated over my 30th birthday!
Here are some options, please let me know what you think!  


Option 1: Building a computer center for one of the communities in Kibera
Many Kenyans lack the most basic computer skills, and having simple word processing training and getting a computer certificate could potentially give them job opportunities not previously available.  My friend in the slum has already identified people who are willing to donate computer and someone who is willing to provide computer training on a voluntary basis, but they do not have a location to host the computers and provide training.  The money we have now will be enough to purchase 3 rooms, and we need to source building materials to put the rooms together.  Thinking is that people can come and use the computers for a small fee (like a cyber cafe, which is not that prevalent in Kibera), and we will also provide training to help people access jobs.

Option 2: Providing working capital for Africa Institute for Health and Development's Trash2Treasure Program.
This is consortium of community-based self-help woman's groups in the Dandora slum (where all the trash goes to) who have partnered to clean the environment and turn reused trash in the form of plastic bags, newspapers and magazines into creative sell-able products. AIHD train low-income and hard-working individuals on skills that turn trash into usable goods including: plastic bags crocheted into waste baskets, school pencil pouches, clutch bags, floor mats, shopping bags and table top baskets and laundry bags. Magazines used for making beads as jewelry and for decorating the plastic products. Newspapers: used to make pencils..etc. They currently do not have any retail outlet or do any sort of marketing, so helping them find a sustainable route-to-market will be important to continue generating income for these women
Dandora Dumpsite
crocheted bags from recycled plastic bags

Option 3: Donating d.light Solar Lights and school supplies to Ex-Street Children in Eldoret.
Many of you probably read my post about the glue-kids in Eldoret.  A portion of your donation has already been donated to them.  This would be the easiest/fastest option, and would make a big impact.

5 comments:

  1. Option 3, like u said, easy and fast!

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  2. Wow, these are all great options!

    I'm tempted to go with #1, but the concern would be electricity to keep the computers running, as we all as solid internet connections. Basically, it comes down to infrastructure.

    If the requisite infrastructure isn't there, I'd go with #2 because it sounds like a great program that needs marketing help. And were the program to get that help, it would really lift off.

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