Tanzania Gatsby and HfHT in Partnership

September 5, 2012September 6, 2012EAAG BLOG Leave a comment

By Jeremy Cross (Country Director Habitat for Humanity Tanzania)

Both Tanzania Gatsby Trust (TGT) and Habitat for Humanity Tanzania (HFHT) share a commitment to building economic prosperity and independence for those struggling to escape poverty in Tanzania. TGT aims to hamess, channel and unleash human energy to build social, financial and physical capital through e n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p development. Its methodologies include extending access to credit, marketing development, research in applied technology and training. HFHT, affiliated to Habitat for Humanity International, is a Christian non-profit making housing NGO which works in partnership with people from all walks of life regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or faith, to help build simple, decent and affordable houses for families in need. A revolving fund enables repayments to build more houses with others in need- leading the community, and individuals, toward financial independence & sustainability.

For small- scale entrepreneurs, the home is also often the business space and hence a significant factor in determining the growth potential for a start-up enterprise as well as addressing basic health and human needs. After food, accommodation is the next largest household expense. Following a pilot phase to establish a basis for longer-term collaboration, TGT and HFHT are launching a partnership through which the two organizations will coordinate their respective skills and experience to help local communities address housing needs and business opportunity.

Complementary interventions will enable TGT to improve the income generating capacity of partner communities to support and provide for their own development needs – including the ability to repay the larger loans required to address housing needs.

HFHT to provide construction expertise & supervision promoting appropriate home owner contributions and housing micro finance management – keeping revolving home and business loans quite separate.

Over the coming year, the benefits of the partnership will be extended to communities on the mainland of Tanzania – providing support to existing Habitat and Gatsby groups. The provision of secure capital housing assets will lay the foundation for private collateral loans for community partners and subsequent generations, empowering others such as the women of Chaani where the official launching of the collaboration and the First Six houses were handed over the homeowners by Michael Pattison CBE, Director of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

SATF SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS IN EDUCATION

September 5, 2012September 4, 2012EAAG BLOG Leave a comment

It was a cherished moment for MVC and their caretakers at Gongo la Mboto ward in Ilala Municipality after receiving desks from SATF following a call from Hon Jerry Silaa , the Ilala Municipal Mayor . Living its envisaged mission of securing children’s future through among other things, education support, SATF donated 100 desks to support pupils at Guluka Kwalala and Ulongoni primary schools.
During the handover ceremony, the Hon. Mayor pointed-out that the school has more than 460 children currently; most of them are sitting on floor due to shortage of desks. He said the Ulongoni primary school had about 5 desks only which were contributed by good Samaritans. Hon. Mayor expressed his gratitude to SATF for the donation.
60 Desks were handed over to Ulongoni primary School and 40 desks to Guluka kwalala primary school.

The Headteacher of Guluka Kwalala Primary School Mr. Mohamedi Mcheni (left) receiving desks from SATF Program Officer Mr. Shukuru Musabila during handover ceremony at the school. In witness from left:-Hon. Jerry Silaa Ilala Mayor, School committee Chaiperson Mr. Selemani Kipengere, Mtaa Chairperson Mrs.Hadija Kidemoga and Ward Education Officer Mrs. Mwombeki

Formore on this feature, Click Here

NEW MEMBERS JOIN EAAG

September 5, 2012September 5, 2012EAAG BLOG Leave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The East Africa Association is a non-profit association registered in Kenya that caters to the collective needs of grantmakers in East Africa. Through research and knowledge sharing & the provision of networking platforms and linkages we are able to promote the learning and success of grantmakers in the region.

Being a membership association, we occasionally reach out to grantmakers in the region who are not our members and interest them in membership. As the common saying goes “ We are better and stronger together”, we continually encourage grantmaking organisations in the region to join us and help nurture the philanthropic spirit that will be instrumental in spurring social development in the region. We are also passionate about organized philanthropy and in the pursuit of realizing more grantmaking organisations with strong leadership and governnece structures, encourage the formalization of grantmaking practices which in the end will help strengthen strategic alliances and networks whilst promoting the development of best practices for philanthropy in the region

We would like to take this chance to welcome UHAI-EASHRI and AAR Beckmann Trust as our newest members and look forward to a continued long lasting and mutual relationship.

To become a member or partner of EAAG, kindly get in touch with us

The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation continues to support the education of the needy but bright.

March 13, 2012March 15, 2012EAAG BLOG Leave a comment

The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) was founded in 1966 as a company limited by guarantee with a mandate of supporting education and alleviating poverty. A parastatal in the ministry of Education, its core activities are publishing of educational materials and offering scholarships to bright but needy Kenyan secondary school students.

The JKF scholarship programme was initiated in 1968. Approximately 15,000 students have benefitted, at a total cost of over Kshs. 200 million. Currently 1509 are enrolled, with 320 of them having joined Form One earlier in the year.

The scholarship covers the four years of secondary education. The Foundation pays the fees charged by the school per year for each student. The beneficiaries must perform well in their schoolwork for continuity of the scholarship. The Foundation receives copies of the students’ report forms every term as a way of monitoring their performance.

The criterion for eligibility is simple. An advert inviting applications and setting out the selection criteria is placed in the media and the JKF website immediately after the release of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. Education offices countrywide are also notified of the scholarship and serve as application forms picking points.

Plans are afoot to conduct interviews across the country with a view to ascertaining the authenticity of applicants among other considerations. This exercises kicked off early this year for Nairobi County and it was such a success.

Overwhelming applications are received each year notwithstanding the short notice. This year alone saw slightly over 2,000 students apply. Whereas it was JKF’s wish to take aboard the number, or even more, this is not possible due to limited financial capability. The revenue for running the scholarship is generated from the sale of JKF books.

Priority, however, is given to orphans and those from disadvantaged families that include disabilities. Gender parity is also observed, with a 55:45 ratio of male to female students registered in the latest intake.

To ensure sustainability and expansion of the programme, the Foundation has adopted various strategies that include:

Establishing an endowment fund where the Foundation’s profits are transferred.
Establishing partnerships with grant givers and other benefactors who wish to use the Foundation’s experience in disbursement to reach bright and needy students throughout the country.

The 2012 cheque award ceremony was held on Tuesday, February 28, at the Foundation’s grounds in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. It was an event that the beneficiaries will forever remember as the turning point in their education fortunes.

Giver’s Lounge 1; Session Report (eaagblog.wordpress.com)
Strange Scholarships (college-textbooks.co)
How To Get Financial Aid For College (answers.com)

Safaricom Foundation Equips School’s Science Laboratory

February 10, 2012EAAG BLOG Leave a comment

February 9^th 2012: Over 100 disadvantaged students from Brucewood Education Centre located in Komarock Estate, Nairobi now have a reason to smile after Safaricom Foundation equipped the Centre’s science laboratory.

The pupils, most of whom come from neighbouring slums of Dandora and Kayole could not hide their joy as they received Kshs. 500,000 worth of packed chemicals and apparatus from the Foundation recently. Some of the equipments purchased include Bunsen burners, beakers, funnels, burettes, thermometers, spatulas, measuring cylinders, test tubes, ammeters and voltmeters among others.

The donation by the Foundation comes in the wake of a common believe among students that science and technology – related subjects are difficult.

Speaking during the event, Zaheeda Suleiman- Arain, Safaricom Foundation Trustee noted that the students require extensive encouragement from parents and teachers in order to motivate them not to shun science subjects.

“As teachers, parents or guardians, we have a major role to play in the lives of these pupils by advising them accordingly on issues such as this one,” said Zaheeda, adding that were it not for the centre, some of the students would not have got the opportunity to go to school considering the poor backgrounds of their parents.

Through this project, the students will be able to undertake their practical lessons in Biology, Chemistry and Physics that will improve their understanding on various topics taught in class.

“This project is in line with our commitment to boost learning and promote good performance in schools,” noted Zaheeda.