Big success in cost sharing world

‘I see now that I have to take my responsibility as a father to take care for the education of my child, before I thought the NGO’s are responsible (laughing)’.

‘It will help us to take better care for materials, because we had to put effort in it, to get the materials. When NGO’s donate things to us, we don’t feel like we own it, because we didn’t work for it to get it. But because of this cost sharing idea we feel ownership’.

‘This cost sharing idea is good!’  

‘We have to contribute now, it makes us feel more responsible and more involved in the school enrolment of our children’.

 ‘Working together makes us stronger and we can achieve a lot’.

These are a few quotes from parents who attended one of our meetings about cost sharing. In this meetings we gather as much community members as possible. We ask questions like: who is responsible for the child, what are these responsibilities and why do people have these responsibilities?

In this blog I want to give an update about the big success of the fundraising and cost sharing project we are able to execute in communities together with your help. So far we’ve been to 5 communities to talk about and inform them about the new policy of cost sharing.

The very good news is the following: all the communities are enthusiastic and they accept the new policy! They agree with our key messages:

·         My NGO is not here to ask for money. They are here to support the parents (instead of the parents have to support my NGO).

·         Parents are responsible for their children, this includes school materials. My NGO didn’t gave birth to all this children in the communities, we are not responsible. We see the needs and want to support so we do all our best we can. But we can’t  and won’t do it alone.

·         My NGO is not able to pay for everything (lack of funds and there are many schools) and parents and teachers are not able to pay everything. So we can’t expect that both parties take the responsibility on their own. With cost sharing, working together, we are able to achieve our goal and provide teaching learning materials for the children.

·         We can’t always expect other people to donate money for things we need. We have to show we are also willing to work for it and we are not depending completely on their donations.

Last week I checked my bank account and I am so overwhelmed! The money we all raised together is good for the following items in 6 schools/ Early childhood centres:

65 combined tables and chairs, 4 scissors, 4 markers, 1 big box of starch (materials for creative arts), 234 schoolbooks (English, Science, math), 2 footballs, 2 blackboards, 2 tables and chairs for teachers, 4 chalk boxes, 10 skipping ropes, 47 draw books, 47 first copy books, 1 water tank and 65 ICT books.

These materials are based on what the schools needed the most and how many children attending the school. We asked them to list the three most important materials and upon that we gave them the price it would be if they had to pay it all by themselves. The parents are responsible to pay 30% of the total price. My NGO supports them in paying the other 70%.

Both  parties paying 50% is not possible, the parents are not able to pay this amount, we discovered this in the meetings we had with the parents: to pay 50% of the amount is unrealistic, it would not work. To pay the 30% will not be easy for them, but they agreed that they have to work for it, prioritize money spending to save for the school materials and that they will do all their best to let this cost sharing concept work!

Through this whole cost sharing project there are already 481 children who will get better education and there will be more motivated teachers and parents!

I’m so stunned and so grateful for all the people who donate money and are willing to support!

I thank you all so much!

We already achieved to give 481 children, their parents and teachers a smile on their face! WOW J

I’ll continuing trying to raise funds, because I know there are more parents who are willing to collaborate and we want to offer this concept in a broader range of communities then we do now. Also we know that there are much more materials needed (like more tables and chairs, schoolbooks, chalk, footballs and creative art materials)…

A completely different subject:

The day before yesterday my lovely boyfriend, Job, arrived in Accra. I welcomed him at the airport by almost knocking him of is feet by running into his arms. What a happy moment!

Coming month we will travel through Ghana together. We will also visit Tamale. For me to visit communities and attend some meetings about how everything is going on, and also to show Job my working area from the last 3 months.

For now I want to thank everybody by giving you a big hug I’ll send to you by air. Next time if the sunlight touches your face don’t ignore the feeling of smiling. Think of this: all the people who have been supported because of your donation look to the same sun every day, but now they will give the sun a big smile. The sun will give these smiles back to the people on earth, please take the smile and wear it with pride. You’ve made a change in peoples life.