stdClass Object ( [nid] => 280911 [vid] => 284637 [type] => task_discussion [status] => 1 [created] => 1277065884 [changed] => 1277066985 [comment] => 0 [promote] => 1 [sticky] => 0 [revision_timestamp] => 1277066985 [title] => Re: IDEAS needed how to promote the School sponsorship program [body] => Hi Richard- The volunteer team in the Khandbari village worked on the issue of child sponsorship pretty extensively while I served as their facilitator. Basically, the group there formed a foundation - called the Sankhuwasabha Educational Scholarship Foundation. Several members serve on the board and they oversee the scholarship program. This includes identification of the students with the greatest need. They take applications and review these together. In terms of developing the sponsorship program, the volunteer team created a brochure that explained sponsorship. They also developed a newsletter that could be sent to all active sponsors - this is something that could easily be conveyed in an online format so as not to incur postage costs. It was critical to define exactly how much of the sponsor fee when directly to the children and how much was designated as "administrative costs" for running the program. Sponsors tend to be less likely to donate when costs are not well defined and administrative costs are too high. If a person chooses to sponsor one or more students, they want to see the majority of that money getting to the student to cover their basic needs. Time frames also need to be defined clearly so that all sponsors can understand how long their donation lasts. Blogging, a website and use of other social media tools could also be incorporated to teach others about the program and help you attract potential sponsors. Letter writing was encouraged between sponsor and child. Sponsors were able to send gifts to the child, however it was also noted that in some cases this can cause extreme jealousy or fighting among the other students so if you allow gifts to be given, it may be best that the sponsor donates directly to your organization and the organization oversees making certain the students gets something they need. Also-one of the struggles of any sponsorship program is that sponsors may just suddenly stop donating. You may be expecting a donation and then never hear from a sponsor again-so it is important to build into your program a plan for dealing with that issue. It can be very discouraging to a student to lose their sponsor. I hope this is helpful information as you consider this. I do encourage you to also look at other options (such as goat rearing as you mentioned, if there is proper space available for that) to help the family of the student or older students become self-sufficient. All the best- Jennifer [teaser] => Hi Richard- The volunteer team in the Khandbari village worked on the issue of child sponsorship pretty extensively while I served as their facilitator. Basically, the group there formed a foundation - called the Sankhuwasabha Educational Scholarship Foundation. Several members serve on the board and they oversee the scholarship program. This includes identification of the students with the greatest need. They take applications and review these together. [log] => [format] => 1 [uid] => 15524 [name] => JWells18 [picture] => [data] => a:8:{s:8:"og_email";s:1:"2";s:16:"privatemsg_allow";i:1;s:28:"privatemsg_setmessage_notify";i:1;s:17:"messaging_default";s:4:"mail";s:7:"contact";i:1;s:16:"nodecomment_sort";s:1:"2";s:8:"options1";s:1:"0";s:29:"taxonomy_image_disable_images";i:0;} [path] => village/mathare/project/task/discussion/re-ideas-needed-how-promote-school-sponsorship-program-1 [field_embedded_video] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [embed] => [value] => [provider] => [data] => Array ( ) ) ) [field_external_link] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [url] => [title] => [attributes] => N; ) [1] => Array ( [url] => [title] => [attributes] => N; ) ) [comment_type] => task_discussion [og_groups] => Array ( [0] => 117831 ) [og_groups_both] => Array ( [117831] => Mathare ) [og_public] => 1 [tags] => [nodewords] => Array ( ) [trid] => 0 [language] => en [i18n_status] => 0 [taxonomy] => Array ( ) [translation] => Array ( ) [cid] => 280911 [pid] => 280900 [hostname] => 75.185.138.114 [thread] => 01.00.00/ [mail] => [homepage] => [comment_target_nid] => 262214 [depth] => 2 )

stdClass Object ( [nid] => 281603 [vid] => 285349 [type] => task_discussion [status] => 1 [created] => 1277487756 [changed] => 1277487756 [comment] => 0 [promote] => 1 [sticky] => 0 [revision_timestamp] => 1277487756 [title] => Re: IDEAS needed how to promote the School sponsorship program [body] => Hi Richard Having visited you today in mathare and getting the opportunity to interact with those children in your school, I realized that my idea to you about sharing the fees cost with parents cannot work. Those kids really need help. I had a rope project in my school where I bought from a ladies group at a cheaper price and was able to sell some so as to help pay fees for those who cannot pay. I have some few ropes remaining, Can I donate them to your school so that you can try to raise some money? Meanwhile lets trust that God will touch someone out there so that he/she can extend a philanthropic hand. I also advice that beside your website, it would be more realistic to post som of the pictures on nabuur, PICTURES TELL IT AS IT IS Good luck John -- Lele [teaser] => Hi Richard Having visited you today in mathare and getting the opportunity to interact with those children in your school, I realized that my idea to you about sharing the fees cost with parents cannot work. Those kids really need help. I had a rope project in my school where I bought from a ladies group at a cheaper price and was able to sell some so as to help pay fees for those who cannot pay. I have some few ropes remaining, Can I donate them to your school so that you can try to raise some money? [log] => [format] => 1 [uid] => 27020 [name] => JOHN KEYA [picture] => [data] => a:13:{s:2:"op";s:18:"Create new account";s:6:"submit";s:18:"Create new account";s:7:"form_id";s:13:"user_register";s:16:"captcha_solution";b:1;s:13:"captcha_token";s:32:"342450e746d1d8de15b38c1723516bd3";s:14:"validationdata";a:4:{s:7:"form_id";s:13:"user_register";s:10:"preprocess";b:1;s:6:"module";s:9:"recaptcha";s:4:"type";s:9:"reCAPTCHA";}s:7:"contact";i:1;s:16:"privatemsg_allow";i:1;s:28:"privatemsg_setmessage_notify";i:0;s:16:"nodecomment_sort";s:1:"1";s:17:"messaging_default";s:4:"mail";s:29:"taxonomy_image_disable_images";i:0;s:8:"og_email";s:1:"2";} [path] => village/mathare/project/task/discussion/re-ideas-needed-how-promote-school-sponsorship-program-8 [field_embedded_video] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [embed] => [value] => [provider] => [data] => Array ( ) ) ) [field_external_link] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [url] => [title] => [attributes] => N; ) [1] => Array ( [url] => [title] => [attributes] => N; ) ) [comment_type] => task_discussion [og_groups] => Array ( [0] => 117831 ) [og_groups_both] => Array ( [117831] => Mathare ) [og_public] => 1 [tags] => [nodewords] => Array ( ) [trid] => 0 [language] => en [i18n_status] => 0 [taxonomy] => Array ( ) [translation] => Array ( ) [cid] => 281603 [pid] => 281559 [hostname] => 196.201.208.196 [thread] => 02.00.00/ [mail] => [homepage] => [comment_target_nid] => 262214 [depth] => 2 )