WHAT MAKES MUGUMO DIFFERENT: A POST-TRIP REFLECTION
The Mugumo Project has hit the ground running. Since holding our first fundraiser at the beginning of August, we have accomplished our goal of hiring a fantastic teacher, Judi, for Nairobi Children’s Home, laid the ground work for a vocational training program with the girls at Machakos Rescue Centre, established partnerships with the schools our sponsored kids attend, and achieved 501(c)3 status in the United States, in addition to countless small victories (Business cards! New school shoes! Superhero drawings!). Although I have always been confident that our mission is meaningful, working under our new official capacity during my trip last month reaffirmed this conviction. Here are several ways that I noticed that the Mugumo Project is fundamentally different from other NGOs operating in Kenya.
Flexibility & Transparency: Sure, we are not UNICEF, Save the Children, or CARE International. We don’t have access to a fraction of their resources or have a fraction of their impact. On the other hand, we are not UNICEF, Save the Children, or CARE International! Our small size allows us to be efficient and agile as we put your donations to work. We are not bogged down by layers of administration and bureaucracy. The Mugumo Project is always looking for new opportunities for community outreach and cross-cultural connections. If you have any ideas or questions, feel free to contact us at info@themugumoproject.org. Let’s work together!
Direct Links: Due to our small size, there is a direct line between your donations and our programs in Kenya. Every dollar matters. For example, if you donate to our teacher sponsoring program, you are literally paying Judi’s salary. This is an obvious statement, but one that is rare in the non-profit world! Moreover, you have created a constructive learning environment in Nairobi Children’s Home with invaluable benefits to the children who enter Judi’s classroom. You have also provided her with upward economic mobility and opened up an entry-level position for another teacher at her former school. $1.00 goes a long way with us.
Uncharted Territory: This is perhaps the most unique feature of the Mugumo Project. Out of the hundreds of NGOs in Kenya, the Mugumo Project is the only organization to offer educational and vocational support to the government children’s home system. There is another group, Friends Vision, that sponsors children to go to school. There are several groups that come each year to host the annual Christmas party. However, we strive to develop long-term, far reaching solutions such as teacher sponsoring that tackle the issue of poorly resourced children’s homes at the roots. By building up the homes more children will reap the rewards. Win, win, win!
For the reasons above, I am so proud to be a part of the Mugumo Project and I hope you are as well. All in all this inaugural trip to Kenya was both a whirlwind and a marathon, a mash of cramped matatu rides, Javahouse lattes, and lots of laughter (as well as a few tears). Charity and I are energized by the possibilities that lay ahead for the Mugumo Project. Our constant motto for the four weeks was “We have vision!” That we do.
Thanks again for your continued support. We could not do it without you!
Jessie
