Foundation Rwanda is on a mission to ensure that every one of their students graduate secondary school or receive vocational training by 2019.
And they are SO close to filling that mission. Since 2007, they've raised 94% of the total budget required to complete the program - they only have 6% to go. As little as $150,000 will fully fund the program and fulfil their mission.
NGOs provide services that fill gaps left by the private and pubic sectors. In an ideal world, NGOs would not exist. With that said, it can be argued that the ultimate goal of an NGO is to run out of business. NGOs are only meant to exist long enough to fill a gap. They aren't meant to exist forever.
For example, imagine the day when AIDS is completely eradicated. There will no longer be a need for NGOs such as the AIDS Foundation and charities raising money to support HIV/AIDS infected communities will technically go out of business. Similarly, one day when all children have equal access to classrooms and education, Room to Read won't have a reason to build classrooms and libraries. They too will have fufiled their goals of improved literacy and gender equality in education and can move to solve the world's next pressing issue.
During the 1994 genocide, in Rwanda an estimated 20,000 children were born of rapes. The mothers of these children - many of whom contracted the HIV/AIDS virus from those brutal encounters have largely been shunned by their society because of the stigma, rape and rejected by their families. Forced into poverty, they are unable to pay the annual fees for their children to attend secondary school or to provide the necessary uniforms, shoes, books and scholastic materials, and transportation. Currently, there are no governmental or private NGO programs dedicated solely to support and provide funds for education for children born from rape during the genocide. Foundation Rwanda identifies the holistic needs of these families and provides them with the funds and support they desperately need
During my second year of graduate school at NYU Wagner, I was fortunate enough to conduct a rapid needs assessment for Foundation Rwanda. My team and I spent three weeks conducting interviews with student beneficiaries and their mothers. I remember preparing myself for months, devouring books and documentaries about the Rwandan genocide, but nothing could prepare me for emotionally-charged focus groups filled with moments of frustration, hopelessness, faith, tears, and laughter. It was humbling to have these women open up to us about the stigmas of rape, fears of telling their children that they were born from rape (some children didn't know), and challenges of living with HIV - another stark reminder of the past, as if memories alone weren't enough.
I received an email today that said Foundation Rwanda must fulfil their mission or close. Foundation Rwanda has been experiencing donor fatigue for a few years. One reason may be that donors no longer perceive the student beneficiaries (who are now around 21 years old) as children, but adults who can support them selves through secondary school. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth.
However, Foundation Rwanda has made great efforts to minimise it's overhead to maximise the impact of donor dollars. Last year the Executive Director donated her salary and the organisation heavily relies on pro bono help and volunteers. When the Foundation Rwanda mothers heard money was running out, they worked together to fund 40% of the education program budget in lieu of their own trauma counseling and financial literacy programs.
And they are SO close to filling that mission. Since 2007, they've raised 94% of the total budget required to complete the program - they only have 6% to go. As little as $150,000 will fully fund the program and fulfil their mission.
NGOs provide services that fill gaps left by the private and pubic sectors. In an ideal world, NGOs would not exist. With that said, it can be argued that the ultimate goal of an NGO is to run out of business. NGOs are only meant to exist long enough to fill a gap. They aren't meant to exist forever.
For example, imagine the day when AIDS is completely eradicated. There will no longer be a need for NGOs such as the AIDS Foundation and charities raising money to support HIV/AIDS infected communities will technically go out of business. Similarly, one day when all children have equal access to classrooms and education, Room to Read won't have a reason to build classrooms and libraries. They too will have fufiled their goals of improved literacy and gender equality in education and can move to solve the world's next pressing issue.
During the 1994 genocide, in Rwanda an estimated 20,000 children were born of rapes. The mothers of these children - many of whom contracted the HIV/AIDS virus from those brutal encounters have largely been shunned by their society because of the stigma, rape and rejected by their families. Forced into poverty, they are unable to pay the annual fees for their children to attend secondary school or to provide the necessary uniforms, shoes, books and scholastic materials, and transportation. Currently, there are no governmental or private NGO programs dedicated solely to support and provide funds for education for children born from rape during the genocide. Foundation Rwanda identifies the holistic needs of these families and provides them with the funds and support they desperately need
- from Foundation Rwanda's website
During my second year of graduate school at NYU Wagner, I was fortunate enough to conduct a rapid needs assessment for Foundation Rwanda. My team and I spent three weeks conducting interviews with student beneficiaries and their mothers. I remember preparing myself for months, devouring books and documentaries about the Rwandan genocide, but nothing could prepare me for emotionally-charged focus groups filled with moments of frustration, hopelessness, faith, tears, and laughter. It was humbling to have these women open up to us about the stigmas of rape, fears of telling their children that they were born from rape (some children didn't know), and challenges of living with HIV - another stark reminder of the past, as if memories alone weren't enough.
I received an email today that said Foundation Rwanda must fulfil their mission or close. Foundation Rwanda has been experiencing donor fatigue for a few years. One reason may be that donors no longer perceive the student beneficiaries (who are now around 21 years old) as children, but adults who can support them selves through secondary school. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth.
However, Foundation Rwanda has made great efforts to minimise it's overhead to maximise the impact of donor dollars. Last year the Executive Director donated her salary and the organisation heavily relies on pro bono help and volunteers. When the Foundation Rwanda mothers heard money was running out, they worked together to fund 40% of the education program budget in lieu of their own trauma counseling and financial literacy programs.
As you can see, Foundation Rwanda is still very close to my heart.
So again, Foundation Rwanda is on a mission to ensure that every one of their students graduate secondary school or receive vocational training by 2019.
They are SO close to filling that mission - their track record thus far is incredibly admirable! Since 2007, they've raised 94% of the total budget required to complete the program - they only have 6% to go. As little as $150,000 will fully fund the program and fulfill their mission.
Help put Foundation Rwanda out of business by supporting their last and final campaign. I hope you'll join them by giving one last gift or by signing up here as a Change Heroes Foundation Rwanda Team Leader to empower your network to give the gift of education. It's not every day that an NGO can say it's successfully filled their mission.
Still not convinced? Here is one of my favorite memories from Rwanda. We collected donations from friends and family in the United States and brought them for Foundation Rwanda families. This is the face of a Foundation Rwanda mother who emanated with self-confidence, pure joy, and vibrance after putting on a fresh coat of lipstick. These women survivors may be strong, but they need your support in ensuring their children graduate secondary school on the path to a better and successful life.
Visit the Rwanda page for more stories from my travels with Foundation Rwanda.
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