The SIVIO Institute (SI) through their Africa Giving concept will for the next 13 days be running the “Hundred for US$100 Campaign” in support of African non-profits. The policy research organisation is based in Zimbabwe and is also registered in South Africa and the USA.
Through the campaign, it seeks to reach out to a hundred individuals to collectively donate US$10 000 by May 24. The money will support organisations that are working in Zimbabwean communities and at the frontlines of change across Africa.
The campaign will culminate in a Givers Cocktail and Art Auction scheduled to take place at Organikks Ndizvo in Chisipite as part of Africa Day celebrations. The networking event will be graced by influential individuals from across Zimbabwe and will be a day to celebrate the US10 000 milestone and also an opportunity for attendees to network and appreciate art from some of Zimbabwe's talented artists.
According to africagiving.org, Africa Giving raises the visibility of African non-profits leading change on the continent of Africa and links them up with potential givers. The platform aims to match individual givers on the African continent and in the diaspora — to organisations working on an initiative or cause that they are interested in.
“This is a way of promoting Africa Giving in Zimbabwe. We have noticed that of the 102 organisations listed on the platform 44% are from Zimbabwe. We are targeting to raise US$10 000 that will be shared equally amongst organisations that are there and even more,” Tendai Murisa, the executive director at SIVIO said in a statement released earlier this week.
“We are looking to individuals who are interested in seeing change in the social arena, economic and natural resource governance as well as in accountability of government coming in with a part to play,” he stated.
SIVIO’s work entails multi-disciplinary, cutting-edge policy research, nurturing citizens’ agency to be part of the change that they want to see, and working with communities to mobilise their assets to resolve some of the immediate problems that they face.
Through several platforms such as African Citizens Watch, Zim Citizens Watch, African Journal of Inclusive Societies, as well as, Africa Giving and others, the organisation leverages technology to promote evidenced-based conversations.
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“In the past two decades, we have seen a rise in the African middle class. This could be the middle class based in the country, in Africa or the diaspora with a disposable income and is interested in giving towards important causes. Up until now many of those in the middle class have been struggling with how they can contribute,” Murisa said, adding that they have also seen the rise of fintech services that have taken root and increased in terms of prominence and use across the continent allowing for in-country and cross border movement of funds.
“We have also witnessed an increase in the number of non-profits struggling to raise funds. All of this may appear disconnected, yet we sense a connection. Africa Giving brings together that ecosystem to communicate with one another; we are fascinated by the growth of the middle class, which uses fintech and is passionate about supporting non-profit causes.”
Africa Giving, profiles organisations that are established non-profits including those who have historically not been able to access funding due to their size and limited exposure.
In addition to numerous others spread throughout 16 African countries, some of the non-profits that stand to gain are the Tariro Foundation, Girl Child Empowerment of Zimbabwe, Institute for Sustainability Africa, Our Children Our Hope Trust, The Girls Table, Uluntu Community Foundation, Yellow Bus Foundation, Divine Foundation Trust and Africa Rise Foundation as well as several others dotted around Africa.
The US$10 000 fund will be used, among other things, to pay for meals, building supplies, bedding, school fees, the production of reusable pads and the acquisition of data for 20 women from underprivileged communities so they may take part in online training.
Potential givers can visit the Africa Giving website www.africagiving.org where they can view the profiles of a variety of non-profits and select any organisation of choice.
