Fundraiser Time

I planned a very large fund raising event for the newly formed Red Cross Youth Link that targeted all of the major local leaders and NGOs in the area. This will help to start their projects which include: Re-introduce rabbits to the area of Lyantonde and the surrounding sub counties as well as an agricultural project by where they will grow three different types of crops, including passion fruit trees, also, to help purchase T-Shirts for them (uniforms) for this link.

In continuation with the St. Noah’s Red Cross Youth Link, we have been diligent in planning a fund raising event for their branch. I have organized multiple meetings with the students to get ideas for this event. We have gone over what the branch needs in order to start and sustain their IGA activities and get t-shirts. It was decided that each member would contribute 2,000 Ugandan Shillings for their t-shirt and then the fundraiser would supplement the rest for this term. The meetings were many in regards to the planning stage. I inquired from other organizations, other youth link members, my organization, and community members for information regarding this event.

Prior to the event, I sent out over 60 invitations. I went and got cases of water, 5 cases of soda, 200 cakes, auction items and a pregnant goat. I called people to remind them about the event. Gave Edgar the money to get the sodas and pay the radio man. Finally, the day before the even was to take place, I went down and prepped the students on the next days activities.

The fundraiser itself was somehow successful. The venue and accessories (chairs, tables, sound system, stage, etc.) had been donated to us; therefore, I had to arrive early in the morning to set up. I then went back to the school and collected the goat, water, packets of the constitution and auction items. The students came at 10am. They had practiced their entertainment. Throughout this I was selling raffle tickets to win a phone and we auctioned the goat. It was supposed to start at 10 and no one showed. A couple people came around noon so we then began. I was seriously concerned by then as we had been calling all stakeholders throughout the morning. The director of the farm began to talk about rabbits and gardening. Shortly after her began speaking, the Head Minister of Health along with some other chair persons came and we all performed the Ugandan anthem. We then started the auction. The point of this was to buy something higher than the retail value for the good of the cause in order to make a profit. Some LC’s came later and, unfortunately, no one from RACOBAO came except for two people. We completed the auction, which I found to be very fun except I don’t know my numbers that well in Luganda so I ended up paying a lot for a couple things! People gave speeches, we gave out the soda, water, and cakes, and then we drew the winning number for the raffle. The students helped with the clean up and then we all went home. We raised 470,000 shillings which is about $200.00. I was very disappointed in the outcome but I think it was good for the students and even the community members who participated. Come to find out there were 3 other events that same day. It was election time for the local leaders so of course they were going where they could target the most votes, ours being very low on their scale. The event was a TON of work but at least we tried!