KIVA Friends.org helping GHAPE

[Guest]

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[wannado]

  Kerry (waywardcats) and I are ready to go with the KivaFriends equipment fundraising project for GHAPE!   I've tried to include all the essential information in one place (here!) so people don't have to hunt around to find it. 

If you don't want to read all of this, please skip down to the heading "How You Can Help".

Background

GHAPE is Kiva's only field partner in Cameroon and reaches a very impoverished set of clients.  48% of the people in Cameroon are below the poverty line, and Ghape aims to reach the bottom 50% of those living in poverty. 

Because of their very low interest rate (10% compared to the 22% average for all Kiva field partners), they haven't had resources to invest in office infrastructure. The staff of 9 is working with only 2 underpowered computers and is doing all its accounting and most of its record keeping by hand.  This laborious work takes many hours and prevents the staff from doing what they'd most like to do--reach out to more impoverished clients.

The purpose of this KivaFriends project is to help GHAPE obtain adequate computing infrastructure so their staff can spend less time doing caluclations and writing reports by hand, and more time in client outreach.  We are working with Kiva Fellows Lucy and Yuan in Cameroon and with Loveline Neh, GHAPE's field manager.

Here's the list of items GHAPE that needs, arranged by priority.  Prices are local to Cameroon.

1. desktop computer - $680
2. wireless router - $179
3. printer - $154
4. upgrades to current computers - $144
5. a second desktop computer -$680
6. purchase a printer copier instead of a printer - additional cost is $274
7. purchase a laptop instead of a second desktop computer - additional cost  is $998

The total is $1837 for the basic equipment (items 1-5), or $3109 if the upgrades in items 6 and 7 are included.

We hope we'll be able to fund all these items, but even if we manage just the first four or five it would be a big help to GHAPE.

How You Can Help!!! (please do!!)
There are three options for contributing to this project.

1. Send a check to Kerry.  She is handling the financial part of the project.  Please send her a private message for details (click here to PM Kerry http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php?action=pm;sa=send;u=2588 )

2. Make a donation by Paypal.  Again, send Kerry a PM for details.

3. If you wish to contribute with a Kiva gift certificate. Again, contact Kerry 

Matching Funds!
I am happy to report that a donor has agreed to match funds, up to $500.  So if you donate $25, that's actually $50 toward the project; a $100 contribution nets $200, etc.  This will be a great start for our project!

Questions?
If you have questions about the project, please ask!  Questions about GHAPE and logistics, etc., can be directed to Marsha (wannado).  Questions about how to contribute should go to kerry (waywardcats).  You can PM either of us, or if your question is of general interest, post it here.

Why We Should Support GHAPE
GHAPE reaches the poorest of the poor in Cameroon and offers very low interest rates.
It is Kiva's only field partner in this country.
GHAPE exemplifies some of the best elements of Kiva:
  • all Kiva loans feature individual borrowers and have extensive loan writeups
  • journal coverage rate is an impressive 58%
  • photos of Kiva clients are taken at their workplace, not at the loan office
Finally, the staff are very motivated and have a strong desire to reach out to more clients, but have been hampered by the lack of office infrastructure.

Here is GHAPE's Kiva profile http://www.kiva.org/about/aboutPartner?id=40

Here's a journal from a Kiva Fellow that describes the kinds of work GHAPE does http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=46815&_tpos=5&_tpg=1 (scroll down)

I hope you'll be able to help out with this project--every little bit helps.  There are so many impoverished people in Cameroon whose lives would be changed by access to Ghape's services.

Marsha (wannado) and Kerry (waywardcats)

[Edit]  Note: This project is in no way affiliated with or supported by Kiva.org.

[waywardcats]

Just a quick update that we have already raised $150.00 toward the matching amount!

-Kerry-

[Henry]

The project listed below has been approved by KIVAFriends. 

http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,2147.msg42044.html#msg42044

 As our TOU states, the use of KF for fundraising requires permission from a moderator.  It's not an endorsement, just permission to use the KF site to discuss and run with an independent project. 

Henry

EDIT:  It has been suggested that a disclaimer similar to the one Fred used when the Ebony Foundation Kenya fundraising was happening is added to this thread. 

Disclaimer:
The Ebony Foundation Kenyan Relief Fund is in no way affiliated with or supported by Kiva.org.
-- which Fred put at the end of I think every post he made in that Eb-F thread -- http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,1677.0.html

I've also split these post out into their own new topic.  Previous discussions may be found here:  http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,2147.0.html

[wannado]

It has been suggested that a disclaimer similar to the one Fred used when the Ebony Foundation Kenya fundraising was happening is added to this thread. 

Thanks, Henry!  I've edited the post to show that, and will include it in future communications.  --  Marsha

[Henry]

your welcome, and I wish you speed in raising the funds this project requires!

[KivanSteven]

Thats great news and glad to see this moving forward.  Is there a concrete plan in place for getting the money into the hands of those at Ghape?  There are various ways to do that but I am wondering what was decided upon.  Thanks.

[wannado]

Thats great news and glad to see this moving forward.  Is there a concrete plan in place for getting the money into the hands of those at Ghape?  There are various ways to do that but I am wondering what was decided upon.  Thanks.

We're considering two options for this.  The one recommended by the Kiva Fellow is to send the money by Moneygram.  This of course is not free, but the fee isn't too terrible (about $40 to send $2,000) and the process apparently works smoothly and quickly.

The other option we're considering is wire transfer to GHAPE's bank account.  When I asked the Kiva Fellow about this option, she said the bank would probably impose fees that are greater than the Moneygram fees.  I need to verify this information about bank fees with the GHAPE staff and plan on doing so soon.

If you have any other cheap suggestions, let us know!

Marsha

[wind5001]

Maybe the KivaFellow in Cameroon still has a bank account in the US. The money could be wired there for normal US banking fees, and then the fellow might be able to withdraw it with his/her credit card in Cameroon. Don't know how much fees are charged there, I for one, do have a VISA card that charges no withdrawal fees wherever.

Just an idea. Good luck with the fundraising.

[wannado]

Maybe the KivaFellow in Cameroon still has a bank account in the US. The money could be wired there for normal US banking fees, and then the fellow might be able to withdraw it with his/her credit card in Cameroon. Don't know how much fees are charged there, I for one, do have a VISA card that charges no withdrawal fees wherever.

Good idea!  I will check with the Kiva Fellow on this.  Thanks!  --  Marsha

[waywardcats]

Current status of the GHAPE fundraising is $285.00*.  With the matching funds that is a total of $570.00 so far, meaning that we fall short of raising enough funds to cover one desktop computer for GHAPE.  Please consider contributing to this very worthwhile project if you have not already done so!

Thanks much!

-Kerry-

_{*There are a few people who have indicated a desire to donate but who have not indicated an amount, so their donations are not yet counted in this total.}