Changemakers Lab-Module 4 Lesson 1

Building Tomorrow Today! This is a update and ongoing Initiative participation in the Changemakers Lab. 

Building A Social Center that echoes Empowerment in Senegal where we plan to serve impoverished women, girls and overall families is a reward to them and a also a challenge to create and research avenues to support the activities we intend to take place once the facility is built. 

Please Review Visit here to learn more about sustainability once the Center is Built: https://queenshebavillage.org/upcoming-projects/our-women-girls-education-empowerment-center/

I want to address the SPECIFIC GROUP(S)INDIVIDUALS OF PEOPLE that this Initiative will benefit. 

We believe in empowering Women and families through education and inspiration. This hope will give them  a fighting chance against poverty. Our program initiatives facilitate the platform that UNDER -REPRESENTATIVE PARTICIPANTS need for their educational development in a clean and safe environment. The Empowerment Social Center is a means to provide Resources and requires participants to actively engage in learning workshops on a consistent basis when funding is available. We are NOT a School or University. The work of the participants is required for the betterment of themselves. 

The Border Location (region) is between Lac Rose and Risfisque after Ndiakhirate. The VISION to build in this locality will benefit several nearby village communities connected to the specific purpose of engagement and social educational activities taught in "workshop building" classrooms. 

Description: 

My Research states many policies that seek to reduce poverty in sub Saharan Africa assume that women are constrained in improving their earning potential, survey respondents reported that risk exposure and insufficient credit are bigger obstacles than traditional notions of female disempowerment like limited time or household bargaining power. 

Furthermore, a recent report published by American Express on the state of women business owners also observed the most common challenges faced by women entrepreneurs to be a lack of funding and mentors.

The Positive IMMEDIATE EFFECTS will undoubtedly uplift the morale of the community to believe they are worthy and deserving of such a RESOURCEFUL Center to inspire change.  

LONG TERM EFFECTS- The Social Center IS and will serve as  A Pioneering Role Model Example in the region and hopefully to Inspire Native born Senegalese in the community to participate and build to collaborate with our mission and vision to advance the lives of many whom will participate.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS -  UNDERREPRESENTED population refers to a subgroup of the population whose representation is disproportionately low relative to their numbers in the general population, or The following racial and ethnic groups have that been shown by consistent studies to be underrepresented in health, economic, etc related sciences on a national and global basis: Africans and sub-saharan groups (ethnicities)are discriminated against, point blank period! 

Racial prejudice, historical oppression(colonization) and its long term effects mentally gives many to think nothing of themselves and their future. This I will add to a contribution of DIRECT CAUSES of why there is a Need for the Social Education Empowerment Center , referring back to Contributing Factors. Funding to educate the locals is not even on the mindset of government and political leaders. It is not because there is a lack of funds , it is because the government don't value their race nor their people! 

Underling Causes and Contributing Factors 

Lack of accountability in Leadership and transparency is really a understatement. The lack of wealth in neighboring village communities can be addressed and funding can be invested in the education of future generations to break the chains of poverty for the people of Senegal. Funding is Never lacking, unfortunately millions of direct aide is donated or sourced to change but because of corrupt leadership this repeated cycle is a way of life in many countries in Africa including Senegal and those whom need it never benefit from it. 

Note: Providing SWOT Analysis as to share what many Nonprofit/NGO leaders may reasonate with.

SWOT ANALYSIS- QUEEN SHEBA VILLAGE

Several years ago 2016 to be exact we the volunteering staff team reached out to two (2) Professors from John Hopkins University to address the issue and concerns to strengthen the QSV organization. Since then we have addressed and updated the SWOT Analysis and will list the following.

Strengths:

- Passionate founder with clear dedication

- Appears to have some Nonprofit local partners in USA

 - Appears to have partners located on ground in Senegal

-  QSV founder is familiar with local community in Senegal and potentially community leaders,

which is critical

-  Website is attractive and includes many pictures, graphics AND INFORMATION.

Weaknesses:

• SPREAD THIN. As with most non-profits, employee and or volunteer numbers are small
• GRANT TRACKING. With such a small budget, many non-profits turn to grants
• FUNDING SOURCES. There is no one source of cash flow for non-profits
• MISSED COLLABORATION OR FEW COMPATIBLE LIKE-MINDED PARTNERS

Opportunities: 

- Leverage partnerships to build a coalition that would be situated to be competitive for USAID

funding, or foundation funding

-  Build on relationships with many small established non-profits with similar missions and interests as QSV, inc in the Metro DC/MD/VA area,  African American Islamic NGO or other Associations to partner and further the work of the organization, taking into consideration the areas of interest for funding to AAI, QSV, etc

Outreach to US-based African organizations for partnerships and possible funding opportunities or volunteers

Threats:

- Competition for resources in the non-profit market is severe, and charitable resources are

growing more scarce and funders are requiring more in terms of verifiable deliverables.

ADDRESSING THE TACTICS NEEDED TO ADVANCE/SUPPORT YOUR INITIATIVE

  While specific actions and steps addressed above is the strategy and action plan that takes you where you want to go, the tactics are the individual steps and actions that will get you there. 

• Strategy defines your long-term goals and how you’re planning to achieve them. In other words, your strategy gives you the path you need toward achieving your organization’s mission which was described in a previous module.
• Tactics are much more concrete and are often oriented toward smaller steps and a shorter time frame along the way. They involve best practices, specific plans, resources, etc. They’re also called “initiatives" which is being addressed in this current module.
• As mentioned previously we use the tactic of sound volunteering and fundraising strategies to support all in what we do at QSV, aiding humanity.

 A ongoing GIVINGTUESDAY NOVEMBER 29,2022 and EVERYTUESDAY/GIVINGTUESDAY fundraising campaign to support this Initiative link is provided here where donations will be highly appreciated. https://givebutter.com/helpbuild. Thank you.