Mod 5: USING SOCIAL MEDIA AS A FUNDRAISING TOOL

The first ever workshop I organised when I began this advocacy journey, my family and friends supported me financially and morally. I would go on to organise different workshops and outreach programs in the years ahead. It became imperative to think of other ways to raise the much needed cash and resources needed to carry out my activities.

Earlier on, I had established a yearly ‘Break The Silence.. Be A Sickle Cell Voice’ Colour Awareness Campaign for persons with sickle cell as a month long activity every June in lieu of World Sickle Cell Day celebrated every June 19th. I was encouraged to make use of my social media presence. I was weary because it was the first time I would ever publicly do a fundraiser but the strong desire to reach out to support other warriors and empower them overrode my weariness and so, we organised a free genotype screening, planned things around what income we had. 

I posted the flyer on my FB page with a catchy message on why genotype screening is important. Shares followed and money poured in, making us surpass our target twice. It was humbling. The belief and the trust. I had to make an open acknowledgement post with a detailed update of how much was raised, what the money was used for, how many people got screened etc. Everything was written on my FB page. I didn’t know how people would react, but surprisingly, many appreciated my transparency and for the next two years, I would go on to raise between two thousand to four thousand dollars through my social media connections to carry out different activities which ranged from COVID 19 support to routine medicines and skills acquisition workshops.

This year’s annual campaign and fundraising was challenging. Yet, after the successful launch and implementation of our Warrior Empowerment Workshop (WEP) initiative, I didn’t want things to just end like that.The successful implementation and the resultant excitement from the 20 warriors and others who participated in this maiden workshop convinced me that my desire to look beyond the conventional and take a different route to advocacy through empowerment and independence for persons living with sickle cell was a good idea.

Funding this out of pocket with support from a few good friends means the targeted number of persons couldn’t be reached. Still, I felt it was better to start with what I had and build from there.

And so, I reached out and spoke to another Cameroonian Warrior Advocate based in the UK and asked if we could brainstorm and seek ways to partner to organise another WEP workshop in Buea, South West Region, this time, for more than 1 day with certification awarded at the end. She was excited and bought into the idea. Unfortunately, we had to pause as I got sick shortly after. That doesn’t mean the idea died down. Things are still being planned and the hope is to have the workshop early next year.

Going through the Module five, I gathered some valuable points that would help me revive the idea when I feel much better. From Kirthi’s  idea of fundraising, I saw that I have been doing quite great in this area, using my Facebook platform in addition to having friends and family support me. My now yearly ‘Break The Silence’ Colour Awareness Campaign has been a significant period. I do fundraise for my activities and I am looking for ways to fundraise beyond this season.

I couldn’t agree more on the need for transparency and accountability. I believe being transparent with my activities and funds raised and showing appreciation both privately and publicly helped many to trust and support me with their donations.

I understand that times are hard and for sustainability, I may have to look beyond family and friends. I started looking around on how to write grants. Sherna’s simplification on grants and donations and how to write good grant applications came in very handy and it is something I know would be quite helpful as I explore funding opportunities and funders beyond family and friends.

Nuria’s bootstrapping  was very enlightening, especially on how we can use resources at hand and monetize them. I am always having these fancy ideas in my head and I brainstorm with my friend on how we can put these on gadgets to sell as part of our fundraiser.

The live calls with #GlobalGiving and #GoFundMe was just as timely. Though the drawback especially with GoFundMe as they are not operational in most Global South Countries was discouraging, they nonetheless opened to us more avenues and possibilities of more fundings to explore.

My WEP program is a program that I wish to be a sustainable part of my organisation. People with sickle cell have valuable skills that are often overlooked and my wish is that through such empowerment programs, these skills are tapped into and brought into the fore to be discovered by society. It is also my most sincere wish to build up strong, confident and independent warriors. To do this and to seek ways to avoid donor fatigue and dependency, there is a need to start working on ways to have a sustainable source of funding and this module has been a great eye opener in that domain.