There is a common perspective that community programs are beneficial to our society, however, most of the economic input and social contributions that come from community programs are often overlooked.
Small community-led programs are often what is holding societies together, particularly in rural Africa where there is a lack of infrastructure, access to education, and high unemployment. Community programs often start off with small amounts of funding and are most successful when championed by community members. With community buy-in, even the smallest amount of funding can deliver prospering outcomes. However, without initial investment, many of these programs would not exist.
Funding Small Programs
There are many ways in which small grants have helped community groups with adequate tools and infrastructure to improve their lives and circumstances. Here are a few examples of community program successes:
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Provide Quality Service & Products:
For a community program to make an impact, it must provide a quality service or product so that the cause can be recognized and appreciated for its high quality attributes. An example would be a women’s’ cooperative garden project. Without initial funding for seeds, fencing, fertilizer, and training, this project will not likely produce a quality product or even exist at all.
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Attract New Volunteers:
To attract new volunteers to the cause, it is crucial to have the right equipment and tools. With adequate funding for a project, one can convert an idea into a successful program, and thereby draw new members. For instance, take a school infrastructure project as an example. Without the funding for bricks, paint, roofing supplies, and more, it would be difficult to attract volunteers to build a new classroom for the students in that community. However, if these supplies are provided by initial funding, community members will often volunteer their time to perform the manual labor aspect of the classroom building project.
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Expand Influence:
When you have more people joining community programs, and you have noticeable examples of success, it becomes much easier to spread visibility to a large geographical area and properly share why your program matters. Once you can show the world your program is making a difference in a particular community, other communities will want to share in that success.
According to the Guardian, an estimated one million community groups have made an income of almost $2,800 in a year. They trade on building their activities from experiences, local knowledge, connections, and trust. However, for these programs to truly get off the ground, they need advice, support, and funding.
Fortunately, many organizations, such as Empowers Africa, understand the need for community programs and have made grants to further community-led projects in rural Africa.
Empowers Africa is an American public charity that supports programs in the areas of human empowerment, wildlife protection, and land conservation in Africa. It has partnered with some of the most effective organizations on the ground in Africa that are creating lasting and sustainable change.
Empowers Africa’s primary focus has always been on funding programs that support the protection of wildlife, land conservation, and communities that live close to these areas, including World Heritage sites. Funds are also provided to urban communities where tourism has served to be a vital source of development.
Since 2013, Empowers Africa has granted donations to more than 60 organizations in 15 countries and continues to support community-led, measurable, and sustainable programs that bolster communities by making grants to improve access to education, healthcare, and business opportunities.
