No More Lullubies;Our Committment to Action

Lots of people have asked this question,how do you intend to do it differently in a field (NGO) that has been occupied for a long time with sweet talkers and doers of nothing in the end?It is indeed challenging to respond to this honest question especially to those willing to deny themselves the little comfort that would have been accorded to them by their finances and support worthy causes in the communities in areas of their liking.
From our perspective,we are of the opinion that by doing it differently,it will not be how often you hear about us in the media or see us launching a fancy report in the five star hotel but rather;investing that much-needed dollar in the areas we feel are important to turn-around our constituents` lives.While launching a neatly-assembled report or publication at a five-star hotel might bring us the media attention sought-after by many,we feel that,it will be an end in its self thus sustaining such opportunities would not be easy depending on media preferences on what makes news at different times Vs what our target population require immediately to improve their prospects in life.
Doing it differently;we mean,it is not going to be our business to keep on complaining that funding is hard to come by especially for young organizations like ours and especially led by 100% young disabled people thus challenging the status quo.It boils down to finding small ideas that can enable us sustain the good work we do in communities of supporting young disabled people realize their dreams.This doesn`t imply that we aren`t going to engage in formal fundraising initiatives but it is not going to be our primary focus to use professional services to get funding because this will still mean that a huge budget is set a side to cater for the professionals involved yet the same resources would have been put into a good use of either supporting a budding enterpreneur who required only $50 to make it in life!
It only means,we are going to do more of creative ideas like the Mt.Kilimanjaro Climb that our Director along others will be engaged in during the end of November 2010 to raise awareness and funds for our projects www.justgiving.com/fredrick-ouko
The beauty of working for a young organization like ours is the possibilities available for one to try out new ideas,a reduction in beaucratic tendencies witnessed in sophisticated organizations and the pace at which progress is made.Young people are creative in nature and this is the strength we exploit to enable us do it differently as opposed to "Big Boys and Girls" who are accustomed to the written rules.
As we pioneer creative partnerships between non-disability youth organizations and disabled persons organizations,we see alot of opportunities that have been left to waste in the past.Our expanding participation for persons with disabilities in development processes has taught us alot on the need of doing things differently to achieve milestones in a relatively short time.Why would a disability organization be organizing sensitization meetings targeting persons with disability on disability issues as opposed to targeting non-disability organizations to make them aware of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities? It is only those who are interested in progress that will realize, indeed we have been doing a diservice to ourselves by preaching to the already converted locking out those that are yet to be converted!
We are therefore called to action and not the usual lullubies expected to be heard from conformist establishment,we have our aim on the bigger prize but are cognisant of the fact that,we cannot make it alone thus the requirement to work as a team with other institutions in the society to make it happen all for the benefit of Persons with Disability in our beloveth country,Kenya! We welcome you to be part of this shared DREAM! No More Lullubies!!!

Fredrick Ouko is fundraising for Action Network for the Disabled

Fredrick Ouko is fundraising for AbleChildAfrica

Starbucks Shared Planet Youth Action Grant

Action Network for the Disabled Receives 2010 Starbucks Youth Action Grant

from International Youth Foundation

Nairobi, Kenya – Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY) is among 21 youth-led programs in 15 countries selected by Starbucks and the International Youth Foundation (IYF) to receive support through the Starbucks Youth Action Grants program, a key component of the Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ commitment to communities.

ANDY will use the funding provided to conduct entrepreneurial trainings and provide start up capital to 20 young disabled people from poor economic background.

“We are delighted for this opportunity accorded to us by IYF and Starbucks to make an impact in our community, Fredrick; an executive director with ANDY said”

The grantees were chosen through a competition established by IYF and Starbucks in 2008 in order to makes grants available to young leaders who have completed IYF’s YouthActionNet® fellowship program. YouthActionNet® seeks to develop a new generation of socially conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries, and the world.

The size of grants awarded through the program range from US$5,000-$10,000. A committee comprised of IYF staff and Starbucks partners (employees) selected the final grant recipients.

To learn more about the Starbucks^TM Shared Planet^TM Youth Action Grants program and the planned activities of all 21 grant recipients, visit www.youthactionnet.org.

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About Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY)

Action Network for the Disabled is a national disability organization in Kenya that empowers young disabled people towards an independent life. We work towards a barrier-free society fully inclusive of persons with disability. Please visit www.andy.or.ke

About the International Youth Foundation (IYF)

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments, and civil-society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts of change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices, and improve their communities. To learn more, visit: www.iyfnet.org.

About the Starbucks Youth Action Grants Program

The Starbucks Youth Action Grants program helps young people realize their natural potential to reinvent their local communities. The program is the primary vehicle through which the Starbucks Foundation invests in communities globally as part of the Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ commitment to communities where the company does business. Since launching the Fund in 2007, more than $1.5 million has been invested in programs around the world. The Fund is integral to the company achieving its goal by 2015 of engaging 50,000 young social entrepreneurs to innovate and take action and, in turn, to inspire 100,000 additional individuals to take action in their communities. For more information, please visit www.starbucksfoundation.com/sef.