Innovative Fundraising via USSD Code *483*33#
By; Rotary Club of Nairobi Thika Road, Kenya
Author: Martin Njeru
Project profile: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Basic Literacy and Education, Fellowship/Club Affairs
The Rotary Club of Nairobi Thika Road has been famously known for Vasha Installations “Vasha” is a short form of the resort town of Naivasha some 89 Kilometres away from Nairobi. . This year they celebrated their 5th Installation Ceremony and the 3rd in the town. RC Nairobi Thika Road is also known for its pioneering Digital Literacy Project at Garden Estate Primary school, with a student population of 700 pupils serving the residents of the Marurui, Thome, and Ruaraka lower segment neighbourhoods.
By Martin Njeru
The project is halfway done but more resources are needed to be fully operational. Only 20 desktop computers of the targeted 40 computers are in place. Secondly, they are investing in Njathaini Primary School also under the areas of focus of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Disease Prevention and Treatment, and Basic Education and Literacy where they have an ablution block under construction, the superstructure is complete and awaiting the fitting of a specialised biodigester since the area is not yet connected to the Municipal Sewer. Further, it is a COVD-19 Response initiative in protecting our estimated 1300 pupils from the disease by improving sanitation in their school.
When their Rotary year 2022/23 Installation Committee met and started to plan for the event, members from the onset agreed that Vasha must not only be known for fun but largely for impactful projects that it has a possibility to yield. It was during their numerous discussions that their President Chris Ndirangu encouraged them to think innovatively of technological innovations that would drive their funds' appetite to fund their ongoing service projects enumerated above. Innovatively, the club as guided by one of the Fundraising Committees members, Rotarian Paul Mwangi, approached an IT solutions Company name Owo technologies to together crafted a USSD Code *483*33# to power the 2 Major telcos in Kenya. Funds raised will directly go into funding the above whilst allowing the Rotary Family Members to win amazing prizes that include a fully paid up May 2023 DCA registration, a fully paid air return ticket from Nairobi to Addis Ababa for the May 2023 DCA, A fully paid up trip for two at Mombasa Serena among other premium assorted prizes. They call on all Rotarians of action to support this initiative by dialling the USSD code and following the prompts not only to win amazing prizes but also to support our noble cause.