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1. Describe the Project and specifically what the Rotarians will do. Also include information about the community, the need being addressed and how the community was involved in defining the project? How will you show that the project will make a positive impact on the community?
The Hagadera Refugee Camp in Kenya is part of the Dadaab complex of refugee camps stationed in south-eastern Kenya. The Dadaab settlement is the second largest refugee complex in the world. More than 245,000 refugees live in Hagadera and according to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), over 50% of refugees worldwide are under the age of eighteen.
An uneducated child is a vulnerable child at risk of exploitation. The UNHCR is working to prevent a lost generation by giving refugee children the education they need to build a better future and the Boulder Valley Rotary Club is embarking on an international pilot project which leverages resources from multiple partners while gathering information for a systemic Global Grant.
This grant application brings together partners who each have the same goals and objectives, yet complementary funding opportunities, which when brought together can multiply impact on the ground in a significant manner. The successful funding of this grant will make an impact in the lives of the school-aged children in Hagadera while providing a needs assessment to maximize future projects.
The United Nations Association of Boulder County (UNA-BC) has accepted the Adopt-A-Future challenge issued by UNHCR to raise funds to sustain a classroom and provide supplies for refugee children living in the Bidii school district (889 males & 733 females eligible for primary education at Bidii). This grant application will provide the funding to equip the schools being built by the UNHCR and also fund capacity building and training for teachers and partnerships on the ground for on-going sustainability.
There are three components of the entire initiative, and while each component can stand alone, funding of all three will build a model for future partnerships around the globe, provide the necessary information to pursue a global grant and leverage funding from a wide spectrum of resources to build and strengthen each component. The three components include:
1. The Adopt a Future Initiative ($30,000) to build classrooms in the Hagadera Refugee Camp - funding for this component will be raised by UNA-BC from individual donors and fundraisers, and the funds will be handled by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. An additional note is that all of these funds will be matched by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bent Nassar of Qatar.
2. D-5450 Rotary District Grant ($29,000) to equip the identified classrooms being built by the United Nations Association of Boulder County and to build capacity on the ground by training teachers to train incoming teachers and to build on-the-ground partnerships between local NGOs and Rotarians in Kenya (to lay the groundwork and outline the partnerships necessary for a Global Grant).
3. Needs Assessment ($10,000). The needs assessment will involve Rotarians from the US meeting with Rotarians and local NGOs in Kenya to develop a needs assessment training in order to gather relevant information for a Global Grant and to build the capacity in Kenya for future needs assessments that the on-the-ground team will be equipped to conduct. The funding for this will come from private individuals, and other organizations who are interested in supporting this project.
Each of these components work together to leverage each and every dollar donated, while complying with the various restrictions within each entity. While each component will accomplish impact in and of itself, the magnification of all three of the components working together is significant.
2. If the project is international, identify the Rotary Club or other organization in the project country that will work with you in implementing the project. Describe the ways in which this partnership will enhance the project.
The UNHCR administers funds and provides supervision of local contractors and school officials in the Hagadera refugee camps. The United Nations Association of Boulder County (UNA-BC) will work through the national UN Association and the UNHCR to see that the objectives of this grant are achieved. With their on-the-ground contacts UNHCR offers the essential oversight for implementation of this education project. Through the UNHCR Public Information Officer in Nairobi, Marco Lembo, we have been in contact with AVSI ( Associazione Volontari per lo Sviluppo Internazionale), which is UNHCR's leading education implementing partner in Dadaab.
During the process of securing funding for this project, we have become aware of The Lutheran World Federation's interest in working as an on-the-ground partner for this project, The LWF Kenya-Dijibouti-Somalia Program has extensive experience actively working and supporting disaster-affected communities in Africa and has provided valuable feedback on this proposal to increase efficacy and impact. As a result f the conversations that the organizing group has had with LWF, we are making slight modifications to the original proposal without changing the scope of the project. Although not necessary for a District Grant, LWF has submitted an MOU outlining how we might work together, Please see attached.
In addition, we have contacted Rotary Clubs in Kenya to enlist their support for this project. In particular, we have initiated communication with Rotarian Laura Lemunyete in Eastern Kenya and are exploring the possibility of engaging her club in our effort. Because of the substantial distance and effort required to participate in this kind of project, we have included some funds to offset the personal expenses that our on-the-ground Rotarians would have to incur out of pocket to assist in the implementation and assessment of the grant.
During the process of securing funding for this project, we have become aware of the Thick Rotary Club in Nairobi, Kenya which has agreed to work with our on-the-ground team and is interested in partnering with us in the next phase of this pilot project - a Global Grant. The assessment team will meet with both the Thick Rotary Club and The Lutheran World Federation face to face while in Kenya to begin outlining and assessing the role, responsibilities and action steps for the Global Grant.
3. How will this project be sustainable? Please describe your plan to transition support from Rotary to the community or other donors.
UNA-BC has committed to raising $30,000 for Adopt-A-Future independent of grants from Rotary International. These funds will be matched by the Queen of Qatar, providing sufficient funding to build classrooms and to cover educational expenses for as long as ten years. UNHCR will continue to provide administrative support and oversight for this project into the foreseeable future.
The District Grant provides funding for training for the teachers which provides sustainability by equipping staff on the ground with the tools and resources to train others. These leave-behind skills reduce the reliance on outside intervention and increase the long-term viability of the project.
Additionally, the District Grant provides funding for on-the-ground Rotarians to connect and build partnerships with the local NGOs while monitoring the implementation of the grant. This partnership and relationship development on the ground increases the fidelity of the current project as well as strengthens the viability of a Global Grant.
The needs assessment component also builds sustainability by increasing tools and skills of the on-the-ground partnerships to be more focused in articulating needs and defining the resources that can respond to the specific identified needs. While this particular component is not included in the grant request, there are Rotarians and Rotarian friends who support these kind of sustainability initiatives because it reduces the reliance on outside funding and strengthens our partnerships.
And finally, inherently, this grant provides sustainability through education.
4. Describe the specific ways in which this will be seen as a Rotary project. Include the publicity plan and the signage that will be used to identify the project as funded by Rotary.
Part of the proposed project is the purchase of locally based books that adhere to the curriculum being taught in the schools. The Lutheran World Federation is confident that they will be able to acquire the necessary books and deliver them to Hagadera, where a plaque will be prominently displayed recognizing the participating Rotary Clubs as well as the District and TRF. Other durable supplies and equipment, such as school desks, benches, and chalkboards will also feature the Rotary name on plaques. School books will be stamped with the Rotary logo.
One of the most difficult issues related to capacity building and training teachers and building partnerships is that we cannot put our logo or signage on people. We can however, provide those who have completed the training a Rotary pin a Rotary shirt and consider giving Paul Harris Fellows to our on the ground partners. The backpacks can be stamped with the Rotary logo as well. This particular piece needs to be conducted with great care and with the input of the on the ground Rotarians.
5. List at least two specific activities that your club's Rotarians will do to help implement this project, excluding fundraising. Direct hands-on involvement is required in every project; if the project is international, hands-on involvement by the local Rotary Club Rotarians meets this requirement. Please describe their participation.
Tinbet Tinstman of the Boulder Rotary Club plans to visit Dadaab with local Kenyan Rotarians to secure their commitment to this project. Boulder Valley Rotarians will make follow-up visits to monitor the progress and achievements of the project, in collaboration with local Kenyan Rotarians.
On the ground Rotarians will oversee the implementation of the grant and will be given the resources to take photos and post updates about the progress. It is anticipated that the on-the-ground Rotarians will develop a partnership agreement with the local NGOs (The Lutheran World Federation and others) about implementation, needs assessment and reporting.
The information that is provided to the D-5450 Rotarians will be shared throughout the community and District to increase awareness and updates about the successes and challenges faced within the refugee camps. As trusted individuals, Rotarians have the opportunity to raise awareness about the facts and realities related to life in the camps.
This 3 components project is being developed as a potential model for other communities in the US to build partnerships with complimentary projects to leverage resources. This model will be developed, articulated and shared in order to increase opportunities for other Rotary Clubs and Districts who want to make a significant impact through capacity building and partnerships. The Rotarians involved in these project will create presentations to share with other communities.
Several Rotarians will be involved in the training components, negotiations with the purchasing of books and supplies on the ground, and ensuring that the multiple pieces of the grant are coordinated at the US end, while communicating with the on the ground partners to bring them together.
Rotarians working on this project will continue to look toward a Global Grant and will be involving others in the community to raise awareness in the importance of developing partnerships to work more comprehensively to combat complex issues and to deliver education to those who are in need, especially within refugee camps.
6. If sweat equity is provided by another Club for additional DDF matching funds, describe in detail what the contributing club will do in support of the project. Include the number of hours that will be spent by each Club requesting sweat equity DDF. Sweat equity is limited to $500 per club and $1,000 per District Grant.
The primary role of local Rotarians will be on site monitoring of the project. During the first two years of the project two local Rotarians will make four site visits to see that facilities and schooling supplies are being provided, to interview school administrators and teachers about their needs, and to examine the evidence of learning achievement by the pupils. Each visit will require eight person-days of sweat equity, including preparation, transportation, on-site activities, and writing reports.
7. If an organization other than the Club is involved in the project, will that organization make the purchase of items for the project? Or will the club make all purchases? Please explain the purchasing process.
The UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) runs the refugee camps in the Dadaab region of Kenya, and they have the ultimate responsibility for all operations in the camps, including education. UNHCR contracts with local and international organizations for implementation of education projects in the camps, including procurement. The local UNHCR will coordinate with the Lutheran World Federation, on the ground Rotarians and the visiting Rotarians in purchasing teaching materials and school supplies. The visiting Rotarians from the Boulder Valley Rotary Club will bring an HP printer, power converter and paper to make all necessary copies of invoices of purchased goods and will provide training in scanning of reports and additional materials to comply with record keeping requirements.
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