One of Agaptivity's two mottos are 'Everybody can make a difference'. It is possible to make a difference. Really. When people get together it becomes obvious. The best way to visualize this is by using numbers. So, let us.
27 cents
27 cents. What could you do with that amount on an ordinary day? What if you save these 27 cent for a month (30 days). How much will you end up with? You'll end up with 8 dollars and 1 cent. What could you do with that money?
OK, for sure you can do something. You could keep on saving it, in a box at home or with interest at a bank. But would it effect you if you could look away from it, depart from it?
Thus - what can you do with 27 cents? What would it do for?
6.826 km / 4242 English miles
Let's travel. Let's travel 6.826 km, from Orebro Sweden where Agaptivity is located to Kisumu Kenya and ask the same question there. What can one do with 27 cents.
With 27 cents you can provide food and sanitary items for one person for a day. That means that you with $8.01 could do if for a whole month.
- 27 cents is enough for food and sanitary items for one person for one day
- $8,01 is enough for a whole month
Life and death
Thanks to the members of Agaptivity, their contributions we have been able to help 73 orphans in Kisumu Kenya. It has however not been consistent or without problems. On the contrary they have at times for periods been without food. A while back they were without for seven days!
The inflow to Agaptivity is not consistent and not enough. That's a shame.
What we have been able to do have in many cases been the difference between life and death. Apart from food and we have been able to help out with hospital bills and costs for medicine when they have been subject to cholera, malaria and typhoid. We will be forever thankful for those who have contributed with donations. The donors have really saved the day.
More members
It is our hope and goal to get more members. It is on the basis of memberships we can secure a steady inflow of money for helping the orphans. We do also aim for getting companies as sponsrors.
As we get more members and thus securing the most fundamental needs we can start aiming for bigger projects such as water purification, buildings, education and future and also projects that involves the community getting self sufficient. It is not an utopia but fully possible.
This blogpost is focused on membership. Why? Well, it is out a membership basis (and also sponsoring companies) that we can make calculations. Donations come and go and cannot be taken for granted. We see them as bonuses. Should it be the case that we get more donors, that they are recurrent with a recurrent amount then it is possible to add to a calculation, but not until then.
What can you do?
What can you do? Well, we do not expect anything but we have high hopes. In order to become a member of Agaptivity $5 is the minimum monthly contribution. We need this limit due to members having influence in the organisation, having right to speak and vote. You can influence the workings of Agaptivity.
Our members pay anything from $5 to $58 per month, in average about $20 per month. That means that each of our members is helping about 2,5 individuals. A contribution of $8 per month would mean 1 person.
Like and Do
Today we have 133 persons liking us on Facebook. Thank you all for doing that! We are only 11 members today. These 11 are among the 133. We know that all who like us on Facebook cannot help out, they simply don't have the means for it. However there are those who help out by sharing posts etc - thank you! We do believe that there are those among the 133 that could help out contributing. There are those who do through donations - thank you! But we believe there are more who can help out.
It is our hope that more will take the step from liking us to helping us, from liking Agaptivity to supporting our work for the orphans.
All matters
Where one contributes with $5 another contributes with $60. Small streams makes big rivers. We know that.
Do not think that it is no point in contributing small. There are no small contributions. All contributions matters - yours too.
Can you consider contributing? Can you consider contributing with 27 cents per day, thus $8 or mroe per month?
Hand-to-mouth
Today Agaptivity operates hand-to-mouth. All we receive goes directly to the needy. Thus we have no buffer and cannot therefore plan or structure any special efforts. Many times situations have been solved on the very last minute. Of course we're glad for that but it isn't optimal. We wish we could do more, we want to execute our work more efficient.
As said before, there's been many tough situations. Unfortunately they have been out of food - starving that is.... - seven days the last time..... Us being able to fix it is due to the following:
- Occasional/Stray donations
- Extra membership contributions (members adding more money)
- Sponsor money (our first and so far only sponsor contribution saved a severe situation)
- Efforts from the board of directors
Minus
Our economy shows minus today. Not debt, minus. E.g our Chairman have, as the founder of Agaptivity, stepped in and having money owed to, despite the challenges that has caused.
These efforts shows that Agaptivity fulfills its purpose, that cannot be questioned.
The small IS the big
To sum it up and end this post it is obvious that small means makes a big difference. When you decide to make a difference you fulfill the first of Agaptivity's mottos that 'Everybody can make a difference'. We, Agaptivity, fulfill our second motto - 'Charity as it should be'.
Charity as it should be
• 100% voluntary
• No middle hands
• Minimal expenses
You ARE the difference
It is you who can be the difference, or rather it IS you who are the difference. We who are on board already makes a difference. Take the step you too and sign up for membership!
We're looking forward to having you on board.
Kind regards
Ted Sjovall
Chairman
Agaptivity
