Songtaba, an implementing partner of the STAR-Ghana Foundation (SGF’s) Giving for Change (GfC) project, is leading a community mobilization project aimed at empowering communities to take control of their own development.
Known as the Faako (relief) Social Fund (FSF), the project which is currently ongoing in Tamale in the Northern region seeks to raise money, and get in-kind contributions from communities, purposely, to support the less privilege, especially women in the alleged witches’ camp.
The Head of Programmes and Policy at Songtaba, Shani Abdul Kasiru, explained the FSF is a local philanthropic fund that connects Ghanaians, both home and abroad to contribute for purposes of bringing development to the people.
“Since implementation of the project, we have supported women living in exclusion (alleged witches) in food, clothing, and others. We have decided to do that because living in such deplorable conditions they have been neglected and there is no form of social support,” he said.
He said the support has renewed hopes at the camp.
“Previously, most felt condemned to death without any dignity and show of love. But now they are hopeful to be reintegrated,” he said.
He appealed to Ghanaians and all globally to support the FSF.
“We are already talking about developing our communities beyond aid. We are the aid that can provide the kind of development that we need. So, I want to call on every Ghanaian to support the Faako Social Fund being implemented with support by STAR-Ghana Foundation, by subscribing to it. You can send in your cash donation through a short code *920*141 on all networks,” he said.
The Programmes Officer, Hairiya Bala, said a lot can be achieved when people from different parts of the community share a common goal and actively participate in both identifying needs and being part of the solution.
She disclosed that the communities have welcomed the initiative and are ready to use similar approach to tackle their community challenges and priority needs.
“We are embarking on the resource mobilization in both cash and in-kind through dedicated volunteers who move round the communities, contact individuals and organisations for support.”
“The concept of local giving we piloted in some selected communities has received an overwhelming response of community members such that some have opted to be engaged as community volunteer educators. Now they see Songtaba as one of their own,” she said.
Sensitization
Songtaba plans to intensify sensitization on local philanthropy and local giving through community led actions, mainstream media, and new media to build communities’ understanding on local giving and collectively establish structures to coordinate local giving activities within their communities.
Consequently, a Faako Charity Concert was organized by Songtaba in December 2022 to give people in Tamale the chance to contribute to the emergency fund that supports persons with disabilities (PWDs), women living in exclusion (alleged witches camp), needy girls who are transitioning to tertiary institutions, and orphans to thrive.
Fact sheet
- Songtaba Faako Social Fund is an initiative to create awareness on the importance of local giving and the great potentials and impact it can make in communities by creating space to amplify the voices of very marginalized and excluded groups who needs the support of community members.
- The initiative would leverage on the experience and lessons from the innovation for localization pilot project which worked in four communities and initiated community actions on local given to support the alleged witches’ camps.
- Target groups of the fund include support to persons with disabilities (PWDs), women living in exclusion (alleged witches camp), needy girls who are transitioning to tertiary institutions, and orphans.
Launch of Faako Social Fund
Community participation
The Results and Learning Manager at STAR-Ghana Foundation, Frank Kwaku Amoateng, at a meeting with some executives of Songtaba in Tamale, noted that such social funds have proven to be effective in improving community participation in development and reducing poverty.
He commended Songtaba for creating an avenue not only for electronic cash donation but also for in-kind giving.
“You have created a platform for people to also give in kind - dresses, foodstuffs, among others, that are distributed to the vulnerable in society. You have really done well,” he said.
Lamnatu Adam (2nd from right), Executive Director of Songtaba with other dignitaries at the launch of the fund