The quarterly Community of Practice meeting, hosted by the STAR-Ghana Foundation, was characterized by excitement and anticipation as participants gathered to discuss the progress and successes of the Giving for Change Project. Held in the vibrant city of Accra, the 2-day meeting brought together communities of practice organisations in local philanthropy across the country. As the attendees settled into their seats, the atmosphere was charged with a deep sense of purpose and collaboration. Everyone was eager to share their experiences and learn from one another's journeys in local resource mobilization and community development.
“My Here After has been a good mentor to us as an organisation because their way of raising funds is quite unbelievable. So, I reached out to Alima from My Here After, a member of the CoP, to help us, and she gave us the strategy. Through that, we have been able to raise money to buy some pads for the girls,” Louisa Amoah from Girls Shall Grow, a local non-profit organization shared during a session on successes and learning on implementing fund raising strategies.
The highlight of the meeting was the series of presentations highlighting the remarkable achievements in local resource mobilization.
One standout story came from Kandia, a small community in the Upper West Region, where community members successfully pooled their resources to build a much-needed healthcare center. The GFC partner working in the community proudly explained how they had organized local fundraising events, leveraging traditional festivals and communal labour to raise both funds and awareness. The District Chief Executive of the area later supported the community’s self-help project. This initiative not only provided essential healthcare services but also fostered a renewed sense of unity and pride among the community. The story resonated deeply with attendees, illustrating the power of local action and collective effort.
Kandia is a small farming community in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region with an estimated population of eight hundred people and it is one of the beneficiary communities under the Giving for Change Project. The community initiated a self-help project which was identified as one of the felt needs of the community.
Knowledge sharing was another key focus of the meeting, and the breakout sessions facilitated rich exchanges of ideas and strategies. Participants discussed various methods of engaging local stakeholders, from youth groups to business owners, in supporting community projects. One particularly inspiring example was shared by a non-profit organization that had developed a series of workshops aimed at training young people in entrepreneurial skills. These workshops not only equipped the youth with valuable tools for their futures but also encouraged them to invest their newfound skills back into their communities. The organization reported significant success in fostering a culture of giving and self-reliance among the younger generation.
Resource persons, including Dr Nansata Yakubu and Oliver Baker Vormawor took turns to enlighten participants on influencing and advocacy, inviting questions for clarify or best practices. The Foundation also invited Rede Comuá, a Brazilian organization dedicated to advancing the cause of community philanthropy at the local, national, and international levels to share Case studies from other countries to help. These exercise on knowledge and experience sharing and collaboration helped the CoP members identify feasible strategies for effective project fund raising.
Results and Learning Manager for STAR-Ghana Foundation, Frank Kwaku Amoateng stressed the importance of community-led project sustainability. This according to him requires local ownership and empowerment of communities to build resilience and independence, ensuring projects thrive without external support.
The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration and networking. Participants took full advantage of the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations, forging new partnerships and strengthening existing ones. Many noted how these connections had already borne fruit, with joint projects and shared resources enhancing their respective initiatives. The synergy generated by these interactions was profound, with attendees expressing optimism about the potential for even greater impact through continued cooperation and mutual support.
As the meeting ended, the room was filled with a sense of accomplishment and forward momentum. The successes shared under the Giving for Change Project demonstrated that local resource mobilization and knowledge sharing are not only feasible but also transformative. STAR-Ghana Foundation's quarterly Community of Practice meeting under the GFC project proved to be a vital platform for celebrating these achievements, fostering innovative ideas, and reinforcing the collective commitment to community-driven development. With renewed energy and inspiration, participants left the meeting ready to implement what they had learned and continue their vital work in building stronger, more resilient communities across Ghana.
