Spark* South Africa 2016
A$2,810
of $2,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 21st Dec 2015 at 11:59AM.
*POST-CAMPAIGN WRAP*
Firstly, thanks so much to all those who helped fund the 2016 intake of South African Changemakers.
On January 6, I transferred $2,623.54 (every cent raised less Pozible fees of $186.46) to Spark International. This money will have a significant impact in a country facing massive challenges.
If you have 5 minutes to spare, here's a brief summary of my experience in South Africa and what you helped make happen...
On January 18 I returned home to Sydney from Joburg after an intense week of training and mentoring.
Working with 12 bloody awesome local entrepreneurs, the week long accelerator was the first step in Spark International's 12-month program to educate and support entrepreneurs with ideas that provide a positive social impact. Amazing, inspiring people creating businesses that will/are changing a current reality that's hard for us in developed countries to comprehend.
I'd like to share the story of one.
At just 24 years young, Thabang Mabapa blew me away. Coming from a small village in rural South Africa where 7 of every 10 people are unemployed (think about that for a moment), Thabang understands the problem and he has a solution. He's using marginal land (land unusable for most crops) to farm castor, which he uses to create bio diesel (used in cosmetics and for fuel).
Thabang has a smooth, sincere and understated passion for why he does what he does. The fact that so many people are unemployed (70%!) and forced to leave rural South Africa is unacceptable to this young man.
Nothing summarises this guy's determination to succeed more than this: When he came up with the idea, Thabang knocked doors in Soweto - one of the biggest townships (slums) in South Africa - raising as little as 2-3 rand (about 20c AUD) per person. Maximum respect!
He now has a handful of permanent employees and 63 volunteers. This kid is going places.
There was a bunch of other great ideas too. Young Hustla is a comic book designed to make entrepreneurship cool and deliver education to young kids; an online platform to connect tradesman from the townships with consumers; an up-cycling business re-purposing plastic bottles and employing local hardcore unemployed black women; a guy who's creating technology that leverages insects and converts abattoir waste, which would otherwise flow directly into rivers, into animal feed and fertiliser.
Awesome stuff!
Can't wait to see what comes of these great ideas over the next 12-months of Spark support, and beyond!
Thanks again for helping to make this happen :)
Chris
P.S. For those that ordered 5to9 adventures, I'll be in touch shortly to arrange a time!
This December, I'm combining two loves - entrepreneurship and adventure - to make something awesome happen... And your help is required!
ENTREPRENUERSHIP BIT:
In January 2016, Spark* South Africa's intake of Changemakers (15-20 South African entrepreneurs with poverty busting business ideas) goes live. But Spark* and the incredible social entrepreneurs they empower need our help to fund it!
So, instead of doing 'just another fundraiser' I figured we might as well have some fun (and raise a ton of cash for an awesome cause!)
ADVENTURE BIT:
Come along on a 5-to-9 adventure - an awesome, mid-week mini-adventure.
We bust our butts working 9am to 5pm. But what do we do 5pm to 9am? Another night at home on the couch watching TV or in an internet black hole? Not today!
It's time to get back to nature and do something extraordinary. Food, wine (if you're so inclined), great conversation under the stars and guaranteed awesomeness all included.
WHERE & WHEN:
Depart by train from Sydney CBD to a bush campsite (<1.5 hrs commute) on agreed weeknight - whenever suits you and/or your group. (We can go as early as December 2015 or as late as early 2016. Can also offer for groups in Melbourne and Adelaide in 2016).
PLEDGES CLOSE SOON!
Whether you're keen to join me on a 5-to-9er or you just want to get involved, pledge whatever you can and help make something awesome happen!
Firstly, thanks so much to all those who helped fund the 2016 intake of South African Changemakers.
On January 6, I transferred $2,623.54 (every cent raised less Pozible fees of $186.46) to Spark International. This money will have a significant impact in a country facing massive challenges.
If you have 5 minutes to spare, here's a brief summary of my experience in South Africa and what you helped make happen...
On January 18 I returned home to Sydney from Joburg after an intense week of training and mentoring.
Working with 12 bloody awesome local entrepreneurs, the week long accelerator was the first step in Spark International's 12-month program to educate and support entrepreneurs with ideas that provide a positive social impact. Amazing, inspiring people creating businesses that will/are changing a current reality that's hard for us in developed countries to comprehend.
I'd like to share the story of one.
At just 24 years young, Thabang Mabapa blew me away. Coming from a small village in rural South Africa where 7 of every 10 people are unemployed (think about that for a moment), Thabang understands the problem and he has a solution. He's using marginal land (land unusable for most crops) to farm castor, which he uses to create bio diesel (used in cosmetics and for fuel).
Thabang has a smooth, sincere and understated passion for why he does what he does. The fact that so many people are unemployed (70%!) and forced to leave rural South Africa is unacceptable to this young man.
Nothing summarises this guy's determination to succeed more than this: When he came up with the idea, Thabang knocked doors in Soweto - one of the biggest townships (slums) in South Africa - raising as little as 2-3 rand (about 20c AUD) per person. Maximum respect!
He now has a handful of permanent employees and 63 volunteers. This kid is going places.
There was a bunch of other great ideas too. Young Hustla is a comic book designed to make entrepreneurship cool and deliver education to young kids; an online platform to connect tradesman from the townships with consumers; an up-cycling business re-purposing plastic bottles and employing local hardcore unemployed black women; a guy who's creating technology that leverages insects and converts abattoir waste, which would otherwise flow directly into rivers, into animal feed and fertiliser.
Awesome stuff!
Can't wait to see what comes of these great ideas over the next 12-months of Spark support, and beyond!
Thanks again for helping to make this happen :)
Chris
P.S. For those that ordered 5to9 adventures, I'll be in touch shortly to arrange a time!
This December, I'm combining two loves - entrepreneurship and adventure - to make something awesome happen... And your help is required!
ENTREPRENUERSHIP BIT:
In January 2016, Spark* South Africa's intake of Changemakers (15-20 South African entrepreneurs with poverty busting business ideas) goes live. But Spark* and the incredible social entrepreneurs they empower need our help to fund it!
So, instead of doing 'just another fundraiser' I figured we might as well have some fun (and raise a ton of cash for an awesome cause!)
ADVENTURE BIT:
Come along on a 5-to-9 adventure - an awesome, mid-week mini-adventure.
We bust our butts working 9am to 5pm. But what do we do 5pm to 9am? Another night at home on the couch watching TV or in an internet black hole? Not today!
It's time to get back to nature and do something extraordinary. Food, wine (if you're so inclined), great conversation under the stars and guaranteed awesomeness all included.
WHERE & WHEN:
Depart by train from Sydney CBD to a bush campsite (<1.5 hrs commute) on agreed weeknight - whenever suits you and/or your group. (We can go as early as December 2015 or as late as early 2016. Can also offer for groups in Melbourne and Adelaide in 2016).
PLEDGES CLOSE SOON!
Whether you're keen to join me on a 5-to-9er or you just want to get involved, pledge whatever you can and help make something awesome happen!
Meet some current and recently graduated Spark* Changemakers
JOHN TAKA - SPARK* CHANGEMAKER, PNG
John became a Spark* Changemaker in 2011 while still at university. In 2012 with the support of Spark* he started a sweet potato company that provided tuition fees for five students in his village. By 2014 his organisation Seeds of Hope was helping to provide healthcare and market access to thousands of people in the highlands of PNG. In June 2015, John met the Queen. This is what change looks like.
PAUL TALLIARD - SPARK* CHANGEMAKER, SOUTH AFRICA
Paul is from one of the toughest neighbourhoods of Cape Town, (commonly known as ‘kill-me-quick-town’) notorious for its gangs and crime. For years Paul lived in crime, but he was given a second chance when someone gave him a job. Paul is now paying it forward, providing jobs for men off the streets in his business – Hands of Honour.
Hands of Honour employs these men to transform obsolete stock into recycled furniture. He is currently providing jobs for almost 40 men. Spark* has recently provided $5,000 to help Paul hire a foreman so he can focus on scaling the business and providing more jobs to those in need.
MALELE NGALU - SPARK* CHANGEMAKER, KENYA
Malele’s younger brother died as a baby due to an entirely preventable illness. He became a successful professional in Kenya but never forgot what his brother might have become if he had survived. He and his cofounders launched Totohealth to help mothers around Kenya keep their babies alive and help them grow into productive and proud Kenyans.
He and his team have designed an SMS information service for expectant mothers to track their pregnancy and the child’s development through first 5 years. Totohealth enables parents to receive targeted messages that highlight any warning signs in a child’s health and connect mothers with local hospitals. He is currently reaching 6,000 women.
Shortly after graduating from Spark's 2015 Kenya intake, Toto Health received a grant of $15,000. The money was used to hire twelve new staff to roll out their awesome healthcare support to 12,000 Kenyan mothers. This is what change looks like.
John became a Spark* Changemaker in 2011 while still at university. In 2012 with the support of Spark* he started a sweet potato company that provided tuition fees for five students in his village. By 2014 his organisation Seeds of Hope was helping to provide healthcare and market access to thousands of people in the highlands of PNG. In June 2015, John met the Queen. This is what change looks like.
PAUL TALLIARD - SPARK* CHANGEMAKER, SOUTH AFRICA
Paul is from one of the toughest neighbourhoods of Cape Town, (commonly known as ‘kill-me-quick-town’) notorious for its gangs and crime. For years Paul lived in crime, but he was given a second chance when someone gave him a job. Paul is now paying it forward, providing jobs for men off the streets in his business – Hands of Honour.
Hands of Honour employs these men to transform obsolete stock into recycled furniture. He is currently providing jobs for almost 40 men. Spark* has recently provided $5,000 to help Paul hire a foreman so he can focus on scaling the business and providing more jobs to those in need.
MALELE NGALU - SPARK* CHANGEMAKER, KENYA
Malele’s younger brother died as a baby due to an entirely preventable illness. He became a successful professional in Kenya but never forgot what his brother might have become if he had survived. He and his cofounders launched Totohealth to help mothers around Kenya keep their babies alive and help them grow into productive and proud Kenyans.
He and his team have designed an SMS information service for expectant mothers to track their pregnancy and the child’s development through first 5 years. Totohealth enables parents to receive targeted messages that highlight any warning signs in a child’s health and connect mothers with local hospitals. He is currently reaching 6,000 women.
Shortly after graduating from Spark's 2015 Kenya intake, Toto Health received a grant of $15,000. The money was used to hire twelve new staff to roll out their awesome healthcare support to 12,000 Kenyan mothers. This is what change looks like.
How The Funds Will Be Used
All funds raised will go toward the 2016 intake of Spark* International South Africa Changemakers. (15-20)
Starting with an intensive week long accelerator program in Johannesburg from 10 January 2016 and with support extending over 3 years thereafter (eg. mentoring, strategic advice, web development, connections with investors) your pledge will help locals make their poverty busting ideas happen.
Starting with an intensive week long accelerator program in Johannesburg from 10 January 2016 and with support extending over 3 years thereafter (eg. mentoring, strategic advice, web development, connections with investors) your pledge will help locals make their poverty busting ideas happen.
Tweet you
Ok, so you're not a big camper. But... You don't want to miss out. Good for you! No one goes unloved! Chris will tweet you a shoutout and send by email a photo from all the Changemakers in South Africa.
6 chosen / 94 available
Est. delivery is Jan 16
Special Reward
I hear ya, camping ain't your style. It's hard for me to understand why not everyone wants to give up a perfectly good bed to sleep on the ground in a national park... But I guess you have your reasons. Commit to a 'Special Reward' and you'll get some special love. - A personal email from Chris sharing the experience of the January accelerator program in South Africa. - A photo of the 2016 intake - A video shoutout and thank you from one of the 5 to 9 adventures!
4 chosen / 46 available
Est. delivery is Jan 16
Basic 5 to 9 Adventure
Camping for a kick-ass cause! Bring your own essentials (eg. tent, sleeping bag, but can take care of this for you if required). Everything else will be taken care of! Not only will you experience an awesome mid-week mini-adventure, you'll be part of helping something rather awesome happen. Some extra love: - You/your group will get a thank you video emailed from the Changemakers in South Africa! - You'll get updates for the first 6 months after January's accelerator in Johannesburg.
7 chosen / 8 available
Est. delivery is Dec 15
Silver Sponsorship
An exclusive 5 to 9 adventure for up to 4 people! Leaving from Sydney or Melbourne on a weekday after work, Chris will lead you and up to 3 friends on an exclusive overnight adventure! You'll also receive: - Thank you video and photo by email from Spark South Africa's 'class of 2016' - Monthly updates for the first 6 months of 2016
2 chosen / 3 available
Est. delivery is Jan 16
Gold Sponsorship
Our Gold sponsors will receive: - Thank you video from the 'class of 2016' - Monthly updates for the first 6 months of 2016 - Handwritten thank you letter + framed photo of the 'class of 2016' - Option for 1 x 5 to 9 mini-adventure for up to 4 people in Sydney or Melbourne - Chris will buy you dinner after the accelerator and share with you what you helped create! - Chris will visit your office and deliver a presentation on what you helped make happen to you and your colleagues.
0 chosen / 3 available
Est. delivery is Jan 16