KENYAN MUSICIAN POSITIONING HIMSELF AS A PHILANTHROPIST

Lately, Jaguar a Kenyan musician has been a philanthropist rather than a musician. In the past month, he has paid bills for two people in hospital and started a business for a family whose house burnt down.

This week, he has also mobilised his friends to clear a Sh.50, 000 bill for Maria Sanawa from Kariobangi Estate in Nairobi who has been suffering from fibroids for four years.

Jaguar explains that he does not know how people get his number but when they call him to ask for assistance, he finds it very hard not to try and do something. He has also revealed that the Makadara MP also contributes to the bill’s kitty.

musicians too can be philanthropists!

Grantmakers in Africa meet in Nairobi

The month of September saw grantmakers from some 20 African Countries come to Nairobi to participate in the 1st Pan African Grantmakers Assembly within the auspices of the African Granmakers Network. Participants engaged in useful discussions across a wide range of topics in an attempt to try and unpack key issues in the context of African Philanthropy. Participants were in agreement that time was indeed ripe for greater focus on the potential that African Philanthropy holds for the continent. On our part as EAAG, we facilitated and moderated a discussion that sought to explore the subject of middle class giving as well as the giving of high net worth individuals and families. the discussion also examined issues around lobbying Governments for an enabling tax environment for giving. Although progress in relation to provision of tax incentives for giving is slow, participants in this session noted with admiration that the Government of South Africa provides tax benefits to those who give and tax benefits accrue to any one who gives up to 10 % of their income. A recent tax study carried out by EAAG in East Africa indicates that countries within the region have different policies and the study seeks to obtain specific recommendations for consideration by Governments in East Africa. During the Assembly, one key speaker observed that Africa must lead from the front and actors in the philanthropy sector were urged to show that way and lead by example. The key challenge was, how many of those in the sector actually give? The big question was, what moral authority do we have to ask people to give if we are not leading by example?

Big question – are you an actor in the philanthropy sector? are you leading by example?

Let us lead and others will follow!

Local Philanthropy enables students to pursue secondary education in Laikipia, Kenya.

Students from at least five locations in Mukogodo division, Laikipia North District who would otherwise have failed to join secondary schools next year may have a chance to do so after a group of donors promised to build a secondary school. In the whole district, there are only two secondary schools, St.Francis Girls and Doldol Boys, both of which are boarding schools. A third one, IIpolei Secondary was started this year and only Form One Students were admitted.

Donors and stakeholders from the locality have started fundraising to construct a secondary school which will be called Kimanjo. Recently, a marathon was organized to raise the money in conjuction with OL Lentille Lodge and Kijabe Conservancy who were at the forefront of the noble cause.

Most deserving students had failed to join secondary schools because there were none near. The only schools they have around are about 50 kilometres away and they only have boarding facilities. The students who qualify for day schools end up grazing livestock since they do not even have a polytechnic in the district which is categorized as Arid and Semi-Arid by the government and the locals are dependent on relief food from the government and other agencies.

Charity should begin at home!