This was our first and only Action Project for our course: Social Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is our third and final STEAM course this year, and I have to say it's been one of the most challenging. In our first Unit, The Clearing, we explored our different passions and skills, and discovered multiple new things about ourselves. In our second Unit, The Entrepreneur, we paid attention to our passions, and used the to advantage when creating our own businesses. We also learned different business concepts and the right ways to create one. In Unit 3, The Business Case, we learned about everything that we needed and that was necessary to create a business. We went over multiple different skills and steps we needed to take to create a successful company. Our final unit, The Pitch, was mostly filled with practice and feedback on our pitches for our businesses. We also took action and created videos on our pitch. Overall, I really enjoyed this Action Project, although we were a little presses for time on this one, and I think mine could have been a lot better if we'd had more time in class to work on it. This final unit was also filled with a lot of guest speakers, who gave the class a ton of insight onto how their non-profits work. This course was very rewards, not only did I find things out about myself, but I learned a ton of new things about business and entrepreneurship. Hope you enjoy!
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Friday, June 2, 2017
Helping 100,000 Families
SC's Survival Guide:
How to Help
How to Help
What?
My mission is to help feed 100,000 underprivileged families. I’m hoping to pursue my mission in Africa. I want to do this because my brother comes from Africa, and listening and learning about all the different ways he had to live before we adopted him really made me want to do something. There are lots of people in Africa who can’t afford to eat as much as I should, and I want to make it my duty to help them get the food and nutrients they need. Right now, I mainly take advantage of the food that I get to eat everyday, and I want to become someone who gives back to the universe.
Lay of the Land
Malnutrition and hunger are serious issues on the African continent, not including the lower statistic of over 400,000 people dying due to “nutritional deficiencies” It is really unacceptable. But to combat hunger and malnutrition, aid organisations and governments need accurate data to start gathering everything they need to provide what they need. In fact, an average of 12 people die every minute in Africa due to hunger, resulting in a total of 6.7 million people per year. Africa’s population has been increasing rapidly as well, growing from 221 million in 1950 to 1 billion in 2009. Africa, the world’s poorest continent, has the highest population growth rate, which is one of the biggest reasons I need to help make a change.
Africa also has serious environmental challenges, including desertification, deforestation, and most importantly drought and water shortages, which increases hunger by reducing agricultural production and people’s incomes. The majority of these challenges have been created by humans; the environment can be said to be over exploited. Deforestation, for example, has been caused by humans seeking new places to live, farm, or obtain firewood. Drought, water shortage and desertification in Africa all reduce agricultural productivity leading to less food availability.
One person that I can learn a lot from is Richard Proudfit. Richard’s passion to help with feeding the starving children of the world began in 1974 in Honduras after Hurricane Fifi killed or left homeless thousands. He went there as an engineer with a medical relief team to help the survivors of that disaster. At first, Richard was so busy with his engineering and repair work that he did not notice all of the misery all around him, and then something happened that changed his life forever. He recalls that time, “It wasn’t long until I began to see the children - literally dying around us. One mother came to me crying, carrying her near dead child, pleading for help. That is when the Lord broke my heart and brought me to my knees and I knew that I had to come back to do something about it.” After this, Richard went on to create an organization to help starving children and their families. He is now the founder of “Kids Against Hunger” and “Feed my Starving Children.”
Timeline
- July 2020 - Begin working with a non-profit organization
- January 2021 - Work my way up the ladder in the business, and create my own project
- August 2021 - Start recruiting volunteers and others for the project
- February 2022 - Organize and get everything ready for the trip to Africa
- May 2022 - Travel to Bujumbura and begin working
- November 2022 - Feed 10,000 people
- June 2023 - Feed 50,000 people
- December 2023 - Feed 100,000+ people
- March 2024 - Recruit volunteers from the city to maintain employment and food supply
- September 2024 - Leave project and move to a different location
The cost per month is around $200 for a single apartment in Bujumbura. Assuming that I’ll need around 30 people for the project, i’ll multiply the amount of apartments we need by thirty. We’ll also need tools and supplies throughout the project. In addition to our property and supplies, we’ll also need to cover other living expenses and salaries of our workers.
$6,000 - Rent
$10,000 - Supplies
$2,000 - Tools
$50,000 - Salary + Living Expenses
Total: $68,000
Non-negotiable
While putting everything together, it started to hit me how big and complex this project is going to be. I understand that I have to have limitations on how far i’ll go to complete it, but it’s hard to say what they are without them actually happening. Realistically, I will probably have to sacrifice a lot more of my time than what’s planned, because many projects like mine last longer than they’re supposed to, and I’m okay with that. I will not settle for not being able to help at least 50,000 families. I know that there are around 500,000 people living in Bujumbura, and I won’t leave until I’ve helped a percentage of their population that’s at least in the double digits.
What if?
The worst possible case scenario would be if the project were to fail early on due to whatever reason. In that case I would have to look somewhere else to help. Instead of being the leader of a project I would probably have to sign up as a volunteer for one. I think that I’d still have the chance of making a difference, but it wouldn’t be as big of an impact on that families in Bujumbura. Through being a volunteer, I would do as much as I can to make a difference in the lives of the people in need. Although becoming a volunteer instead of a project leader wouldn’t be as rewarding, I definitely think I could still do a lot of good things, as long as I give it my best.
To get into specifics about my backup plan, Feed my Starving Children (an organization based here in Illinois) offers trips and retreats that volunteers can sign up for year round. Going on a trip with them is probably the safest backup plan that I can think of.
Inspiration
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.”
Steve Jobs
“Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.”
Leah Labelle
“Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It's about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire team-mates”
Robin S. Sharma
“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”
Gail Devers
“Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching.”
Satchel Paige
Map
Advice to Others
If you want to start making a change, my advice to get started is to begin with some community service hours. It genuinely doesn’t matter what you’re going for. Start out with something that you like; maybe it’s helping out at a shelter if you’re passionate for animals, or working at a soup kitchen to help feed the homeless. Whatever it is, as long as you’re putting yourself out there, you’re making a change in other people’s lives for the better. After you’ve gotten the hang of volunteering, then you can start expanding your horizons, and maybe start a project like mine. Just keep in mind, start small, finish big.
Works Cited
"Richard Proudfit - The Man Who Started It All." Our Founder. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.
"Africa Hunger Facts, Africa Poverty Facts." World Hunger News. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2017.
Google Maps. Google, n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.
"Cost of Living in Bujumbura, Burundi. Mar 2017 Prices in Bujumbura." Expatistan, Cost of Living Comparisons. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2017.
Non-negotiable
While putting everything together, it started to hit me how big and complex this project is going to be. I understand that I have to have limitations on how far i’ll go to complete it, but it’s hard to say what they are without them actually happening. Realistically, I will probably have to sacrifice a lot more of my time than what’s planned, because many projects like mine last longer than they’re supposed to, and I’m okay with that. I will not settle for not being able to help at least 50,000 families. I know that there are around 500,000 people living in Bujumbura, and I won’t leave until I’ve helped a percentage of their population that’s at least in the double digits.
What if?
The worst possible case scenario would be if the project were to fail early on due to whatever reason. In that case I would have to look somewhere else to help. Instead of being the leader of a project I would probably have to sign up as a volunteer for one. I think that I’d still have the chance of making a difference, but it wouldn’t be as big of an impact on that families in Bujumbura. Through being a volunteer, I would do as much as I can to make a difference in the lives of the people in need. Although becoming a volunteer instead of a project leader wouldn’t be as rewarding, I definitely think I could still do a lot of good things, as long as I give it my best.
To get into specifics about my backup plan, Feed my Starving Children (an organization based here in Illinois) offers trips and retreats that volunteers can sign up for year round. Going on a trip with them is probably the safest backup plan that I can think of.
Inspiration
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.”
Steve Jobs
“Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.”
Leah Labelle
“Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It's about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire team-mates”
Robin S. Sharma
“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”
Gail Devers
“Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching.”
Satchel Paige
Map
 |
| Here’s the map of the capital that I plan to set up the project in The population is about 500,000 people |
Advice to Others
If you want to start making a change, my advice to get started is to begin with some community service hours. It genuinely doesn’t matter what you’re going for. Start out with something that you like; maybe it’s helping out at a shelter if you’re passionate for animals, or working at a soup kitchen to help feed the homeless. Whatever it is, as long as you’re putting yourself out there, you’re making a change in other people’s lives for the better. After you’ve gotten the hang of volunteering, then you can start expanding your horizons, and maybe start a project like mine. Just keep in mind, start small, finish big.
Works Cited
"Richard Proudfit - The Man Who Started It All." Our Founder. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.
"Africa Hunger Facts, Africa Poverty Facts." World Hunger News. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2017.
Google Maps. Google, n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.
"Cost of Living in Bujumbura, Burundi. Mar 2017 Prices in Bujumbura." Expatistan, Cost of Living Comparisons. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2017.
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