Why BOGO doesn’t have to be a no-no

Submitted by Robbie Barkell on 11 November, 2010 - 17:36

Note: This blog is a re-post from the blog on Alive & Kicking's main site

There has been a spike in criticism of the ‘buy one, give one’ (BOGO) model that a number of Western NGOs use to encourage charitable giving. This has been prompted by an article from R Todd Johnson, in which he argues that philanthropy is killing Africa and that ‘BOGO should be no-go’. Alive & Kicking offers a BOGO option in our online shop, and we agree with the majority of Todd’s argument, but this need not be contradictory. This piece outlines the problems with traditional BOGO models, and explains how Alive & Kicking does it differently.

The problems with BOGO

‘Buy one give one’ schemes encourage individual donors to pay for an item to be donated in a developing country at the same time as buying an identical item to keep. As Shawn Forde points out, the appeal of this approach is that it is an effective tool to stimulate charitable giving, able to engage individuals who wouldn’t otherwise donate. But how beneficial are these gifts to the recipient and what do they do to the local economy?

Giving out products for free in developing nations can have a negative effect on local business. It harms local producers who make similar items, and local retailers who would have sold them. Furthermore, giving away something for nothing is also blamed for creating a dependency culture which is adverse for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Why BOGO doesn’t have to be a no-no

Submitted by Will Prochaska on 16 August, 2010 - 14:13

There has been a spike in criticism of the ‘buy one, give one’ (BOGO) model that a number of Western NGOs use to encourage charitable giving. This has been prompted by an article from R Todd Johnson, in which he argues that philanthropy is killing Africa and that ‘BOGO should be no-go’. Alive & Kicking offers a BOGO option in our online shop, and we agree with the majority of Todd’s argument, but this need not be contradictory. This piece outlines the problems with traditional BOGO models, and explains how Alive & Kicking does it differently.

Football Fever in Kimilili, Kenya: A Fundraising Event

Submitted by Romina Oliverio on 6 July, 2010 - 22:07

(The following is a story behind the football fundraising event held by Community Breakthrough Support Mission in Kenya on July 3. To see pictures of the day, please click here.)

Football Fever: A Fundraising Event

We have been experiencing further pressure from the landlord of our school to make the down payment towards the purchase of the land that our temporary facilities are built upon. If we do not manage to do so before September there is a real chance that we will be out on the streets, as it were, come the end of this year. 

Why the choice of football for the World Cup is a missed opportunity

Submitted by Will Prochaska on 1 July, 2010 - 15:28

The 2010 World Cup was widely hailed as Africa's World Cup, and rightly so. After all, this is the continent's first ever hosting of the event, and many optimitistically looked forward to the benefits, both economic and social, the event would bring to Africa. Sadly, however, a great chance was missed when the decision was made to use the Jabulani ball rather than a ball made in Africa.

Day of the African Child

Submitted by Kirsty McLullich on 15 June, 2010 - 16:08
Wednesday 16th June marks the annual International Day of the African Child.
 
We would like to give you an opportunity to do something positive on that day to help Vision Africa as we work to create brighter futures for the children we support through our projects in Kenya.
 
Many of us use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and share news. At Vision Africa we do the same with our Facebook page which now has a
following of around 600 people. We would like to take that number to over 1,500 on the 16th June by asking as many people as possible to recommend the page to their friends. It's a simple way of helping and it is free!
 
For those who haven’t yet joined us on Facebook, you’re missing out! As well as updates from our various projects, we use the page to show some of the latest designs of jewellery and clothing from Crafted. It is also a great place to find ways to engage with our work. There might be times we’re looking for volunteers to help both in Kenya or abroad, models needed for fashion shows/photo shoots, invitations to host Crafted parties, opportunities to mentor children at our projects etc. Please join us and recommend the page to all your friends.
 
On the same day, 16th June, our partners at GlobalGiving are offering a 50% bonus on any donations made to projects listed on their website. Vision Africa currently has three projects listed on GlobalGiving:
 
Seed of Hope - Train 300 Destitute Kenyan Girls for Self Reliance 
 
Baby Unit - Care for 15 orphaned and abandoned Kenyan babies 
 
Kibera Mpira Mtaani - Use soccer as a tool to educate 2500 Kibera youths
 
Please help us spread the word about this bonus offer and together we can raise funds to help create brighter futures for children in Kenya. You will then be able to see the results of those donations through our Facebook updates as well as the news updates on our website.
Wednesday 16th June marks the annual International Day of the African Child.
 
We would like to give you an opportunity to do something positive on that day to help Vision Africa as we work to create brighter futures for the children we support through our projects in Kenya.
 
Many of us use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and share news. At Vision Africa we do the same with our Facebook page which now has a
following of around 600 people. We would like to take that number to over 1,500 on the 16th June by asking as many people as possible to recommend the page to their friends. It's a simple way of helping and it is free!
 
For those who haven’t yet joined us on Facebook, you’re missing out! As well as updates from our various projects, we use the page to show some of the latest designs of jewellery and clothing from Crafted. It is also a great place to find ways to engage with our work. There might be times we’re looking for volunteers to help both in Kenya or abroad, models needed for fashion shows/photo shoots, invitations to host Crafted parties, opportunities to mentor children at our projects etc. Please join us and recommend the page to all your friends.
 
On the same day, 16th June, our partners at GlobalGiving are offering a 50% bonus on any donations made to projects listed on their website. Vision Africa currently has three projects listed on GlobalGiving:
 
Seed of Hope - Train 300 Destitute Kenyan Girls for Self Reliance 
 
Baby Unit - Care for 15 orphaned and abandoned Kenyan babies 
 
Kibera Mpira Mtaani - Use soccer as a tool to educate 2500 Kibera youths
 
Please help us spread the word about this bonus offer and together we can raise funds to help create brighter futures for children in Kenya. You will then be able to see the results of those donations through our Facebook updates as well as the news updates on our website.
Wednesday 16th June marks the annual International Day of the African Child.
 
We would like to give you an opportunity to do something positive on that day to help Vision Africa as we work to create brighter futures for the children we support through our projects in Kenya.
 
Many of us use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and share news. At Vision Africa we do the same with our Facebook page which now has a  following of around 600 people. We would like to take that number to over 1,500 on the 16th June by asking as many people as possible to recommend the page to their friends. It's a simple way of helping and it is free!

World Cup inspires seeing soccer/football as mechanism for social change

Submitted by Lisa Kays on 11 June, 2010 - 17:41

Yesterday, I got a Tweet from @Alyssa_Milano reminding me that, “Before the #WorldCup is won, 100k Africans will die from malaria.” She encouraged me to, “Join players & fans: http://bit.ly/WC_a_m6 #endmalaria.

Sports Development in Kibera

Submitted by Kirsty McLullich on 4 February, 2010 - 09:38

If you have ever wondered how sports can change the lives of young people, this article will give you an insight in to just what can happen. I was chatting to my colleague, Vincent Kegode, about the upcoming music festival that his organisation Kibera Mpira Mtaani is facilitating. As he explained about how the committee of KMM is now divided in to the “sports desk”, “education desk” and “environment desk” I asked to hear more about the work of the environment desk as all I knew was that they organise clean ups in the community.

A Day Out of Kibera

Submitted by Kirsty McLullich on 9 December, 2009 - 10:56

At the weekend, I was invited to be part of a day out for 100 children who attend the resource centre run by our football project, Kibera Mpira Mtaani. The day had been organised by two teachers who work for British schools in Nairobi and volunteer some weekends at the resource centre. One of the British schools had kindly offered use of their playing field for the day to give the children a chance to play freely and safely outside Kibera.

True Colors Football Club in Kenya - Footballers for Peace!

Submitted by Tobias Eigen on 13 February, 2008 - 21:34

Janai Orina, a Kenyan friend in DC, sent me the link to this moving video on YouTube of young footballers in Kenya. The football club is sponsored by Ecosandals, a wonderful little NGO working in Nairobi, Kenya. Here is an appeal to contribute to the project from the Ecosandals website:

Please Donate to Ecosandals Kicks for Peace football.

Ecosandals is the lead sponsor of a first-ever football tournament and reconciliation event, “Kicks for Peace, sponsored by Ecosandals”.

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