The Star included the #ImStaying movement.
WHAT started out as a patriotic campaign to encourage people to stay in South Africa and treat each other better has delivered on many credible milestones.
The #ImStaying movement was started in September 2019 to stop the emigration of South Africans and promote reinvestment. Little did the small team know that the movement would now have more than 1.2 million supporters on the Facebook group, and thousands of people throughout the country performing random acts of kindness under the theme, #ImStaying.
Chief executive Shireen Ebrahim said: “At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, #ImStaying launched the #IVouchForYou Project raising over R1.2 million from public donors on BackaBuddy.
“This helped thousands with grocery and electricity vouchers with Checkers. BackaBuddy is an online crowdfunding platform. They charge about 10% for platform and banking fees and we take 10% for administration.
“We chose BackaBuddy as all our projects on their online platform provide the full project information, which is transparent and accessible to the public, especially the breakdown of funds received, and from and to whom it is distributed.
“September 2020, two years ago, I took the reins from the founder Jarette Petzer.”
Ebrahim said the past two years were a really tough time for #Imstaying as the Covid-19 pandemic had a serious financial impact on the organisation and shrunk its public donor market.
“As a contingent, I absorbed some of the #Imstaying operational costs into my existing businesses and co-funded various projects for the organisation.
“Previous project recipients and new were also becoming more desperate, regularly contacting us and even our auditors for assistance. We assisted as much as we could but made a decision to remove our auditors’ details from our website to protect them.
“To help people get out of the poverty cycle, we created a more sustainable solution by launching #1MillionNewJobs. The project promotes education and job creation opportunities for the unemployed, especially youth and women.
“I’m confident that this will greatly reduce financial strain and empower people to become more self-reliant and not dependent on social grants or handouts, thus also preserving their dignity.”
Ebrahim said while they still continued with requests for donations to assist poorer families for grocery hampers and feeding schemes, during the past two years they completed 36 additional projects. That’s on average a new project every three weeks, by pure voluntary unpaid teams, contributing selflessly for humanitarian good.”
The Facebook group is moderated by a team of volunteers who ensure that all members respect and adhere to Facebook and group rules as they do not promote racism, politics or extremist views, said Ebrahim.
“When South Africa was hit with the KZN floods crisis, #Imstaying stepped up. We sorted, boxed, packed groceries, clothing, bedding for days, even in the freezing cold in Gauteng at 2am to make the deadline for the transportation company.
“A total of 32 pallets of humanitarian aid was sent in a Superlink, more than 40 tons to be exact, and an additional 13 tons of water to assist destitute people 600km away.”
Donors are mostly from Ebrahim’s local community, Lenasia, and surrounding areas. There is records of what was received, from whom and to which registered organisations this was distributed to.
“Keeping records is something I am very stringent about. We received R60 000 in bank transfers which was used for humanitarian aid and for additional transportation costs about R1 000 was also received in cash donations.”
Project updates were communicated many times on the Facebook group, detailing recipients, drop off areas and work done, which is accessible to the public.
Source: The Star Late Edition
By: SIYABONGA SITHOLE
After #imstaying distributed food, water and year end gifts to Ethelbert Childrens and Youth Care Centre with over 65 orphaned, destitute and homeless children, #imstaing recieves feedback from the centre. We are thrilled
