Sandra Nelles works on communication and fundraising at Mamas for Africa, a non-profit organisation that supports African women and girls in their struggle against violence and exploitation. As Mamas for Africa works for a very specific target group, Sandra finds it challenging to also distinguish themselves in their fundraising.
Sandra has been working for Mamas for Africa for nearly ten years now, of which 6 years as a fundraiser. “The line between fundraising and communication is thin within our organisation. Tailor-made communication with the target group is essential. In this way, involvement is created and people are encouraged to support and commit to your cause. Informing, sensitising and communicating about what we do with Mamas for Africa and about the problems women and girls in Eastern Congo are facing, indirectly also aims at getting people to support our organisation.”
From television to fundraising
Sandra worked in the world of television for 14 years. “After years of working in television, I wanted something different. Television is a fleeting medium. And it has to be done faster and faster with fewer and fewer resources. I didn't want that anymore. I wanted to do something that mattered. There are so many challenges and problems that need to be addressed. That is why I wanted to dedicate myself to a good cause and wanted to have a positive impact. Ultimately, it became Mamas for Africa. As a woman, the problems faced by women and girls in eastern Congo naturally move me. It is incomprehensible that it is still possible today that women in some parts of the world are still subordinate and are given few opportunities simply because they are women. Or even more, that they are not safe from rape, and are then blamed for being raped and disowned by their husbands. In this way, they are victims twice over. These are the problems that women and girls in eastern Congo face every day and for which there is hardly any attention.”
“So I started working for Mamas for Africa, a small and little-known organisation. At a certain point, Mamas for Africa decided to organise its fundraising entirely in-house. As we were only a very small team, I would take on the fundraising, and that is how I became a fundraiser. Although I had always seen myself working in the field, I would now make sure there was money to do the job. You can get nowhere without fundraising. It is such an important job.”
Fundraising costs a lot of money
“Traditional fundraising channels are still very important to Mamas for Africa. A large part of our income comes from Direct Marketing. A few years ago, for the first time, we did some campaigns through street fundraising in cooperation with an external partner. These donors still provide structural income today. But we are of course looking for new ways to attract donors all the time. During corona income through donations remained fairly stable. It has however made it harder to attract new donors and to approach companies for partnerships.”
"No idea is too crazy. Just dare."
“Mamas for Africa works for a very specific target group. This distinguishes us from other charities. It is a challenge to also distinguish ourselves in our fundraising and to find new ways of fundraising. There are creative ideas. But fundraising costs money, a lot of money. Mamas for Africa is a non-profit organisation and relies primarily on gifts and donations. We receive no government support. Every euro that we spend therefore comes from donors. Money that we prefer to spend on the girls and women in Congo as much as possible.”
Truly making a difference motivates
“The resilience that women and girls in eastern Congo show, thanks to our assistance, after having gone through the most terrible things, gives me satisfaction in my job. The stories we hear from our colleagues in the field, make us realize how important our job is and that we can truly make a difference in the lives of these women and girls. That motivates me and gives me a new drive to contintue doing what we do.”
“My advice in fundraising would be: No idea is too crazy. Just dare. Fundraising is more and more about getting people involved and being part of your cause.”
“I have been a member from the FAB for over 6 years now. As a beginning fundraiser I learned a lot, but above all, being part of a group of fundraisers and being able to exchange experience is very valuable to me. The meetings always give me a strong boost. I now have a colleague-fundraiser, but as a fundraiser working alone for an organisation it can get quite lonely, and then it is nice to talk to fellow fundraisers, not only about achievements, but also about problems they are facing.”
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What does Mamas for Africa do?
Mamas for Africa helps these victims of sexual violence. Mamas for Africa by offering medical care, providing psychological support, raising awareness to stop the violence, mediating between spouses when a woman has been disowned by her husband after rape, cooperating with the Panzi hospital of Dr. Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner 2018, informing about Family Planning and letting women progress. www.mamasforafrica.be |
Armed conflicts have been raging in Eastern Congo for more than 25 years. Women and girls are the main victims. When the conflict was at its most intense, the warring parties used rape as a weapon against their enemies. Although the conflict has abated somewhat, the region is still plagued by a wave of sexual violence. No one is spared. Women, girls and even children are brutally raped and abandoned. Sexual violence has become commonplace.
