Participant Stephen Ojungo (known as Steve) from Kenya is very happy to be at Kanthari. His habit of making friends was the thing that brought him here, as it was recommended to him by a friend from the Philippines. Furthermore, this habit also helped him raise the funds that would be required to reach India. Before his second interview on Skype with Priya, the Intake Coordinator at Kanthari, he had been unaware that any funds would be required, so when asked as to whether he would be able to pay the safety deposit of $ 500, he had to explain that he couldn’t. He thought that it was all over after this, but his wife and him talked it over and decided to sleep on it.
After thinking it over, Steve was certain he wanted to come to Kanthari at all costs, and made it his mission to do so. From the rural district of Kenya, Steve, 45 began to think about how he would raise the funds to get to Kanthari.
Steve’s project involves working with orphans and vulnerable children in his hometown. These children would be provided with food, school stationery, uniforms and psychological support. Steve began to think about ways to raise the money to make his dream a reality. He first visited his friends in Kenya to ask them if they could lend him some money. Unfortunately, most of them had nothing to spare. A Canadian couple he had met when they came to Kenya were sought out. they were sceptical about Kanthari’s authenticity, but his determination won them over and they agreed to provide him with $200. He was not so lucky with everyone, though. “I have a relative, who is a man of money. He was very sceptical about Kanthari and refused to help me with funding, which was a big let down. Some of my friends also refused to help me out,” says Steve.
When he had first seen the amount for the safety deposit of $500, he had not considered that the travelling expenses and other legal charges would be included. The money raised was not even half of what was required, so when Steve sought the help of his friends again, one of them suggested he have a local fundraiser, called an Arami, something he had not even thought about. Steve took up this suggestion and called for two fundraisers, the first of which was more successful than the second. But even after this, there was not enough money to go to Kanthari.
Steve’s confidence began to waver: could he possibly raise the funds required? After a talk again with his wife, they decided to take the help of the Kenyan government. Through microfinance, a scheme that allows women to take loans from the government, Steve’s wife borrowed the money that would get Steve to India.
Yet, the hurdles were not all over. a day or two after a visit to the Indian embassy in Nirobi, which is 650 KM away with a bus fare of Rs. 1000, Steve got a call demanding that he come to see them again and pay them more, as his Visa and passport had been approved for a period of only six months, whereas the Kanthari program was for a duration of seven months. Therefore, Steve not only had to pay once for the bus to Nirobi, but twice. Add in the charges for the approval of his documents, and one begins to realize just how passionate he is about his project.
As the final step, Steve had to do something that broke his children’s heart. He had four animals, out of which he had to sell three, one bull and two cows to be able to afford the ticket to India. “I had to explain to my children that this was required, but they were still very sad,” says Steve. Adding to the $500, the other expenses came up to a sum total of $1500 more, leaving the Kenyan $2000 poorer, but finally at Kanthari.
When we ask him whether he has any regrets, he answered that he had none whatsoever, and would absolutely recommend it to his friends. “The thing that first got me was the statement on the Kanthari website, which mentioned it was ‘an Incubator for social change makers’, something I found very inspirational. Furthermore, I believed in Kanthari since they got back to me within three days as they had promised,” says Steve.
His advice to the future participants is to act with speed. “As soon as you are sure you have been selected for Kanthari, don’t wait. Begin fundraising immediately, plan for uncalculated expenses and don’t be disheartened when somebody turns you down when you ask for money,“ he advices future applicants.
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