4 Ways Charitable Giving Helps Our Students | Cameras For Girls
Are you unsure about donating to a charity because you're unsure where your money is going? You're not alone. Many of us have been hesitant and skeptical at some point, wondering if our donation would make a real impact or disappear as if it never made a difference.
With countless organizations vying for your attention and support, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about the money you generously give up to help the greater good. At Cameras For Girls, we believe in the power of transparency and want our donors to feel confident that their contributions are making a real impact. That's why we always encourage donors to ask the critical question:
"What is the money I'm donating being used for?"
In this blog post, we'll answer that question by sharing the top 4 ways charitable giving supports African girls in their pursuit of education within journalism, communications, and photography. With a deeper understanding of how your contributions are being used, we hope you'll feel more confident that donations matter to charities and non-profit organizations like ours.
Amina guiding students on a photo practice walk during the training in Kampala
Photography & Journalism Training Programs
One of the main drivers and reasons we receive donations is to fully fund the 4-phase training program that Cameras for Girls hosts in Africa and Canada. Our program equips young women and girls with the necessary skills and knowledge to find paid work post-graduation.
At Cameras For Girls, students in Journalism and Communication studies get access to a wide range of resources to enhance their photography and video editing skills. As part of our program, each student is provided with a camera to keep once they join the program. In addition, they also receive mentoring in the usage of camera functionality and field training to gain first-hand experience in photography.
Other training benefits we supply to our students include the following:
Video editing labs and teaching to help the students learn how to create videos as a skill.
Personal mentoring with whom they meet on a 1:1 basis through online meetings to discuss their personal development goals.
Monthly assignments in photography, video editing, news stories, and more.
Opportunities for students to attend film-making camps, which gives them a chance to collaborate with others and work on projects they are passionate about.
Assistance to our students in job applications and business profile curation before leaving the program. By doing this, we ensure that they are well-equipped to apply for jobs and create a profile that is appealing to potential employers.
Why Owning A Camera Makes All The Difference
Did you know that most of our students have never owned a camera or learned to use one before joining Cameras For Girls? The issue of gender inequality in the field of photography runs even deeper, as our female students are frequently expected to have their own camera equipment and proficiency in its use to secure employment opportunities. This discrepancy in access to resources only widens the gap between male and female photographers, perpetuating a cycle of unequal representation in the industry.
Finding paid work with zero to little experience in the field can be a challenge, particularly in Africa. Our program aims to break down these employment barriers and open doors for females in Africa. We take pride in our students' development into complete journalists and photographers and are committed to helping them achieve their dreams skillfully.
If you want to learn more about our 4-phase training at Cameras For Girls, please visit our page here.
Diminishes Travel Costs to Africa
Since 2018, Cameras For Girls has travelled to Uganda to bring our photography training to as many female students as possible. We currently focus our efforts in Uganda, where our students are primarily located; however, our goal is to expand across Africa, pending adequate funding.
There are numerous financial costs, from air travel fees and equipment transportation to hotel accommodations and meal expenses. With many expenses involved in setting up operations, the costs can quickly add up. Flying halfway across the world can be expensive, especially for small Canadian charities.
However, importing cameras into Uganda and getting travel support is still the issue. Despite having letters from the Ugandan consulate in Ottawa stating that the cameras are being donated and not sold, the authorities still require duties to be paid. This cost can add hundreds of dollars to an already tight budget for our organization.
With the donations we receive from all our charitable donors, we can mitigate the expenses to meet our African students. However, we are still a long way from being able to sustain our operations as flight fees have skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cameras For Girls depends on our donors' and monthly members' support to extend our mission's impact. Each contribution is significant in enabling us to reach out to one more girl and make a transformative difference in her life.
Administrative and Organizational Costs
Amina Mohamed, an entrepreneur and professional photographer, is the driving force behind Cameras For Girls, which aims to empower girls in Africa through photography training. Her firm belief in this cause has led her to establish a charity supporting her students' dreams of working in the press media industry. Women lead the organization and operate with the support of a team of volunteers, board members, and marketing and communication specialists, who work collaboratively to develop and enhance the charity's initiatives.
Donations enable Cameras For Girls to cover the day-to-day administrative and organizational expenses required to run the charity. This, in turn, allows us to expand our outreach, recruit and train more volunteers, and provide our students with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Without the financial support of our donors, it would be challenging to sustain the activities of our organization.
Increases Fundraising Capabilities
Fundraising is a dynamic and powerful approach to collecting donations that can help support a charitable cause. Its primary purpose is to raise money and awareness for an organization's mission, helping attract new supporters and reach a broader audience. However, putting together a fundraising campaign can be quite costly.
It often requires investing in additional staff or contract services to help develop and manage the campaign, plan and execute events, and establish partnerships and sponsorships with other organizations. These projects take a lot of time, but with the right strategy and investment, fundraising can be a highly effective way to generate the resources needed.
Conclusion
At Cameras For Girls, we're incredibly grateful for the support of our donors. Thanks to you, we've expanded our operations and reached more female students through our program (132 students to date). We're committed to continuing down this path, and we believe that with your continued donations, we can make an even more significant impact on the lives of young girls and women through photography.
We take the trust and responsibility that comes with accepting donations very seriously. That's why we ensure that every penny we receive is put to good use, furthering our mission and empowering young girls to pursue their passion for photography.
If you would like to donate to our charity, please do so through Canada Helps or our Paypal Giving Fund to help us in our work! Click here to learn more about other ways to donate and support our critical work.
You can follow us on these social channels for weekly updates on our organization.
Guest post written by Grace Wong, Marketing student at Toronto Metropolitan University