Microfinance for Kids and Feed the Hungry Projects

The Kids Care Week 2009 project combined the concept of microfinance to help clubs address the issue of hunger.  Clubs applied for a Feed the Hungry mini-grant or a Microfinance for Kids "microloan". Clubs did not pay the "microloans" back to Kids Care Clubs, the microloans were used to seed fundraising projects. Clubs paid a 15 percent "interest fee" of the original loan (from $100-$300) to microfinance institutions to keep with the sustainability concept of microfinancing  (See right column for microfinancing institutions.)  Clubs paid the profits of their loans to an organization serving the hungry.

The concept of microfinance can be followed by your club.

• Obtain seed money -- a "microloan" from an organization or your PTA/PTO to invest in materials that your club can use to raise funds.   Your donor may request that you pay the seed money back and may or may not ask for interest.  Explain to the donor, the reasons why you want to fundraise, your goals, and your recipients.  Will you donate your profits locally?
• If you do not plan to donate locally, click here for National and International Internet Resources.
• Kids Care Clubs "charged" 15% interest on the "microloan". For example, if the club received a loan of $100 to fund the project, the club paid 15% of the $100 or $15.00 to a microfinance institution (MFI)  of their choice.  Click here for a list of Microfinance Institutions. 
• Clubs were required to donate profits to any local, national or global organization that feeds the hungry. Your club can use the microfinance model to raise money for any cause or issue. 

One Hen, How a Small Loan Made A Big Difference 

Clubs are encouraged to visit the exciting and interactive website, www.onehen.org for resources and games.  On the site, they can earn beads that will enable them to help real people microfinance their businesses. 

JOIN THE ONE HEN CHALLENGE 

Join the One Hen Challenge!

Register A Team

Play Games - Invest Beads - Help Entrepreneurs in Africa 

Copy of One Hen Book

If your club plans to do a microfinance project, email rheffernan@generationOn.org to order the book at half price.

Developing a "Microfinance" Project to Feed the Hungry

Club members should put on their "thinking caps" and decide what type of fundraising would work best in your school, organization or community. 

Below are several project ideas your club can use to "leverage" your "microloan."

Make Crafts to Sell

Your club can make anything from embroidery floss bracelets to decorated bowls to sell. 

The Yancey Kids Care Club in Esmont, VA designed a very cool and clever bracelet to tell the story of One Hen. 

The copper and silver beads represented the loan that Kojo received.  The chicken bead represents the hen he bought with the loan.  The white beads signify the eggs Kojo sold from his hen.  The blue and gold (Yancey School colors) signify the school Kojo paid to attend.  And, the red beads signify the farm Kojo bought after he graduated from college.   

Bracelets were made for all of the 180 students at Yancey School..  To earn a bracelet, the students were given egg cartons to collect 12 donations of any amount.  The donations will be given to their local food bank.

Another example of using artistic creativity to feed the hungry is the Student Council at Jefferson School Kids Care Club, in Helena, Montana, Last year, they decorated 300 wooden bowls to auction off for their local food bank. 

"Special Clothing Day" at School

Are you permitted to wear jeans, caps or flip flops to school?  If not, ask permission from your administration for students to be allowed to wear the item for just one day.  If the administration agrees, have the students pay your Kids Care Club a $1.00 fee for wearing that item.  The dollar will go to your fundraising effort to feed the hungry.

Lemonade and Cookie Stands  

Sell lemonade and cookies to raise funds.  The Boulder Kids Care Clubs in Boulder, Colorado sold lemonade to raise funds to feed hungry animals at their Humane Society.

Pancake Breakfast or Spaghetti Dinner

Ask permission from your sponsoring organization to hold a pancake breakfast or spaghetti dinner.  Charge admission that will cover your costs and make you a profit.  Create flyers and posters about the hunger-fighting agency you will donate to and use them to decorate the room.  If you use flowers or pumpkins to decorate the tables, donate them to a local soup kitchen. 

Talent Show, or Karaoke Night

Organize a talent show or a karaoke night. Charge admission and ask for an in-kind donation of non-perishable food. You can turn the talent show or karaoke night into a contest and have the audience vote on the best performance. Winners could be awarded Kids Care Clubs Citizenship Awards. The awards could be displayed in a public area with posters explaining your microfinance project and the organizations you are supporting.

Field Day or Walk-A-Thon

Winning teams could earn Kids Care Clubs Citizenship Awards to be displayed in a public area with posters about your microfinance project and the organizations you are supporting.

Spelling Bee or Read-A-Thon
Break groups into teams. Ask teams to get sponsors. Words for the Spelling Bee could be geared toward the Kids Care Week 2009 Project - see Issues Education Finance - Words for Kids, and relate to food and hunger.

If your club does not have to pay interest to your original donor, you could choose to make a donation to a microfinance institution of your choice, with the rest of the funds going to your recipient organization. Your club will see how one "small loan made a big difference!"