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Where we do it > David Whittaker - Fundraiser in Zambia
VSO Fundraiser David Whittaker shared his skills in proposal writing, project planning and donor reporting to help Zambian youth organisation Africa Directions secure crucial funding from local and international donors. VSO developed his own skills too. Returning to the UK a better leader and strategic thinker, David is now a manager with a London-based homeless charity.
In a country where one in five people are living with HIV, non-governmental organisation Africa Directions is undertaking vital work to combat the spread of the disease. It provides HIV education and life skills training to young people, helping them make informed decisions about their lives.
Organisations like Africa Directions have specialist knowledge of the issues surrounding HIV & AIDS. However, they often lack basic business skills like project planning and monitoring and evaluation – skills that they need to secure their futures. In 2005 Africa Directions wanted to scale up its work, but its weak financial status was hindering progress. VSO volunteer David Whittaker went to Zambia to help change this.
‘Most of my time was spent developing my colleagues’ project planning and proposal writing skills,’ says David. ‘It was the basic things that were most useful, like starting with a needs analysis and tailoring proposals to donors’ own goals and strategies.’ David recognised Africa Directions’ need to set specific goals and to get a monitoring and evaluation system in place. He supported colleagues in setting SMART objectives and measuring their outcomes as well as their outputs.
One of David’s biggest achievements was successfully supporting Africa Directions in its long-term relationship with the German charity Kindernothilfe Foundation (KNH). ‘As a new donor, KNH were keen to have something 'self-contained' to describe to their own funders back in Germany,’ says David. ‘This was a good reason to focus on regenerating a disused community hall in Chilenje, a compound just outside the centre of Lusaka.’ Africa Directions needed to gain the support of the local community first, so David and his colleagues conducted focus group discussions with young people and community representatives. As well as securing regular funding from KNH, this work helped to take the organisation in a new direction. ‘Instead of just doing more of the same of what Africa Directions had done in the past, we explored new partnerships, new types of support and new ways to motivate peer educators.’
In addition to his placement, David helped design and facilitate fundraising training for members of local HIV support groups. Following the training, two attendees ran the same course for other support groups. ‘Those two people now have full-time jobs working for HIV organisations,’ says David, ‘and several of the other people we trained have raised money for HIV projects in their local communities.’
VSO wasn’t time out for David: it enabled him to make his next career move. He is now a service development manager for a small charity supporting young homeless people. ‘Working so closely with communities who’ve invested a lot in a project made me think much more strategically. That has really helped me in my current role as a manager,’ he says. ‘I wouldn't be doing this job now if I hadn't worked with a young people's organisation in Zambia.’
David claims he’d love to re-volunteer. ‘If I got the chance, I’d do it all again at the drop of a hat. I’d recommend anyone else to do the same – in fact I have many times!’
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