Hello, how we can help?

Our poverty alleviation strategy, “Lift Together,” is built on the understanding that lasting economic change requires addressing multiple barriers simultaneously. We move beneficiaries through a deliberate pathway:

Phase 1: Stabilization (3-6 Months)
Before someone can plan for the future, they need stability today. For families in acute crisis, we provide:

• Emergency food packages

• Help securing basic shelter

• School fee payments to keep children in school

• Connection to our health program

Phase 2: Capacity Building & Assessment (6-12 Months)
Once stabilized, participants enter our Livelihoods Readiness Program:

• Psychosocial Support: Group counseling to address trauma, build confidence, and develop future orientation.

• Skills Assessment: Identifying existing skills, interests, and market opportunities.

• Financial Literacy Training: Basic budgeting, saving, and debt management.

• Health & Wellness: Ensuring participants are physically able to work.

Phase 3: Skills Acquisition & Business Planning (6-12 Months)
Participants choose a track based on local market analysis:

• Urban Tracks: Tailoring/fashion design, mobile phone repair, catering/baking, hairdressing, solar installation, motorcycle repair.

• Semi-Urban/Rural Tracks: Sustainable agriculture (vegetables, poultry, snails), beekeeping, artisanal crafts (basket weaving, soap making).

• Digital Tracks: Basic computer literacy, data entry, graphic design (for youth).

Training includes:

• Technical Skills: Mastery of the craft/trade

• Business Skills: Business planning, costing, pricing, customer service, record-keeping

• Soft Skills: Communication, punctuality, problem-solving

Phase 4: Launch Support (Ongoing for 2 Years)
Graduates receive:

• Start-up Kit: All necessary tools/equipment to begin working immediately (sewing machine, farming tools, baking oven, etc.).

• Seed Capital: A small cash grant or in-kind materials for first production cycle.

• Business Registration Help: Assistance registering as small business if appropriate.

• Market Linkages: Connection to selling points, contracts with local businesses, or space in local markets.

• Mentorship: Assigned a volunteer business mentor for regular check-ins.

Phase 5: Collective Empowerment & Resilience Building
To prevent backsliding, we foster economic communities:

• Savings Groups: Participants form Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) where they save together and give each other small loans.

• Producer Cooperatives: Graduates in the same field form cooperatives to buy supplies in bulk, share equipment, and negotiate better prices.

• Ongoing Advanced Training: Workshops on scaling up, employing others, or adding new product lines.

Success Metrics We Track:

• Income increase (target: 50% within 18 months)

• Asset accumulation (purchasing additional equipment, improving home)

• Food security (number of months food secure per year)

• Employment of others (becoming job creators)

• Savings group participation

What Makes This Sustainable:

1. Market-Driven: We constantly research Limbe’s economy to train for skills in demand.

2. Local Resource-Based: We use materials readily available locally.

3. Social Capital Focus: We build networks of mutual support that last beyond our direct involvement.

4. Graduation Benchmark: Participants “graduate” when they’ve sustained income above the poverty line for 12 months and have joined a sustainable savings group.

We recognize that trust is earned through consistent transparency and rigorous accountability. Here is our multi-layered system to ensure integrity in all financial matters:

Governance Structure:

• Board of Directors: An active, unpaid board with financial, legal, and community development expertise oversees all operations. The board reviews and approves the annual budget, examines quarterly financial reports, and commissions external audits.

• Finance Committee: A sub-committee of the board meets monthly to scrutinize expenditures, ensure compliance, and investigate any anomalies.

• External Auditor: We engage a reputable, independent auditing firm annually to conduct a full financial audit. The audit report is available to major donors and published in summary on our website.

Operational Financial Controls:

• Segregation of Duties: No single person handles donations from receipt to expenditure. Different staff members handle donation recording, banking, approval, and disbursement.

• Designated Accounts: We maintain separate bank accounts for:

  • General Operations

  • Specific Restricted Funds (e.g., “Education Fund,” “Medical Fund”)

  • Capital Projects

• Receipt System: Every donation, regardless of size, receives an official receipt with our registration number. Mobile money donations receive automated SMS receipts.

• Budget-Linked Spending: All expenditures must be pre-approved against our annual program budgets. Unbudgeted expenses require special board approval.

• Vendor Due Diligence: We vet all suppliers and service providers for fair pricing and legitimacy.

Transparency Measures:

• Annual Report: Published each March, detailing achievements, challenges, beneficiary numbers, and complete financial statements.

• Program-Specific Reporting: Donors who fund specific programs receive quarterly narrative and financial reports on that program.

• Public Disclosure: Our audited financial statements are shared at annual community meetings where beneficiaries and community members can ask questions.

• Real-Time Updates: For major campaigns (like emergency medical funds), we provide regular updates on funds raised, patients assisted, and amounts spent.

Beneficiary Verification:

• Random Checks: Our board members randomly select beneficiaries from our database and visit them unannounced to verify they received the support recorded.

• Third-Party Verification: We partner with local community organizations who can independently verify our work in their areas.

• Beneficiary Feedback Systems: Regular surveys where beneficiaries can anonymously report if they did not receive promised support.

Our Commitment:
We pledge that at least 85% of every donation goes directly to program activities. No more than 15% is allocated to essential administrative and fundraising costs. In years where we receive grants specifically covering overhead, we adjust this ratio to direct even more to programs.

If any donor has specific concerns or wishes to examine records more closely, we welcome scheduled visits to review documentation at our office.

Yes, our “Hope Link” Individual Sponsorship Program is one of our most meaningful ways to give. It creates a direct, personal connection between you and a beneficiary while ensuring professional management of the relationship.

How Sponsorship Works:

Step 1: Choosing Your Sponsorship Type

• Child Sponsorship: Support an orphaned or vulnerable child (ages 4-18). Monthly commitment: 15,000-25,000 FCFA ($25-$40).

• Family Sponsorship: Support an entire vulnerable household (typically grandparent-headed or mother-only). Monthly: 30,000-50,000 FCFA ($50-$85).

• Elderly/Sick Sponsorship: Support an isolated elderly person or chronically ill individual. Monthly: 10,000-20,000 FCFA ($17-$34).

• Vocational Sponsorship: Fund a young adult’s entire skills training program. One-time: 150,000-300,000 FCFA ($250-$500).

Step 2: The Matching Process
You can either:

• Choose from Profiles: We provide anonymized profiles (first name only, blurred photo) with age, general situation, and interests.

• Let Us Match You: We match you with a beneficiary whose needs align with your desired sponsorship level.

• No child is shown to multiple potential sponsors simultaneously. We maintain a waiting list and present profiles one sponsor at a time.

Step 3: What Your Sponsorship Provides
For Child Sponsorship:

• Education: School fees, uniforms, books, supplies, tutoring

• Nutrition: Monthly food package or school lunch program

• Healthcare: Medical check-ups, basic treatment, health insurance

• Clothing: Seasonal clothing and shoes

• Psychosocial: Counseling, recreational activities, birthday recognition

• Caregiver Support: Training and small stipend for the caregiver

Step 4: The Communication & Relationship
To protect privacy while fostering connection:

• Letters: You can write to your sponsored child/family (in English or French). We translate and deliver. They respond with our assistance.

• Photos/Updates: Quarterly photos and progress reports (school grades, health updates).

• No Direct Contact Information: For safety, we don’t exchange addresses, phone numbers, or social media.

• Cultural Guidance: We provide guidance on culturally appropriate communication.

Step 5: Professional Management

• Pooled Funding: Your monthly gift is pooled with other sponsors’ gifts. Your specific child receives comprehensive support, but we don’t give cash directly to families. This ensures funds are used appropriately and all children in the program receive equitable support regardless of their sponsor’s contribution level.

• Case Management: Each sponsored child has a dedicated case worker who visits monthly.

• Regular Reporting: You receive detailed annual reports on how funds were used for your sponsored child.

Step 6: Visiting (If Desired)
If you visit Limbe, you can meet your sponsored child/family in a supervised setting at our office or during a community event. We require advance notice and preparation with the family.

Duration & Conclusion:
Sponsorship continues until:

• The child turns 18 and graduates from secondary school (we help transition to vocational training/higher education)

• The family achieves sustainable self-reliance (verified by 12 months of stable income)

• You choose to end your sponsorship (we request 60 days notice to find replacement support)

When sponsorship ends, we facilitate a final communication and provide closure for both sponsor and beneficiary.

Ethical Commitment:

• We never create dependency; all sponsorship includes an exit strategy.

• We never use images of suffering children for fundraising.

• We obtain informed consent from caregivers for participation.

• We prioritize keeping siblings together in sponsorship.