1. What motivates you to do this?
2. Can I give donations specifically towards staff salaries?
3. What about the bills on phone calls, etc… how do you cope?
7. Instead of donating, can I instead save the money and go out to do work on ground myself?
8. I am a telephone company: Can I donate some phone cards or phone credits to help RSVP?
11. You seem to be religious: does RSVP help schools of other faiths or denominations?
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1. What motivates you to do this?
This is a very good question and one of the most frequently asked.
Please find some answers from RSVP Treasurer and Secretary’s introduction.
With respect to my involvement, meeting friends-British and non British- who are very generous and who passionately care about the injustices and misery in sub-Saharan Africa has been a tremendous inspiration.
Particularly so due to an impoverished background: Well, I was born in a very poor family. So poor that I had malnutrition at preschool age. By God’s grace, I passed the national test, but secondary school fees and material were always a Church event (one donated a soap bar, another toothbrush etc…and people donated until the compulsory school checklist is done) and so I studied in most deprived conditions. Thankfully though, I did well at a boarding secondary school owned by the Roman Catholic church.
Linking all the above to the fact that a Swiss missionary who had no interest whatsoever also supported me later on, the earnest search for ways of responding to God’s love amplified over time, having at heart kids coming from impoverished background.
But, of course, if seeing images of depravation on the TV screen makes you angry and inwardly feeble, what about knowing the face seen could so easily have been “your own”?
So, there are plenty of motivations, with time, we shall, all being well, elaborate on this further.
2. Can I give donations specifically towards staff salaries?
Well, any donation is kindly welcome BUT RSVP prides herself in spending every penny received-except unavoidable expenses such as money transfer fees-on the ground i.e. in the classroom or village.
Volunteers both in UK and Rwanda use their jobs to support themselves. The ethical starting point isn’t “what can we gain” but rather “what can we give”.
Of course the voluntary policy has provisions for tasks beyond the expertise of serving volunteers; and perhaps your donation could be used in such circumstances, should they ever arise!
3. What about the bills on phone calls, etc… how do you cope?
Very well actually. In anticipation, there shall be a proportionate increase in the amount of tasks as the project expands; and this is why RSVP aims to recruit volunteers at the same pace such that people aren’t tempted to go beyond what they have agreed to do.
4. It must be a nightmare working with you as a volunteer: numerous phone calls and emails, isn’t it?
Well, during the early stage, there are plenty of documents to put together and a lot of consultations to undertake.
So, you are right about that. But as RSVP gets stable, every volunteer will sign an engagement form stating when they can best be contacted-email, telephone etc… and they will not be contacted outwith of such arrangements.
Of course care shall be taken such that the day to day running is preserved and that nothing goes through without proper consultation.
This hasn’t been decided yet, but it would be wrong to single out individuals in a development- type of a charity.
This is easily done in relief charities but RSVP’s aim is to provide equal opportunities for all kids attending the enrolled school(s).
Please do… but also see question 7 below.
7. Instead of donating, can I instead save the money and go out to do work on ground myself?
Well, this is one of the mysteries of charity work!
Most people who ask this offer to undertake some form of manual work. Whilst this is offered with the best of intentions the reality is that there is no shortage of manual or skilled labour. The shortage is in specific materials, like paint or cement. The airfare is around £500, so the reality is that this amount would do far more being sent direct to the village.
In 2007 we fed each child for 27p per day. Think how far a large amount like £500 could go.
8. I am a telephone company: Can I donate some phone cards or phone credits to help RSVP?
Yes, you can indeed
Please speak to RSVP treasurer by email hartdns@yahoo.co.uk about this.
9. I am a solicitor, doctor, banker, teacher, engineer, Church minister, Librarian, etc… do you think I can help?
Of course you can make use of your talent to make a lasting impact on someone’s life.
Please contact the Coordinator by email u44sm5@abdn.ac.uk to find out how you can help. You may serve just a one off engagement. Essentially, you will be the boss and RSVP will make adjustments to suit you.
And all this help isn’t simply about money: a bank would for instance help design a small business management booklet etc…
10. You seem to be doing what a responsible state should be doing for its citizens. Are you a substitute of the state of Rwanda?
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY.
Even in UK, where there are record investments in the public sector, still there are plenty of charities operating in lots of areas- i.e. cancer research, breast cancer, muscular dystrophy foundation, etc…
So, RSVP isn’t a substitute of the State of Rwanda and isn’t proof of incompetence or unwillingness on its part to tackle Rwanda’s biggest challenges. Instead, RSVP aims to play a small part in solving real life challenges, and to the glory of God.
So, the answer is CATEGORICALLY NO.
11. You seem to be religious: does RSVP help schools of other faiths or denominations?
The answer is Yes. Mihabula primary school, a Pentecostal church owned primary school, was chosen to start with because it was easy to get volunteers there.
As the project grows, other village schools- one owned by a Roman Catholic Church and another by Muslim- will be enrolled. In case your eyebrows are raised when speaking of a Muslim owned primary school, please do note that this was the only village school until recently.
This is the school I went to, but unlike in UK, all kids, regardless of their faiths went to this school. And religious studies were reserved on Wednesday afternoon, and a priest and pastor came to teach Roman Catholics and protestants (protestants all together).
And to this day, kids attend any of the 3 schools not according to their parents’ faith but according to geographical location.
So, there is clearly no preference of religion.