Kenya Community Development Fund (KCDF) on March 22, 2024 held it’s 12th Open Golf Tournament at the Karen Country Club.More than 150 golfers graced the pitch, to fundraise Ksh 5 Million geared towards supporting Community projects from West Pokot, Kakamega, Kwale, Siaya and Baringo County.
KCDF is philanthropic foundation that supports sustainable community-driven development.It has been holding the tournament annually to fundraise grants geared towards Community projects under their Pamoja4Change programme.
“Pamoja4Change project is a competitive grant scheme administered through the shilling for a shilling model or matching fund model. The Under this model, communities raise 50% of funds towards their development projects, and KCDF matches the other 50%.We host fundraising events like our own annual Golf Tournament, bringing together local charitable trusts ,corporates and Foundations in East Africa to help raise our share of the grant, “explained Grace Maingi, KCDF’s executive director.
The matching fund narrative is meant to foster local giving among communities. This gets them to build bonds with each other further strengthening their capacity and confidence to take charge of their development agendas.
“The idea is that if locals are more involved in funding these initiatives themselves, they will be more invested in seeing them succeed over the long term. By doing so, it also empowers these groups to take ownership of their future growth rather than relying solely on external aid or charity,”added Maingi
The Participants signed up for the tournament at a fee, which will go back to the fundraising basket. Community organisations set to receive the grants for their projects this year include; Sustainable Community Opportunities for Restoration & Empowerment (SCORE),Yatima Outreach Organization ,Basic Needs Basic Rights Kenya,Social Ministry Research Network Centre (SOMIRENEC) and Community Socio-Environmental Organization (COSEO).
“Organisations get up to 6 months or more if needed to raise the required amount in cash or kind .Only after proving the total amount has been raised from their side do we match the amount we’ve raised,”Deborah Meto,communication Officer KCDF.
The tournament had been made consequatively for 11 years although last year they opted to do an art exhibition instead .The exhibition show cased work of art by young kenyan artists and was meant to expose them to the larger Africa markets .
“No one is a golfer sometimes an individual may have a heart to give but you can’t connect through Golf .we wanted to connect with art lovers too as we exhibited the potential of Young artists in Kenya to the East African Market,” said Maingi
Some of their key partners for the tournament including Kenya Pipeline Company(KPC) ,I&M Bank Ltd, NCBA Bank, Impax Business Solutions and Yves Rocher Kenya among other key stakeholders.The tournament ended with an award ceremony ,handing over trophies to the winners of the golf play off’s.
