Boost Marcus

For those that have just stumbled across this page. This is my story.

In 2009 I co-founded Kitendo Children’s Charity (KCC) www.kccprogramme.org in Kenya.

We support 170 vulnerable children in slums gain access to nutrition, education and health.

We've done a lot in these past five years and its really worth checking out our website and Facebook page for a glimpse into our history.

Part of what I’ve done intentionally is work really hard to maintain sustainable operating costs by not taking an expat salary and all the extras.

That means all my flights, insurance, well-being and immigration costs I have fund raised for outside of KCC’s campaigns.

What I do receive is a local currency living allowance that is on par with all our other volunteers and staff. As well as this I have a group of very loyal friends and family who partnered with me to provide financial support year round that has helped keep my finances above water.

However, charity work is no small undertaking! All the costs to do what I have, have been squeezed from these two pools of support. This is on top of all the fundraising work I’ve do for KCC.

So this is where the Boost Marcus campaign comes in.

My goal is to raise NZ$10,000 by 28 February 2014.

In this time I hope to raise enough money to take some time to visit NZ in 2015 for some much needed NZ-time, as well as start a big fundraising drive while in NZ for the school construction project we have coming up latter this year.

I’ve chosen Give a Little as this is a NZ fundraising platform that is funded so that all donations given are received in the full amount given. In other words, there are no fees!

All the donations raised from this campaign will be totally intact and therefore, what you give is what I will actually receive.

So why should someone give to this campaign?

Good question. This is basically a personal campaign that I’ve set up as a way of boosting my finances in a way that will provide everything I’ve mentioned as well as a little more breathing room and slightly less stress!

My philosophy in giving is that we give because we want to give, not because someone is persuading us. It’s a decision we make and once made, we should feel good about the simple act of giving.

Thanks for reading through what this campaign is all about and if you have any questions at all on what I’m up to in Kenya, feel free to get in touch.

- Marcus

email: marcus@kccprogramme.org

twitter: @MarcusGR