Mumsnet Talk

When I was in Kenya for the Gates Foundation and MN this year, I was constantly asked, 'what can we do?' and I kept saying, 'I really don't know.. because other than raise awareness, it is difficult to promote one or two charities that are helping direct in the field.

I saw examples of corruption within the charity sector, and it made me very cautious about recommending a project or charity to anyone.

Then Gates Foundation contacted me about Catapult.org - an organisation funded by Gates, in partnership with Women Deliver, Catapult aims to crowdfund projects around the world that directly benefit women and girls.

I really love this idea and would like to set up TeamMNCatapult so that we - Mumsnetters - can get involved and really improve the lives of the women and girls in the projects that we choose.

If you are interested, please check out my blog post

I know that some don't want to have MN connected to their FB, so if you don't want to share the MN linked blog, that is fine, but would you share the Catapult.org website.

Interesting idea - will read ...

TEAM MUMSNET

I want to stress that this isn't a one of thing for Day of the Girl - it is a project that will hopefully grow and flourish.

Me too

And absolutely agree re charities...

Thank you, will have a read

Slightly off-topic, but can I add that the rainwater-storage project MmeLindor mentions in her blog post is a hugely important issue.

That one alone would be well worth funding.

Parsing
I have contacted the women in my blog and told them about Catapult - I am not sure if they can join in - there are quite strict rules for projects wishing to apply for assistance, but I hope so.

I am also going to organise a shipment of san pro to go to the village - as soon as I work out the logistics.

That's brilliant, MmeLindor.

Good luck with the san pro.

Here is the article about girls who don't go to school

Mooncups! How MN is that?

I am really hoping that the women's collective that I visited joins Catapult, as I would love this to be a project that we support.

Must upload some pics to FB of the women so that you can see them.

bump

Afternoon bump

Looks like a good idea. What exactly would be required from people who get involved? Financial donations? Fund raising? Admin? Blogging?

I think this is such a good idea.

Petite
All you need to do is sign up. Once we have a good few members, I'll start a thread where we can discuss what kind of
Project we want to support.

Blogging about it is good, cause it gets others involves.

Might be an idea to have a FB group.

Forgot half your question.

Financial - yes, eventually donations will be needed but the great thing is that because we are a team, even donating a couple of pounds makes a difference. If anyone can't afford to donate, it's fine. They can help advertise catapult by sharing on FB and twitter, or with friends.

Thanks for your answers. I'll sign up this weekend though elcs possible at end of next week so might go quiet for a while.

Right, been thinking about this. I guess we should move this to Charities so that we can discuss which project we would like to fund, and how we should move forward.

We have ten members so far, and am hoping to get a lot more. The more members we have, the bigger donation we can make.

If anyone has a particular kind of project that they would like to support, shout now. I would say, inkeeping with Mumsnet that we should go for:

Maternal Health
Babies and Children

to begin with.

The more members we have, the bigger impact - so share this with others.

If you don't want to share MN with your RL, then do share Catapult.org

Catapult on FB

and on Twitter

I can't seem to work out how to donate. I can see that someone on the team has, but don't see how.

Ok, had another look.

You can just go ahead and donate to whatever project takes your fancy, whenever you have some spare cash. Then select if you want to donate as part of the team or alone.

I can't at the moment cause I am waiting for a new credit card and they aren't accepting direct paypal payments, but will do next week.

The website only went online properly this afternoon otherwise I would have had a play around on it.

Obviously, we will have more impact if we decide on a project and donate together, but this way we can each donate when we feel able to.

PayPal payment should be possible soon.

<sings>

<wine>

Oh I'm so thick.

Have just today understood your blogging name, MmeLindt. <boink>

Erm, this singing lark? We're not expected to join in, are we? You'll be sorry...

Hahaha no, I was singing cause of the wine

We could release a MN single for charity.

I'd like to be involved too.