Helps International (HINT)

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Achieving Organisational Sustainability through IT

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1.    Project Name: Computers for Sustainability (CFS)

2.    The Problem:
We have relied on freewill donations, gifts and meager funds raised from our IT Centre to be able to run our non-profit organization called Helps International (HINT). However, shortage of funds has always been a huge hindrance to implementing our mission to improve the social and economic well-being and health of the poor and under privileged in our society through education, skill development and job creation. We have projects in the areas of IT training for underprivileged youths, educational support for orphans/underprivileged children; micro-loans for rural women; HIV/AIDS sensitization and information/training seminars. Most of the time, the progress of these projects has been hampered due to lack of funds. Over the years, these projects have expanded as the needs become enormous but there has not been a corresponding increase in the amount of funds needed to support these programs.

3.    The Solution:
Therefore, instead of continue to rely on spontaneous donations from our partners (to whom we are very thankful for their generosity in the past), we will like to work with them (current partners) to establish a profitable social enterprise that will generate the funds needed to support our on-going projects and to initiate new ones. After research I have discovered that sale of computers and accessories is one of the most profitable businesses in the country now. Calculations have shown that the business will generate about 21,091,250 million CFA XAF (US$ 42,781) annually.

4.    Implementation:
The business idea is to ship 400 refurbished Pentium 4 computers to Cameroon and sell. Some of the computers will also be used to set up 2 additional IT centers that will employ a number of people too.

5.    Fundraising:
The fundraising strategy is to get 2753 people all around the world who will donate $25 each. This will raise US$ 68,831, the needed start-up capital for the business. This amount will cover cost of shipping, seaport clearing and setting up the sales centre in Buea, Cameroon. I will be launching an online appeal for donations as soon as all plans are made concrete. I will also be in the USA between May and August 2009 mainly to raise these funds. I hope to visit churches, organizations, individuals with whom we have a relationship and trust that all needed funds will be realized by October 2009. Shipping should take place in November/December 2009.

6.    Logistics:
I should have asked for hardware donations but that would be difficult to assemble and ship. We will work with an organization such as interconnection.org in Seattle, USA that assembles and ships refurbished computers to the developing world. I am also researching the possibility of shipping from computeraid.org in the UK or from Dubai, wherever shipping cost will be minimal with high quality computers. Mr. Paul Fonkwo a Cameroonian based in CA who has been shipping PCs to Cameroon will be providing advice and help.

7.    Accountability/Transparency:
All funds will be collected and managed by the following organization:

Hope Outreach International Ministries (HOIM)
10993 N Harrell’s Ferry Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Phone: 225-272-5432
Fax: 225-272-6805
Email: hopeoutreach @ gmail.com
Website: http://www.hopeoutreachinternational.org/

HOIM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and will manage all in-coming and out-going funds for this project and issue tax-deductible receipts to all donors. Financial records will be available to all donors at the end of the fundraising drive, and also upon request.

8.    Business Ability:
I developed a Business Plan for a similar project while at Santa Clara University in 2006 while attending the Global Social benefit Incubator (GSBI). I received a full scholarship (US$ 25,000) to attend this highly prestigious and competitive business training opportunity because of the impact we were already making in the lives of young people in our community through IT. My desire for social and economic change especially among the youths and the need for our NGO to be financially sustainable are the main motivations for such project.

Implementation of this project will provide a permanent base of financial support for the work of HINT and we will not have to continually ask our friends and donors to support our work year-in year-out. I believe if you had to make a choice, you would rather teach someone how to fish than to give him fish. By supporting this project at this time, you are actually making provision for years to come.

9.   Budget:
To see details of how the capital will be invested click here.

10.   Conclusion:
I will greatly appreciate your suggestions, thoughts, advice, opinion or any kind of support on this project. Just use the form below to comment.

Thank you.

Genesis G. Tinshu
Executive Director/Helps International (HINT)
https://www.hintonline.org
Cell Phone: +237 76274131
Email: tinshu @ hintonline.org

Executive Summary of School PCs Project

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Problem : Only about 5% of secondary schools and almost 100% of primary schools within Buea and its surroundings have computers installed in their schools, yet the government has introduced computer science as a subject to be taught in secondary schools. Lack of access and training in Information Technology is contributing to underdevelopment, not only in the educational sector butt in the whole of the Cameroonian economy.

Solution: Conscious of this need, Helps International (HINT) in partnership with Computers for Africa (C4A), UK will undertake to install computer labs in primary and secondary schools all over Cameroon. This will help bridge the digital divide and expose students and teachers to the large amount of information available on the Internet. Primary school labs will have a maximum of 10 computers while secondary and high school labs will have a maximum of 20 computers. The first phase will aim at providing general exposure to computers and training on how to use a computer. The second phase will aim at providing Internet access. About 20 school labs and 2 community centres will be set up with a 20ft container of 250 computers.

Project Name: School PCs

Funding requirements: Funds will be needed to ship computers from the UK to the Douala International seaport; clear the container from the port, transport it to Buea, and install software on the computers ready for deployment in schools. The total cost is CFA 4,599,000 to install 20 labs in 20 schools and 2 community centres. We need your support to make this project a reality. Please do not hesitate to help.

Organization and its expertise: HINT has been involved with IT projects since its inception in 2003. Our first Community IT Training Centre was set up in 2005 and since then we have provided training and access to IT services to community members and especially underprivileged youths. Over 1200 youths have been trained through our two IT Centres over the last four years.

Genesis G. Tinshu
Executive Director
Helps International (HINT), Cameroon
Email: genesis @ hintonline.org
Cell Phone: +237 76 27 41 31

Entire Proposal can be downloaded by clicking here.

Board of Directors

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Board of Directors

  1. Genesis G. Tinshu, Board Chairman, Founder/President of Helps International (HINT), Cameroon.
  2. Mr. Kum Emmanuel, ICT Adviser, CEO, Goodmann Computers, Molyko, Buea.
  3. Dr. Oben, Education Adviser,Lecturer, University of Buea
  4. Dr. Tchami Alphonse, Health Adviser, Medical doctor at CNPS, Buea
  5. Mr. Kamga Paul, Economic/Business Development Adviser, Businessman
  6. Mr. Arah Taku, Finance Adviser, Certified ACCA Chattered Accountant, Buea.
  7. Mr. Tanyi Joseph Mbi, Legal Adviser, Barrister at Law, Advocate/Notary.
  8. Dr. Masoh Vincents, Administration Adviser, Director, Police School Mutengene
  9. Community Development Adviser

Our History

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In 1998, a young man shabbily dressed and looking very dirty approached Mr. Genesis Tinshu, founder of HINT. He almost ran for fear that the young man was insane and was trying to attack  him. Then he noticed that the young man was showing him a piece of paper signed by a prominent law officer. According to the document, he had been released from prison. He was in need of financial assistance to re-unite with his family in a far distant city. Thank God, Mr. Genesis had some money on him that could buy some food and also help pay his way home. Genesis took him to a nearby bus station and saw him off.

Then Mr. Genesis began to wonder what would happen to him when he gets home. Would he be accepted? Would he adjust properly to life outside, after 7 years of imprisonment? How long would the little money he gave him last? Would he be able to live a sustainable life? Mr. Genesis hoped he could empower him to live a responsible life that will prevent future imprisonment.

Later that same year, Mr. Genesis went back to prison to visit and surprisingly he met the same young man and he was behind bars for a fresh crime. He ignored him when he called out to him the first time but felt deeply for him and wished he could help him.

Towards the middle of that same year, Mr. Genesis came to know two young ladies and both were students. They were being sexually exploited by married men in exchange for their education. Poverty had driven them this far. I felt for them and wished I could immediately help them out. If they could operate a self-reliant business, that will help to sustain them and free them from sexual molestation.

Helps International (HINT) Cameroon was then created in 2002 to improving on the social and economic well-being and health of the poor and underprivileged in the society through education, skills development and job creation.

If you would like to help you can read more on how you can help, or contact us.

Our Goals & Objectives

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1. To bridge the digital divide
a. Help school children get ICT exposure and skills through the School PCs Project
b. Help underprivileged youths within the community to gain ICT skills through Community IT Training Centres.

2. To give the poor and underprivileged a chance to be educated.
a. Provide for the educational needs of  orphans and underprivileged children through Child Sponsorship
b.      Set up Community Education Centres in needy communities to cater for the education needs of the poor and underprivileged.

3. To fight poverty and unemployment
a. Provide access to low-interest loans and business management training to the poor for through Africa Rural Investment Fund (ARIF).
b.      Equip underprivileged and unemployed youths with marketable IT skills so help them find employment.

4. To improve the health of the underprivileged poor
a. Train HIV Educators who in turn will educate their communities, social groups and families on how to prevent HIV and other diseases.
b.      Run medical outreaches to educate the general public on healthy living and disease prevention.

5. To help develop needy communities
a. Provide clean water where needed
b. Provide solar electricity where needed.

About HINT

Our mission is to improve the well-being of the underprivileged in our community through education, skill development, and job creation.

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