Circle of Success
The training and education programs that the Subayo Foundation supports are designed to go beyond the simple act of training—to bring new, long-term economic opportunities to the communities they serve.
The training programs lead to the creation of new, local businesses. These businesses create revenue that can then be reinvested into more training and then new businesses—in this way, a Circle of Success is created—leading to stronger economic communities.
In the United States
Founder and Board President: Mbumwae Suba (more info….)
In Africa
Ghana: Victoria Owusu – National Coordinator
Zambia: National Coordinators -Patricia Besa Lungu, Adjoa Parker, Sven Buchholz, Mbindi Kahilu
Project Organization
Projects are organized at the community level. Only one project is established at a time in each region or area.
To ensure that project funds are well managed and that projects stay on track, a community-based organizational structure is put into place for each location.
Each location (each project) has the following elected coordinators who run Subayo projects:
- Chairperson
- Vice Chairperson
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Vice Treasurer
- Two floating Coordinators in case one of the other coordinators is absent
Business Model and Current Activity
The Foundation is based loosely on a micro financing-like business model where money is given to a single woman to start her own business. Once her business is up and running the money is paid back and given to another woman to do the same.
Subayo is currently working in 15 locations in Ghana and four locations in Zambia. Each country has at least one national coordinator, and each project has a group of seven Coordinators (listed above).
Each location has a different micro financing project. For example in Ho, the project is harvesting honey. Subayo gave the coordinators a very small amount of seed money to buy the equipment necessary to trap bees and collect honey. After making their product the women sell it to their community. The money raised from the sales is either reinvested into expanding the business or goes towards another venture.
Teaching Along with Projects
Along with financing business development the foundation sponsors a wide variety of educational functions to help support the local citizens and increase the capacity within each community for development.
Teachers are recruited from the community to teach classes and teach other literate women to teach classes:
- Nutrition
- Literacy
- AIDS Awareness
- Anti-polygamy
- Prenatal and Post Natal Care
- Hygiene
- Water Purification
Business Classes offered in specific locations:
- Catering
- Photography
- Tie Die
- Sewing
- Baking
- Manufacturing Plastic Bag
In many cases children are the primary beneficiary of Subayo Foundation work. By educating and empowering women, these mothers are then able to afford to pay school fees, and buy uniforms and supplies. They can become literate and help with homework.
In addition to this, the Foundation also ships donated goods to children and schools. These donations include: Donations of Books, Toys, Used Clothing, Computers, and Photo Copying Machines. In Dededo we have an ambitious goal of assisting with the construction of a new school building – for now, we are assisting them with buying uniforms and textbooks.
