Our 1010 Challenge
Multiply £10 by 10 and help 10 parents start businesses that could transform their family’s future
For families living in poverty, access to safe, low-interest loans is a massive barrier to change. Without the ability to borrow money and with no savings to rely on, it is incredibly difficult for them to find new ways to generate an income.
In rural and isolated communities across East Africa, we are changing this. Through our Village Investors Programme (VIP), we are setting up self-funding savings and loans groups for parents and guardians, and teaching them community banking, business and financial skills.
Pooling small amounts of money together, VIP groups create their own loan capital which members can use to start a business. We’ve seen everything from farming projects and grocery stores to beauty salons, taxi firms, bakeries, and thousands more.
The reliable income these businesses provide means parents can afford to send their children to school, provide three meals a day, buy medication and improve their homes. What’s more, they can save their profits safely in the group, building their resilience to any shocks and challenges which is key to pushing themselves further up and out of poverty.
It costs just £10 for a parent or guardian to be part of the VIP for a year, helping them to launch a business and transform their family’s future.
As part of our 1010 Challenge, we challenge you to take £10 and turn it into £100 or more using your skills, passions and networks. If you do, you could create sustainable, meaningful change for 10 families.
In these uncertain times what better way to do more with less.
HOW TO TAKE PART
DECIDE HOW TO INVEST YOUR £10
Ask yourself; what skills can I utilise? Who can I involve? How long will it take?
Here are some idea starters:
⚽ Buy a football and organise a weekly tournament with your friends in the local park.
🎂 Stock your baking cupboard and sell some treats in your office every Friday.
🪑 Purchase some polish or paint and freshen up your unused furniture to sell on Facebook Marketplace.
🕯 Get crafty and make your own candles, bracelets or hair scrunchies to sell on Etsy.
🍕 Pick up pizza ingredients and ask your mates round for movie nights – it’s cheaper than a Domino’s!
DECIDE HOW TO INVEST YOUR £10
Ask yourself; what skills can I utilise? Who can I involve? How long will it take?
Here are some idea starters:
⚽ Buy a football and organise a weekly tournament with your friends in the local park.
🎂 Stock your baking cupboard and sell some treats in your office every Friday.
🪑 Purchase some polish or paint and freshen up your unused furniture to sell on Facebook Marketplace.
🕯 Get crafty and make your own candles, bracelets or hair scrunchies to sell on Etsy.
🍕 Pick up pizza ingredients and ask your mates round for movie nights – it’s cheaper than a Domino’s!
WORK OUT HOW TO COLLECT YOUR PROFIT
A simple task but one that you need to have in place.
We recommend creating a fundraising page on JustGiving – it’s quick, simple to use and can be easily shared. Alternatively, you could collect the cash and donate it via our website or bank transfer once you’re finished.
WORK OUT HOW TO COLLECT YOUR PROFIT
A simple task but one that you need to have in place.
We recommend creating a fundraising page on JustGiving – it’s quick, simple to use and can be easily shared. Alternatively, you could collect the cash and donate it via our website or bank transfer once you’re finished.
KICKSTART AND SHARE YOUR CHALLENGE
Whether it’s a one-off event or an ongoing thing, make sure you tell people what you’re up to – you will be surprised at how inspirational your challenge becomes.
One previous 1010 challenger explains:
“Everyone we told about the challenge loved the concept and wanted to get on board. One team decided to run a social media auction and asked local businesses to give prizes. The generosity was unbelievable and prizes were donated by restaurants, gyms, spas, the list goes on. Part of the success was down to people really buying into the intriguing concept of multiplying a humble tenner. Everyone was keen to help out.”
KICKSTART AND SHARE YOUR CHALLENGE
Whether it’s a one-off event or an ongoing thing, make sure you tell people what you’re up to – you will be surprised at how inspirational your challenge becomes.
One previous 1010 challenger explains:
“Everyone we told about the challenge loved the concept and wanted to get on board. One team decided to run a social media auction and asked local businesses to give prizes. The generosity was unbelievable and prizes were donated by restaurants, gyms, spas, the list goes on. Part of the success was down to people really buying into the intriguing concept of multiplying a humble tenner. Everyone was keen to help out.”
DONATE YOUR 1010 PROFITS
Once you’ve finished your challenge, send your profits our way and help to kick-start someone else’s business!
DONATE YOUR 1010 PROFITS
Once you’ve finished your challenge, send your profits our way and help to kick-start someone else’s business!
OUR TWO TOP TIPS
KEEP GROWING YOUR TOTAL
Use your initial profits to reinvest in your original idea – or a new one. You never know, your £10 could turn into much, much more!
WORK AS A GROUP
Get together with friends, family or colleagues and create your own community bank, pooling your money together to invest in a bigger idea.
THE DIFFERENCE YOU’LL BE MAKING
“My name is Josephine. I’m married and blessed with two children.”
Josephine and her family live in Kimana, a community in the Loitokitok Sub-County of southern Kenya on the border with Tanzania.
“Before I joined the VIP, my life was different compared to now. Together with my husband, we depended on casual labour which was not guaranteed on a daily basis.
“In 2019, I heard about the VIP in our area. Since loans in our VIP group were readily available, I started planning how to change my life financially. I took out a loan of Ksh 9,000/= (£59) and started a kiosk business. With time, the business was booming and I would make a daily profit of Ksh 200/= (£1.30). This was a blessing to my family.
“Eventually, I was able to expand my kiosk business into a retail shop. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, my business almost went to its knees but I am thankful things are now going well.
“I never imagined that one day I would run my own business and I am so grateful to the VIP for teaching me new skills and knowledge. I am happy and my family has been really transformed. Now, my business is worth around Ksh30,000/= (£198) and I am still aiming higher. My dream is to own a mini-store where I will meet my customer’s expectations.”
GET IN TOUCH
We are here to support you in your 1010 Challenge so please do get in touch with our Head of Fundraising & Communications, Ellie, with anything that you need.
DID YOU KNOW?
The 1010 is a fantastic challenge for a company.
Over the years, businesses small and large have taken it on and created a real buzz for everyone involved. The 1010:
• Provides a new approach to team building
• Promotes innovative thinking
• Develops entrepreneurial and selling skills
• Encourages colleagues to engage their network
• Helps you work towards your ESG goals
• Raises money for a great cause!
• Provides a new approach to team building
• Promotes innovative thinking
• Develops entrepreneurial and selling skills
• Encourages colleagues to engage their network
• Helps you work towards your ESG goals
• Raises money for a great cause!
If you think your company would be up for the challenge, please fill out the form below and we’ll get in touch.
