How to Shift Power to Grassroots Organizations: Lessons from the 2nd LightUp Impact Conference

On September 11, 2023, the 2nd LightUp Impact Conference was held at Boma Inn Nairobi, Kenya. The conference was organized by Lightup Impact, a non-profit organization that supports grassroots organizations and community-based initiatives in East Africa. The theme of the conference was “SHIFT THE POWER,” which focused on amplifying the voices of grassroots leaders and fostering equality and cooperation among social entrepreneurs. The event was co-hosted by the East African Philanthropy Network (EAPN).

G for Girls Initiative (GGI) had the pleasure of attending the event through the representation of Naomi Kemei, our program manager. As a grassroots organization in Lunga Lunga, a rural area of Kwale County in Kenya, we affirmed some key presentations.

One of the key takeaways from the conference is the importance of shifting power to grassroots organizations. Grassroots organizations are the ones who best understand the needs of their communities, and they should have a greater say in how projects are designed and implemented.

For example, one of the panelists from KCDF, a Kenyan NGO, talked about how grassroots organizations often have to spend more time and energy on meeting donor requirements than on actually implementing their projects. This is because donors often have strict requirements, such as minimum years of operation, prior projects with donors, and audited accounts. These requirements can be difficult for small grassroots organizations to meet, which can limit their access to funding.

The panelist suggested that donors should shift their power to grassroots organizations by giving them more control over how projects are designed and implemented, and by providing them with long-term funding and support. This would allow grassroots organizations to focus on what they do best: working with their communities to create real change.

Another key takeaway from the conference was the importance of youth engagement. Young people are the future, and they must be given a seat at the table when it comes to making decisions about their communities and their world. For example, at GGI, all of our staff and champions are below 35 years old, serving as an example of a youth-run organization.

One of the panelists from the Centre for Adolescent and Young Change Makers, a Ugandan NGO, talked about how young people are often underrepresented in policy-making and political processes. She also talked about how young people often lack access to information about government policies and programs, as well as the resources they need to participate effectively in political processes.

The panelist suggested that governments and other stakeholders should create more opportunities for young people to participate in decision-making and should provide them with the support they need to make their voices heard.

The 2nd LightUp Impact Conference was a truly inspiring event, and it left us all feeling hopeful about the future. We as an organization are grateful for the opportunity to have attended and are excited to see the impact that the panelists and exhibitors will continue to make in the world.

How then can YOU support grassroots organizations and youth-led organizations? There are many ways to support grassroots organizations and youth-led organizations. Here are a few ideas:

·  Donate to these organizations financially. One of the best ways to support the work of these organizations is to donate to them financially. This will help them to continue their work and to reach more people.

· Volunteer your time and skills to help with their work. Another way to support these organizations is to volunteer your time and skills to help with their work. This could involve helping with fundraising, event planning, social media, or other tasks.

· Advocate for their work to others. You can also advocate for the work of these organizations to others. This could involve talking to your friends and family about their work or sharing their posts on social media.

· Raise awareness of the issues that they are working to address. You can also raise awareness of the issues that these organizations are working to address. This could involve writing blog posts or articles about the issues or speaking to others about them.

·  Purchase products and services from them. You can also purchase products and services from grassroots organizations and youth-led organizations. This is a great way to support their work and raise awareness about their mission.

·   Partner with them on projects. If you have a business or organization, you can partner with grassroots organizations and youth-led organizations on projects. This could involve providing them with funding, expertise, or other resources.

·   Amplify their voices on social media and in the media. You can also amplify the voices of grassroots organizations and youth-led organizations on social media and in the media. This could involve sharing their posts, writing about their work, or interviewing them for articles or podcasts.

Grassroots organizations and youth-led organizations are essential to creating a better future. By supporting them, we are investing in a better future for all. In addition to the above, I would also like to add that it is important to support grassroots organizations and youth-led organizations in other ways as well.  You can start today by sharing this piece with your network and helping others get the information on how to best support these organizations.