Fund magu change the world

 Fund magu change the world

A proposal to seek funds through crowd funding, individuals working with social and business organizations for personal expenses and for project start up funding.

Amount needed: USD 2000 monthly

Social deposit: (two years) 48,000

Introduction

I am a socio-economic innovator. I usually identify very difficult humanity issues that numerous people have tried to resolve and still persist. I then think of possible solutions and user my core strength, idea generation to address the core problems since I am extremely creative. I love to identify solutions that have a national or global impact, are very simple, basic and also have an impact on solving multiple humanity issues at once.

Using the B.O.T model (build, operate and transfer), I then identify possible partners who are very passionate about their visions and work with them over a period of around 4 yrs by inspiring, supporting and equipping them where possible Once the idea has started to get direction and can continue to grow without my support, I let go and let the visionary do his thing. I then identify a new project, individual, organization etc to work with to address the next challenge. One reason I do this is I tend to lose interest since I can see a possible solution, my heart starts to burn for a new challenge, human issue that needs to be addresses and my focus tilts in that direction.

Since 1997, I have worked with churches, semi N.G.Os, business, individuals and new concepts quitting each time when success is in the horizon to venture into a new unknown experience and challenge. This has caused many of my friends to consider me to have a form of madness but I have no problem with that: my real problem is that for every project to reach stability there is usually a lag time (time for investment in terms of ideas, money and other resources) of up to 2 yrs.

This means that I perennially face times of complete brokenness, starting from scratch and at times unable to fully implement the possible solution at the correct timing. This happens after all savings have been used up especially when the project takes much longer than expected to gain stability. I am currently undergoing that season (2014-?)right now. Having left one project and starting three new ones simultaneously (my previous seasons where in 1997.8, 2003.4 and 2008/9), my real issue is that am now 37 years and realizing that I cannot afford to waste even 1 yr having already wasted 6 yrs previously. I also realize that I may be forced to shelve some of the projects and concentrate on my own stability first which , as I have realize in the past has caused the vision to die or delay which could have impacted on the lives of many possibly millions…. I cannot afford for this to happen again so I humbly swallow my pride (since I teach on self reliance) and accept that I need assistance… THE HELPER FINALLY ACCEPTS HE NEEDS HELP and YES I have agreed to seek funding support.

The Core objective- a social deposit

The core objective of the funding is to create a social deposit that will act as a buffer during transition periods between projects (usually 2yrs) and to ensure the smooth running of existing projects that may take longer than expected to reach maturity due to unforeseen challenges. In the same way banks operate by having a minimum deposit stored at a central bank to be accessed in times of need, a social deposit is a deposit pull created to be accessed during times of need by a social entrepreneur/ innovator which is to be replenished during periods that project have began to mature. However, since in my case mature projects are handed over to a passionate follower or the visionary at maturity, this fund needs to be a permanent fund rather than a temporary fund.

The master objective

Basically, the reason why project do stall is due to the fact that I have personal expenses to cater for which I usually do not charge (or unable to charge) on the current project since every project I work on starts from the scratch. The original plan was to ask the successful projects to fund the new projects but due to selfishness, miss alignment of goals and other multiple reasons (including misunderstandings) that has never or minimally happened in the past. I am therefore usually left alone in the cold to shoulder my personal burdens and that of the new project and usually the load is too heavy.

If the personal load would be relieve form me so that I could entirely focus on changing the world using the same model for researchers, scientists and missionaries that would be my eternal joy and trust me that would make a world of difference.

1. It would allow me to pick projects in which have no way of paying for my bills. Currently, I reject such projects during my lag years and then support them during my good years which creates inconsistency and minimal results
2. I would be able to pick more challenging projects that have multiple mini projects especially since I will always find ways that they interrelate to solve one major issue. As you may be aware to solve some problems, multiple approaches need to be used and if they can be done concurrently, the end goal will be achieved much faster. Currently, am only able to deal with one facet at a time.
3. Most importantly, it would create peace of mind. No more worries meaning that I will be able to focus and concentrate on idea generation which needs a clear and stress free mind to explore, research , test, implement ideas leading to their successful implementation

Budget of expenditures

Residential accommodation: in which I will be able to move into a house costing USD 470 monthly. I have always wanted to move out of my parents place but due to the 4 yr cycle which 2 yrs is of brokenness, I have been unable to move out. (Once moved out for a year but had to move back in)One of the main functions of this house would be to host volunteers from foreign countries and to conduct mentorship programs for Kenyans and other Africans

Office rental: I wish to be able to run an office costing USD 350 monthly in which I will primarily host the people that I intend to mentor. It also acts as a store and a thinking room in which I review my progress and draw up plans for potential clients above ordinary office and liaison functions. Currently, am in an office costing approx USD 115 in which its size is too small to host more than two people at a time. My savings currently can only allow me to continue renting the office up to Dec 2014 after which I will be forced to let go of it… I promised my agent that I will be able to rent the office for 5yrs without fail and have been able to rent it out for the last 3yrs (3 ½ yrs by December) without delay or any rent arrears. I have done my best…

Food and living expenses: My personal general food and living expenses amount to USD 6-15 daily 180-450 monthly which I do not intend to change for a lifetime, I use public transport, eat one meal a day with snacks, usually have 1 pair of shoes, no more than 5 shirts and 3 trousers and spend the rest on transport to meet clients and the occasional buying them tea to inspire them 3-4 hr sessions. At most, I would wish to increase this allocation to USD 600 with the entire additional amount used for hosting friends who I would then inspire, support and equip to drive their visions

Travel expenses: This is a very important component of my projects; my project revolves inspiring, supporting and equipping individuals, organizations and business around the country. It also includes building new cities, supporting the rural people grow for most impact and other projects like the unexplored, unexploited project etc, for this a budget of USD 300 would be adequate

 Savings and social deposit : Which shall be used to boost the projects that am involved in, in the case of Touch Africa International I used a Sacco loan and incomes from stock investments to fund my living expenses for 5 months and to give to the project in the form of adhoc expenses to the tune of USD 1365. My original intention was I was to raise it back in 2008 through new business ventures. However, due to the post election violence in Kenya that same year, I was unable to replenish my savings which led to a full wasted year, stalling of projects and total brokenness. I only recovered in 2009 after doing a number of odd jobs and only in 2011 was I able to continue pursuing some of the projects that had stalled in 2007. It is my intention to prevent that from happening again by saving USD 280 monthly to support ongoing projects during tough start up months.

My philosophy

1. follow your passion and everything else will fall in place

In 1st June 2005 while on top of a hill nearby Nairobi, a eureka moment occurred. I place my fist in the direction of nairobi city and the whole town got covered by my fist. I then looked all around me and I saw the vastness of empty land which made me realize resources were unlimited. That day I also reflected on my life purpose and discovered that my role was to build things and decided to dedicate myself to that mission. In 2007, I quit my job to help set up a volunteer organization, soon I realized that all N.G.O sector funding comes from people engaged in gainful economic activities be they foundations (rich businessmen), government (taxes) or individuals. I than left the N.G.O sector to support and build business so as to create future donors. I therefore decided that I will become a social entrepreneur using primarily a business approach to solving social issues

2. Why wait to be the world’s richest man to make a difference, why not do it now?

I usually use Bill Gates as an example and mention the activities he may have made to make Microsoft one of the biggest companies in the world. Am sure he needed to fight off completion to ensure his company grows denying other small companies income to fund their innovations, am also sure he bought other software companies whose visionaries now had to follow his vision rather than pursue their own. Finally, it reached a point that most of his money was idle in a bank and he realized that he might never ever use some of the money even 4 generations after. He then did the next sensible thing which was to give half of his wealth to charity. Now, imagine if he chose not to buy out other companies and to collaborate and not compete. Imagine if founders of the smaller ICT companies were let to grow through acquiring government contracts and support from Bill Gates the same way angel billionaires did with Facebook, imagine if the cash, instead of sitting idle in the bank circulated in the 1980s instead of waiting to reach billions in the 1990s. How many smaller Bill Gates new inventions, foundations, jobs etc would have been created? Am sure the multiplier effect would have been much greater than Bill Gates and Microsoft impact on the world today.

3. I therefore never intend to set up a large organization that will have a legacy; instead, I intend to support millions of organizations that will have legacies. I want to be that person who was there in the beginning but left to pursue other interest. (A story common with all fortune 500 companies) but do it 1000 times impacting everything that I touch.

4. I never intend to have staff (maybe temporally at start up phases) They will be pursuing my vision instead of their own, why not support them develop their own visions which in case they will need staff they can hire?

5. I personally seek to achieve no glory, fame and wealth. All earnings during the course of the projects are for sustainability (I have no permanent assets to date by choice) we came to earth with nothing and we shall return that way- With nothing. Why accumulate then leave it all behind?

6. I encourage the spirit of self sufficiency rather than a dependency syndrome. Interestingly am now realizing that for startup ideas and projects, there always needs to there to be that ‘angel’ that moves the idea forward before it starts making any impact. I have mostly played that role without realizing it and now I guess I need my angels

7. Always be willing to make any sacrifice to pursue your vision cause everything has a cost. Sadly one of the sacrifices I have chosen to make is that of a family! I made this decision in 2010 after I realized finally, and the first time in 2009, that my potential wide will always have different interests from me and she would need consistency. Sadly, that’s not going to be a factor in my life. I will always be involved in a start up say agriculture and when it matures, I will leave to a start up another say in tourism.

A wife usually supports you until the end and for a goal; which is a better future for her and her children. In my case when the better future starts to emerge, I let go to start again from scratch, a life of constant sacrifice, a life which is very tough even for me to endure let alone another person who may not share the same vision So I have decided to be single so as to be able to fully dedicate myself to my goals and service without any distractions and competing interests. Having a wife means having the pressure to fulfill another person’s interests which may include societal status pressures like having a nice house, huge car, expensive personal grooming which will lead to the diversion of funds from the projects that I will be pursuing.

Secondly, when children come into the picture, their needs will have to be catered for and therefore would lead me to making long term investments and seeking security on their behalf. There will be no option since responsible fathers take care of their children and this will definitely lead to the end of the project since they will need a stable source of income. I will lose my ability to start up a project and leave it when it starts to grow. I want to stay 100% focused.

8. They say the grave is the richest place on earth because its where all the hopes and dreams are buried.

Well personally I want to go to the grave the poorest person having implemented all my hopes and dreams. Also want to go the poorest person with no major physical wealth attached to my name. However want to be the richest man ever lived through my impact on the lives of others and in society in general. Hence the constant building of startup ideas, projects and the constant giving guess it is my calling and purpose.

The challenges

1. My ideas get stolen.

My problem is not really the ideas getting stolen but the lack of sustainability thereafter. After the idea gets stolen, I am unable to support myself and hence forced to look for alternative sources of income. I also get very discouraged at times up to the point of depression especially when I see the idea growing benefiting only the person that stole the idea instead of 1000s of others. The idea at times also runs into problems or stagnates because the person stole only the first phase of the idea yet the next phases of the idea would solve the problems they encounter. I feel sad because I usually have the solution but unable to help because the solution will not compensate me for my time and needs or benefit other people but only that one person. I then become reluctant to share other ideas since I would need them to support myself which then goes against my own vision, so if am able to get funding for my personal expenses, I would have no problem sharing literary thousands of practical ideas I have since in so doing so, I would not lose the opportunity to feed myself

2. Sustainability.

My experience is after every 3 to 4 yrs I have realized that I usually start off from scratch and that leads to wasted years as already mentioned above. My hope is to solve that problem through this proposal.

3.Honest partners.

One of the objectives of this proposal is to seek support, financially and morally from people who share the vision and who will not take advantage of me. I do realize this happens because most people are in the rat race of futile wealth acquisition and as you now the love for money is the root of all evil. Money is very useful the greed for it is where the problem is. I have lacked partners who share the same vision in the past and hope to find such people so that we can together change this world.

List of projects that I was involved in and left

I have opened a Facebook profile that lists in detail the various projects I have been involved in. the Facebook profile will also serve as a journal in which I will report on the current projects, share ideas with like minded people and basically network and fundraise. I do wish that you may become a part of it by sending me a friend request to which I will accept making you part of the vision. For that reason I will only list the projects that I have been involved in and left. The details are on Facebook under the series my life history https://www.facebook.com/nguru.magu

1. church on the rock yrs 1997-2003
2. Touch Africa international 2005-2008
3. Smart shopper 2009
4. Quickheal antivirus 2009-2013

List of projects that I was unable to follow up to their logical end

1. Impala rugby 2003

The idea of the project was to professionalize sports in Kenya and help players earn a living through sports. It also aimed to build the clubs to a point where they would own their own stadiums, be self sustaining in a similar fashion as the European or American clubs. My active involvement lasted about 2 months in which I was able to attract for the first time sponsorship for a rugby tournament in less than 3 weeks from the leading soft drink bottling company and Kenya’s leading media house. However, the club chairman took over the negotiations and as well the glory for my work since he was more interested in retaining chairmanship and directorship in the countrywide sports body. I had no problem with that but left the club when I received no pay for my work making it unsustainable and also when clearly I lacked the necessary support from the club in terms of logistics when some sponsors needed that kind of support (the club sabotaging my projects in which it was the main beneficiary just because of politics and personal interests) the good news is that key sponsors did not pull out and years later, the club chairman successfully set up a business that supports the club, the club has also found an international partnership with a U.K based club and well I do hope one day the club will be able to become self sustaining and players will earn from sports. Wish also to revive the idea someday

2. Golden gate cafeteria. 2006

This was one of the projects in which I chose to support my friends in their personal projects to sustain themselves. In this case the objective was to alleviate poverty through job creation and to test a concept on how cities grow. So just before the 2006 world cup, I gave USD 400 to a friend to set up a restaurant at an area called Quarry, Ongata Rongai, Nairobi, Kenya which at the time was sparsely populated and the few living there had no income hence high levels of poverty. We opened on 9th July 2006 and by the end of the world cup had made a profit. I was offered payment for my loan but decided for it to be reinvested in the business. Months later, the partners disagreed, placed in other in police cells, both eloped (got mistresses turned wives) yet they where staunch Christians and even fought. I guess the money came in too fast above their handling capabilities. Luckily, one of them enrolled in bible school and started a foundation, years later that buys shoes for the shoeless. The other became a music producer. I so wish to implement this project again especially as part of the unexplored, unexploited project with the hope that those restaurants would grow to become the future hotels in those areas

3. Twaweza International 2005-8

The goal of the project was to influence societal change through the provision of information. My approach was to create an information portal that would help people do things correctly. The next step would then include government, business, N.G.Os and individuals. Follow up steps would be to inspire, support and equip them achieve their goals and hence achieve Kenya’s vision2030 and the millennium development goals. My slogan was YES WE CAN and that was in 2005, two years before I even knew president Obama existed! Another goal was to upgrade the standards of Kenyan websites from being static websites to interactive ones. Using my remaining savings from my last job in 2007, I decided to concentrate on it. However, in 2009 I was forced to let go of it since I run dry of resources. Kenya was recovering from the post election violence and therefore there was little business activity. It was much worse for me since I was starting a new project that way ahead of its time. Currently, part of the vision was picked by another organization, twaweza.org that received initial funding to the tune of USD 7.7 million. My web designer picked another component of the vision which was to support and develop business and now runs an incubation center nailabs which is sponsored by the government to the tune of 1.6 million to help start ups and spur innovation in Kenya. Personally, I will revive the project though I intend to use a different approach and hopefully use various media from print to online

4. The Tsunza island development plan

While involved in Touch Africa international, there were a lot of projects that were to be implemented but were not due to misunderstandings and conflicting interests and visions. Touch Africa international was meant to set up 5 departments namely social concern, education, health, environment and cultural heritage. I was able to set up the health department that was involved in medical camps and the next project was to be the environmental department. When I realized that I was been taken advantage of, I was forced to shelve the idea since I realized I didn’t have unlimited savings to pursue the project. My goal was also to help society and not individuals so I pulled back on the idea. The Tsunza island development plan is what has given birth to the unexplored, unexploited project light children academy.

5. Light children academy

This is an offshoot of a children’s home called St Francis children home that housed over 350 children before its closure. I have always donated to children’s home and was to be part of the board of St Francis when some potential donors decided to use the problems at the home to get it closed and relocate the children to their own new established home and in effect get control of all the donations which at the time was a lot of money. That action hurt me deeply that I vowed to seek ways children homes in Kenya would be run more efficiently. Years later, light children’s home persistently approached me to become a board member only for me to realize that they wanted to use my reputation to attract donors. I had no problem with that but while trying to restructure the home I realized they were part of the scheme that led to the closure of St Francis but abandoned by the donors. The founders of the home were dishonest that led me to develop cold feet. I still support the home occasionally when am able to but avoid involvement. One day wish to help in the proper running of children’s home and weed off the dishonest sponsors who are in It for the money.

My list of current projects

1. The ICT growth project.

This project aims at working with 1000 channels partners in the information communication and technology (ICT) industry and to help them grow into the next level. The vision is to create employment for the over 5000 ict sector graduates, development of new innovations and inventions help actualize vision 2030 projects including the konza city and foster international partnerships making Kenya Africa’s ICT hub. https://assets.gogetfunding.com/project/help-magu-grow-kenya-ict-sector-the-channels

2. The unexplored, unexploited project

The aim is to identify unknown tourist attractions in every county in Kenya and develop them until they become small towns as a way of environmental conservation and poverty alleviation. These rural tows will also help stem the rural urban migration that’s leading to many of the city’s problems that include slums https://assets.gogetfunding.com/project/help-magu-build-unexplored-unexploited-tourism-sites

3. The stigara project

The aim is to reduce cancer deaths by at least 1000 people by offering a healthier alternative in the form of e-cigarettes. My campaign intends to cover all issues relating to cancer and harmful social habits. I plan to involve the various stakeholders form health practitioners, insurance firms, government, tobacco companies, N.G.O s, individuals etc in the fight against cancer using the entry point of electronic cigarettes https://assets.gogetfunding.com/project/help-magu-lower-cancer-deaths-1000-yearly-using-e-cigs

List of future projects

1. Building new cities to stem rural urban migration and create urban rural migration instead
2. Group of 10. A yearly mentorship project that would aim to create others like me and then send them into the world to make a difference
3. Twariga. which identifies, researches on, partners with other individuals, businesses and organizations to help them achieve their growth goals and hence make this world a better place to live in. it is Twariga that generates and will generate new future projects that I have opted not to list here.

I therefore hope that you will consider funding me change the world and also network me to other possible supporters and donors to me projects. It is not only financial support I seek but also networking opportunities and other partnerships that will help develop new and unique solutions to problems facing humanity.

You can also opt to sponsor any one of the individual projects as an individual in part in any amount since I do not have a minimum sponsorship value. My activities have been broken up into smaller tasks meaning that any small idea, contribution or support will move the vision one step forward You can also add me as a friend on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nguru.magu 

You can also email me on [email protected] or call me directly on +254720654543

Thanks in advance

Yours Magu nguru