British Charities Urged to Rethink Fundraising Methods for Overseas Aid
London, 14 May 2025 – A social entrepreneur has warned British charities working overseas to stop relying on Western donations and instead rethink their fundraising methods. Andrea Kazindra, who describes herself as a ‘former white saviour’, will be meeting with charities, foundations, business leaders, and politicians in London later this month.
Kazindra and her husband Haril are the founders of Musana, a community development NGO that operates 19 social enterprises, including schools, hospitals, and hotels in Uganda. With the recent launch of its UK office, Musana has been able to impact nearly 100,000 people annually and employs a staff of 700. The organization generates close to £400,000 in profit, which is then reinvested into further expansion.
Unlike most charities, Musana does not rely on Western donations for its operating budget. This approach not only promotes self-sustainability but also empowers locals to be entrepreneurial, says Andrea.
“I used to be a ‘white saviour’ and believed that the answer to helping others lied with me, but I was so wrong,” she admits.
According to Andrea, heavy reliance on foreign funding can hinder efforts to become self-sufficient and locally led, ultimately stunting long-term sustainability and innovation. She explains that in Musana’s case, staff became complacent in raising local funds, knowing that foreign money would cover most expenses.
However, in the current year alone, Musana’s Ugandan staff have generated more than £3 million, with £400,000 being profitable and reinvested back into the community. This eliminates the dependency on Western money and promotes self-sufficiency within the organization.
Andrea believes that the methods currently used by many NGOs are outdated and that the sector needs a rethink. She and Haril are excited to visit London again and share their insights at the ‘From Aid to Enterprise’ event at the Conduit, Covent Garden, on May 27. This event follows their successful trip to Parliament last year, where they challenged MPs on government aid.
To learn more about Musana and their innovative approach to overseas aid, visit their website. Registration for the free event can be found here.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/