The first-ever Ally Funder Alliance (AFA) Forum marked a significant milestone in GEC’s commitment to locally led, girl-centered impact. Hosted at Mainsprings, this two-day convening brought together leaders from the four current AFA-funded organizations—Empowered Girls, Bright Hostel, Tumaini Open School, and SHEEO—to connect, share, and collaborate in ways that transcend location and individual program goals.
What emerged from the gathering was more than just a collection of ideas—it was the formation of a community of practice rooted in trust, peer learning, and shared values. While each organization faces its own set of challenges, the forum revealed a powerful truth: they are stronger together.
Key Highlights
🌍 Collaboration Over Isolation – Each participating organization operates within its own local context, often without formal opportunities to engage other peer leaders. The Forum created a space for open dialogue, mutual learning, and affirmation—laying the foundation for an ongoing, supportive network of changemakers.
🌍 Sustainability & Income-Generating Strategies – This session, opened by Ezekiel from Tumaini Open School, focused on practical approaches to achieving financial sustainability without compromising organizational missions. Leaders exchanged ideas for locally led, income-generating models and discussed what “sustainable growth” truly looks like for small, community-based initiatives.
🌍 Fundraising Approaches for Small NGOs The team from SHEEO shared their evolving strategy for securing both corporate and individual support. Their transparency around challenges and successes sparked deeper conversations about donor engagement, storytelling, and visibility.
🌍 Community Engagement & Cultural Perception – Both Empowered Girls and Bright Hostel offered insights into how their programs address deep-rooted community norms, particularly around girls’ education, leadership, and safety. They also discussed their mentorship and life skills programs, and how they’ve worked to build trust with parents and local leaders.
🌍 Strategic Planning for the Future of AFA – In a collaborative session, participants reflected on what they need from AFA moving forward and offered clear, collective feedback. Topics included future funding models, shared measurement practices, and interest in joint programming or co-learning opportunities.
🌀 Moving Forward: Momentum, Trust, and Collective Action
The forum was about more than project updates or best practices—it was about relationship-building. For many, this was the first time they had met others doing similar work, facing similar challenges, and dreaming similar dreams. The peer validation that emerged was transformative.
As the forum came to a close, participants expressed a renewed sense of solidarity. Plans are already underway for virtual check-ins and exploring future in-person gatherings that deepen this sense of alliance.
This event was not just a conference—it was a launchpad for collective action, a manifestation of what allyship truly looks like, and a reflection of what GEC envisioned when forming the Ally Funder Alliance.
Stay tuned for more updates on the AFA’s next steps!