UPS COVID-19 Intervention

#Eureka_Moment

Today I have been woken out of my sleep way earlier than usual and before my alarm.

Ordinarily, I have to hear the alarm to wake up.

What woke me up was not a dream but an idea.

And they say that the world is not changed by dreamers, but by those who wake up and chase their dreams.

I have woken and now I start the journey to actualizing my idea.

This is it: As a personal initiative through Upcountry Success - UPS, I want to help parents manage their children and students while they are at home between now and January 2021 when schools are expected to resume.

I will start with this initiative in the two wards that UPS is currently operating in (Abothuguchi West Ward in Meru and Gakawa Ward in Nyeri). I will expand to more wards as I continually mobilize more resources towards my idea and intervention.

On Saturday, 4th April 2020 during his daily COVID-19 briefings, the Health CS Mutahi Kagwe called upon the youth to help the government in the fight against the virus. After the CS’s call I telephoned my two chiefs whom I work with in the above mentioned wards in matters social intervention. More than three months later, I am still waiting for their response on how UPS could help them fight COVID-19 in their respective administrative areas.

All along I have thought of numerous possible interventions but I feel what I have come up with today is the best so far and very workable. I do not need any government support or political will to begin. I will begin right away with the little resources God has endowed me with.

This is my intervention: I will be rewarding children and students each day. I will be accepting submissions on how they spend their day and I will pick the best three daily schedules based on the following criteria:

1.   No time wasted between their waking hour and sleeping hour

2.   They have the most beneficial and progressive plan for their day. For example, having activities throughout the day does not necessarily mean you used your day in the most progressive way. For example, someone who plants a banana stem will have spent their day in a better way that that one who spent the day cleaning the house.

3.   They took measures to protect themselves, the family and friends against COVID-19

4.   Their schedule was the most balanced between various activities: study, hygiene, exercise, self-care (no drugs and bad company)

5.   They have a goal(s) for the next five months before schools are open and are able to justify how each day’s activities get them closer to the big goal. The big goal should be that big thing each of the children or students does to feel that they used this year home in the most progressive way so they do not feel wasted for repeating another year in the same class.

6.   The most socially, and economically viable daily schedule.

NB: I reserve the right to determine what the best schedules for me were each day from the participants. I do not have a committee as I begin so the decisions will be purely based on my own personal discretion. I will be very fair, objective, and impartial.

The reward is Ksh 200 (USD 2) for the top three schedules each day. For those in primary, the parents/guardians will receive the monies. For those in high school and have national Identity Cards, I can send them the money directly.

Another Note: This is my money (or from partner well-wishers as time goes by) and I will not let it go down the drain. I again reserve the right to hear how any winner intends to spend the money. If I feel the plan to spend the money is wasteful, I will not give it out. Also note that there is nothing that will prevent a participant from winning multiple times. Also, as I get more supporters, the best money plans may get grants to actualize their ideas.

And this is a more serious NOTE: I will set aside each weekend to visit the winners from each week. In as much as I will be vetting the winners daily to verify their schedules and activities, I will be visiting them each weekend to again verify their situation on the ground. Sitaki vitu kwa ground zikuwe different.

This Daily Schedule Challenge for children and students will begin on Monday, 27th July 2020. So on Monday I will be giving away some Ksh 600, 200 to each of the top three verifiable schedules.

As I begin, I am using my money. But I will need to expand to keep more children and students engaged, safe, useful, and progressive.

Now, do you think this intervention is worthy?

If yes,

How many of you will support me, even if it is with Ksh 10 (USD 0.1) daily?

When you give, you have the right to follow your money to make sure it actually helps someone. Do not just give and be absent along this intervention process.

If the intervention is not worthy, what do I need to improve on, or do instead?

I will highly appreciate your views.