Public schools have been facing significant challenges in recent years, from a lack of funding to inadequate staffing and dilapidated facilities. Despite these challenges, many public schools continue to produce successful graduates who go on to make a difference in their communities. However, while many alumni of public schools may want to give back and support their alma maters, they lose enthusiasm because:

• It can be difficult to stay connected and provide ongoing support due to factors like frequent life transitions (e.g. career changes, relocation). Consequently, they may become unaware of the persistent issues faced by the schools.
• It is arduous to support the schools when there are no established support channels that can guarantee and continuously track the impact of the support. This deters interested organizations as well.

Universities have found success in building continued support from their graduates through endowment initiatives. However, this idea is not ubiquitous in public schools. Let’s explain what endowment initiatives are before proposing a solution.

What is an Endowment Initiative?

An endowment initiative is a donation scheme that collects a pool of funds primarily from alumni and/or interested organizations (corporations, NGOs, etc.) ^{[1] [2]} . It serves a specific purpose that is consistent with the wishes of the donors. In some cases it is used by the university to ^[2]:

• Establish scholarships/fellowships,
• Provide financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds,
• Improve and maintain facilities,
• Hire more academic staff, etc.

Endowments are an integral part of universities in Western countries and the size of the institution’s endowment can be a sign of its well-being. For example, Harvard University has an endowment of about $53 billion ^[3]. But the question remains: Why can't public schools do the same? That's where Chelo comes in.

What is Chelo?

Chelo is a digital platform that provides schools with an easy way to create fundraising campaigns, track project progress, and solicit financial support from alumni and organizations. By leveraging technology, Chelo also publicly tracks project execution, enabling donors to see the tangible results of their contributions.

What's truly remarkable about Chelo is its ability to empower schools to leverage technology and community support to improve educational outcomes. Schools don’t have to struggle to create support channels from scratch. With Chelo, alumni and interested organizations can effortlessly connect and support public schools, creating a long-lasting legacy for generations to come. Chelo has the power to transform the way schools raise funds and engage with their communities, opening up a world of possibilities for educational excellence.

Success Story

The successful execution of the Motse Maria Secondary School project highlighted the effectiveness of the Chelo platform for community support. The partnership with Bolt (South Africa) helped Motse Maria Secondary School provide better education opportunities for their students, which will have a lasting impact on their lives. Watch the inspiring video below to see the smiles on the students' faces as they receive new smartboards and observe the renovated science lab, and hear firsthand from the teachers about the positive changes that have taken place at the school.

Join the Chelo community and be part of a movement to empower schools and transform the lives of students across the country. Visit our website to learn more and get involved at www.cheloapp.com

Article Sources:

[1] Investopedia. "Understanding Endowments: Types and Policies That Govern Them", https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/endowment.asp

[2] Texas A&M Foundation. "What is an Endowment", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk9XRg419w0

[3] Harvard University. "Financial Report Fiscal Year 2021", https://finance.harvard.edu/files/fad/files/fy21_harvard_financial_report.pdf