Fundraising can often feel like an overwhelming task, especially when you’re trying to reach a significant goal on your own. However, when you choose to fundraise as a team, you unlock a world of benefits as you collaborate with others in your group, boosting motivation and creativity to drive your fundraising efforts.
Ruby, a volunteer who travelled with her school to Ghana this summer, shared how she and her classmates worked together to reach their fundraising target.
Ghanaval
To kick off our fundraising, we held a ‘Ghanaval’ (Ghana-themed festival) at our school Christmas markets. From face painting and fair games to selling items donated through connecting with local businesses, we raised over £500 in five hours and spread our message about our trip to the community.
24-hour sport marathon
Another one of our most profitable fundraisers was our 24-hour sports marathon. As a team, we completed 24 different sports over 24 hours, ranging from 4 am cricket to finishing with swimming. Our GoFundMe raised over £1,200.
We did need another 24 hours to somewhat recover! Not only did this help with raising money, but it also allowed the group to connect deeply before we arrived in Ghana.
Car Wash
During our free periods, we organised a rotating schedule to wash staff vehicles, with different groups taking turns each day. Washing nearly a car a day, we raised enough funds to fill eight suitcases with supplies to donate to the school.
Reaching out to local businesses
While we had several strong fundraising ideas that helped us exceed our initial goals, we found an impactful approach to fundraising was connecting with local businesses. Personally, I reached out by email and phone to over 50 companies that I believed could support my trip. Though many did not respond, the four that did made a significant difference.
From pitching to larger businesses for direct sponsorships to receiving generous donations from smaller companies, stepping outside my comfort zone and staying persistent helped me reach my target goal.
Donations received from a local company.
Staff vs Staff football game
As our final instalment drew close, we decided to organise our school’s first-ever staff vs staff football game to boost our fundraising efforts. Our initial attempt, sending out a Google Form, resulted in only ten ticket purchases, and that’s when we knew we had to start thinking outside the box.
We handed over team selection to the students, set up pre-game photoshoots/interviews and even created our own DJ booth to build excitement. After covering our school with our posters and spreading the word, ticket sales soared, reaching full capacity and raising over £1,000.
This became our most successful fundraiser, bringing together parents, students and staff for an unforgettable day. The event was such a hit that it’s now officially part of the school calendar for future fundraising.
My trip to Ghana has changed my perspective entirely. Teaching in a school so different from my own, staying in a completely new and interesting culture and raising the money myself only made me realise how often we take things for granted. These experiences have not only taught me resilience and gratitude but have also shown me how happiness can be found in the smallest of things. I am truly grateful to African Adventures for organising this transforming experience, and I will definitely return in the future.
