My son needs to raise money to go to Zambia?

Question

In 18 months my son wants to go on a trip to Zambia for 4 weeks as part of a world challange run by the school.
He will be going out there as part of a group who will be working with the local community to help build a hospice and help out in general.
BUT he needs to raise (as part of the challange) £3,000 to go.
Can you please give ideas on how he can go about raising this money. He is a fit, strong teenager and would consider almost anything.
Thanks

It does seem a lot, but I have been told it covers all insurance, meals, transport, guids etc so he wont need any other monies while out there (hopefully)

I understand what you are talking about 'Fekkitaniway's' but I think he needs to go to gain in his understanding and knowledge. It would be a great expericence for him and he would learn so much.

Thanks for suggestions about a job - but he has already got one.

Answer 1

The way most people I know have raised money for similar things is by doing a Sponsored Extreme Something - like skydiving, bungee jumping or abseiling. That's one good option.

Also worth pursuing less hair-raising activities like cake sales, raffles, auctions etc. If he's a big fan of a local sports team or something similar it would be worth contacting them to see if they'd be willing to donate a prize, give money or generate some publicity for one of their loyal fans!

You might also try writing to local businesses to see if they'd be willing to chip in some money - probably a long shot but worth a try.

Oh, one other really nice idea is to organise some kind of Zambian cultural evening - cook (or order in!) some traditional Zambian references, see if you can get hold of things like textiles and music, and get your son to give a short talk about the country and his plans - just search on google and you'll get loads of good information. If you have any Zambians in the local area, definitely get in touch with them and see if they'd be willing to come along and help you out too.

Answer 2

I'm doing a world team challenge expedition to Malaysia this July, and I've nearly raised all the money- so i think i'm qualified to give advice!

Write to supermarkets to see if he and some friends can do bag packing there- put a bucket by the side and people donate money whilst you pack their bags- its really boring but really profitable- you can get upto around £100 each per day at peak times like christmas, easter new years etc. BUt be warned these get booked up quickly so start writing letters ASAP

Car washes, cake sales, auction of help- people volunteer services eg walking someones dog for a week and people bid on this.

Also try writing to companies asking for donations highlighting the charity side of the trip and do a raffle.

Something else we did was organise a year 11 prom at the end of the GCSEs- if his school doesn't already do one themselves- there were six of us and from tickets and selling professional photos at a vastly inflated price we raised £100 each- but we did use personal contacts eg my uncle is a photographer so he did it for free- but it would still be profitable- but hard work

Also he can ask for Christmas for money, world challenge do sponsered runs and abseils- check on the website for more ideas
www.world-challenge.co.uk
Hope he has a good time!

Answer 3

The WHOLE family needs to pitch in and here are some ideas:

1. Hold a family and friends "car wash" on the street by your home, or driveway, post signs up , etc. Tell people it's for your son to go to Zambia and ask for donations. Do that a few weekends, next summer or spring would be good!
2. Go to local businesses in the area. And tell them your son will be representing your town/school and going to Zambia. Ask them for donations (you would be surprised!) A dentist's office, a grocery store, restaurant, etc. Tell them what he's going to learn by going there or how he's helping out.
3. Ask the school if they plan on having any charity events for funding?
4. There are things you can do w/certain companies. For instance, Avon, you can have an Avon (cosmetics, just an example) show at the school and then keep the profits towards your cause. (You have to do some digging around).
5. Have your son start working one or two days a week, a grocery store, mowing lawns, babysitting? Have him put 2/3 of his money away.
6. Do you have things you could sell around the house on Ebay? Take to the consignment store for cash? My policy is if you've haven't used it for 6 months, get rid of it. Hold a yard sale! Those are great. I made 180$ in two days last summer with a yard sale with junk around the house and garage. Go on www.Craigslist.com and sell your items (do you have old baby items, knick knacks, new clothes you've never worn, musical instruments). I've made hundreds of dollars selling items we don't need anymore on Craigslist (it's free to advertise).
7. Tell EVERYONE! Make sure they know that all he wants for Xmas and his birthday is MONEY towards his trip. You may be amazed with 20$, 30$ here or there and how it adds up.
8. Loan your son out to family members. For cleaning their homes, doing their dishes etc. to earn the money. Trust me if I had a relative say they needed money and came and vacuumed my house or cleaned my car out for me, I'd give 'em 20 bucks!

good luck!

Answer 4

My suggestion would be to ask around. If he is old enough to work see if he can get a local part time job. If he is unable to do that he could ask neighbors and friends if they need a baby sitter, or their lawn mowed or things of that nature. You could also do a yard or rummage sale. If he has old toys in good condition you could try to sell them on Ebay. You could also put a little note in your christmas cards and ask people to sponsor your son by sending just one dollar, you could also send a flyer asking the same thing to your local neighborhood. (a young boy that wanted to go to Tibet with his Model UN club did this in my neighborhood.)

Answer 5

Do a paper round in the morning (£25 pw) and another in the evening (£25pw). Wash peoples' cars at the weekend (£4-5 per car). Offer to take peoples' dogs for a walk (£2.50 a time). Stack shelves in TESCO at weekends (£4.50 per hour).

Shall I go on?....... It's called working.

Answer 6

gosh, how about organising a charity disco and buffet with a raffle and get everyone to buy tickets- or even a ball if he is feeling adventurous. he could do some sponsored events- a fun run, half marathon etc, he could organise car washing with his friends, he could get work after school and weekends doing dog walking, babysitting, paper round, etc. he could collect stuff from everyone and do car boots, he could also contact local businesses for sponsorship- get your local paper to do a feature

Answer 7

I think if he raises this money by working saving whatever,it would probably benefit those people more if he sent the money directly to them im sure they are well aware of their needs and could help themselves if they had the means to!

Answer 8

if it is run by the school, then the school and the children should raise the money. sponsored events, sales, etc.

Answer 9

For your information, levitation is strictly science fiction.

Answer 10

get a job