January 15th, 2025
Exciting News:
Direct Relief Distribution is Underway!
In the last five days, our Data Collection Task Force has digitized 6547 names from the records that section leaders supplied. These records include a name and phone number, and in some cases a lane number.
To collect further information, including damages and mobile money verification, our team is connecting with every individual over phone calls or in person in the market.
We conducted our first in-Market verification process today, completing files for 143 people in only 2.5 hours. Being in the Market allows us to collect information from members who may have otherwise gone undocumented.
Today we distributed GHS 485,000 to 201 individuals including tailors, upcyclers, secondhand retailers, food vendors and water sellers. More is coming.
In addition, on Monday we distributed GHS 50,000 to the Kantamanto Upcyclers Association.
With our previous support as a grantee before the fire, this organisation was established to unite the various upcyclers bringing Kantamanto to the world. Association members meet regularly on our roof. Several members have participated in our programs including OWO School and the IFM exchange, and we provide showroom space and funding for external sales events such as the first Vintage Up Ghana Festival.
Considering our close relationship and the varying degrees to which individual members were impacted (some lost their space and equipment, whereas others lost materials), we agreed on sending a lump-sum amount to the Association to ensure that as a group members can direct funding to the immediate priorities of the collective.
We are grateful to members of the Kantamanto Upcyclers Association who have also given their time to support our broader data collection efforts to help us get direct relief to individuals across the Market.
Help Us Reach Everyone!
Our goal is to distribute direct relief to all 10,000+ individuals impacted by the fire.
This is in addition to supporting the rebuild effort, which we will provide a separate update on.
We have committed an initial $1Million USD and are actively fundraising to ensure we can provide this direct relief holistically in a meaningful amount. You can donate to supplement our efforts:
Momo: +233(0)559852625
Donorbox: kantamanto.theor.org
Please note that all donations received at this time will be directed to this relief effort and will not overlap with our programmatic funding. 100% of funds contributed will go directly to the Kantamanto Community in support of the relief efforts.
Please reach out to giving@theor.org if you would like to make a larger donation or if you would like to commit to matching donations.