FractionForFuture — Policy Plan 2025

Who We Are

FractionForFuture (FFF) is an independent foundation built on a simple conviction: when people, animals, and the environment thrive together, communities become resilient. We support small-scale, community-driven initiatives that respond to local realities and are rooted in dignity, ownership, and long-term use. Guided by the One Health principle, we connect human, animal, and environmental well-being in everything we do.

What We Do

We begin by listening. Observation, dialogue, and participation form the basis of our approach. We engage with local communities, teachers, students, farmers, and church leaders—to co-create solutions that reflect their priorities. We avoid pre-packaged answers; instead, we start small, pilot, learn, adapt, and only then expand. This keeps projects relevant, realistic, and community-owned, and ensures they are visible in daily life: children play safely, farmers feed their families, and girls attend school with dignity.

Our Vision

Real change begins by listening. Our vision is to empower communities to lead their own solutions—starting small, testing together, and growing step by step. Guided by One Health, we ensure every project strengthens human, animal, and environmental well-being, building futures that are sustainable, owned, and lasting.

FractionForFuture – Project Lifecycle (Step-by-Step)

0) Guiding Principles (apply at every step)

• Listen first. Local communities know their culture, landscape, and constraints best.
• Start small. Pilot, learn, adapt, then scale.
• One Health lens. Every project should contribute to human, animal, and/or environmental health.
• Local-first & no middlemen. Work directly with trusted local craftspeople and suppliers to ensure every euro is used effectively.
• Transparency & accountability. Clear roles, written agreements, documented spending, and shared learning.

 

1) Community Intake & Problem Definition

• A local community member (e.g., teacher, pastor, parent, farmer) presents a concrete problem or need.
• We conduct a short intake: context, urgency, who benefits, current constraints, any prior attempts, and community readiness.
• Draft a one-page Problem Statement (what, who, why now, desired outcome, rough scale).

2) Eligibility & Board Review

• Assess fit with mission and One Health, community ownership potential, risk level, and capacity (time, budget, partners).
• Board discusses and decides whether to proceed to co-design or to pause/decline with reasons.

3) Decision & Written Communication

• Communicate the decision in writing to the requester (accept/pending/decline).
• If accepted, confirm a joint planning process, expectations, and preliminary timeline.

4) Joint Kick-off & Co-Design (with the community)

• Hold a planning meeting with local stakeholders to co-create the Project Plan.
• The plan includes:
  • Objectives & outcomes (human/animal/environmental health links explicit).
  • Scope & boundaries (what is and isn’t included).
  • Baseline (what exists now) and simple indicators to measure change.
  • Roles & responsibilities (community, FFF, schools, church, suppliers).
  • Timeline & milestones.
  • Sustainability & ownership (operations, maintenance, who holds keys, replenishment).
  • Risk & mitigation (water/soap for AFRIpads, climate/weather for farms, etc.).
  • Future plan with a forward-looking budget for possible scale-up (so expansion is not an afterthought).
  • M&E light (surveys, attendance/usage logs, photo documentation).

For building projects, add: a simple Building Plan, drawings if relevant, and a detailed Bill of Quantities (BoQ) listing materials, quantities, and specifications.

5) Procurement Strategy (Local-first, No Middlemen)

• Translate the BoQ into a supplier shortlist (hardware stores, craftspeople, fundis) from our local network.
• Obtain itemized quotes; compare price, quality, reliability, and delivery time.
• Choose local suppliers/fundis directly (no brokers), documenting the rationale.

6) Contracting & Site Governance

• Use written agreements for all parties. Non-negotiables are explicit, signed, and understood:
  • Fixed-price contract paid in defined tranches (or once, when appropriate).
  • Head fundi system (for building works). Appoint a respected Head Fundi who supervises the team and disburses wages from the fixed price.
  • Attendance & conduct rules (e.g., repeated lateness leads to exclusion).
  • Meals/refreshments policy during workdays, to avoid confusion.
  • Change-order rule: any extra costs must be pre-approved in writing; otherwise, they are at the contractor’s cost.
  • Safety & safeguarding basics on site.
• Community and FFF representatives co-sign the plan and rules.

7) Pre-Start Checklist

• Materials availability verified; logistics arranged.
• Permits/permissions (school/church/local authority) confirmed.
• Site readiness (storage, security, water access if needed).
• Baseline photos and documentation captured.
• Payment method and documentation flow agreed (receipts, delivery notes).

8) Implementation & Community Engagement

• Head Fundi leads day-to-day execution; FFF does regular check-ins (on-site/remote).
• Keep a daily/weekly log (progress, issues, materials used, workforce attendance).
• Organize light community activities (e.g., sports or student involvement) to keep the process positive and inclusive.
• If scope changes are proposed, follow the change-order rule (written approval before action).

9) Financial Control & Documentation

• Use itemized receipts and delivery notes for all purchases.
• Match payments to milestones (or to verified delivery/completion).
• Store all evidence (photos, receipts, signed forms) in a shared project folder for auditability.
• Prefer direct payments to suppliers/fundis; avoid unnecessary cash handling. 

10) Quality Assurance & Issue Resolution

• Inspect work against BoQ/specs.
• Keep a snag list and fix items before handover.
• If performance problems arise (e.g., repeated lateness, poor workmanship), invoke the contract rules (warnings, replacement, or exclusion).

11) Completion, Training & Handover

• Conduct a final inspection with the community.
• Provide basic training (use, cleaning, maintenance).
• Hand over keys/ownership formally (sign a simple Handover Note).
• Record the asset in a basic asset register (what, where, who responsible).

12) Pilot Phase (Start Small, Learn Fast)

• After completion, run a defined pilot period (e.g., 3–6 months) to test real-life use.
• Collect light data (surveys, usage logs, teacher records, user feedback).
• Identify what to adjust (e.g., add washing station for AFRIpads, tweak feeding schedules for farms).

13) Review with the Community

• Share pilot findings locally; listen first to user feedback.
• Decide together whether to adapt, continue as is, or pause.
• Update the Future Plan and projected budget based on real-world learning.

14) Scale-up Decision & Funding

• If the pilot is successful and the community wants growth, prepare a scale-up plan: scope, costs, timeline, partners.
• Seek targeted funding (donors, schools, church institutions, grants, microcredit for farmer participation where relevant).
• Keep the pace realistic: expand only as fast as quality, ownership, and resources allow.

15) Long-Term Sustainability & Maintenance

• Put in place a simple maintenance routine (who does what, how often, and with what funds).
• Encourage local responsibility (e.g., small contributions, micro-repayments, volunteer rosters).
• Schedule periodic check-ins (e.g., every 6–12 months) to catch issues early and support continuity.

16) Close-Out & Transparency

• Publish a short public summary: goals, outcomes, photos, basic finances, and lessons learned.
• Thank local partners, fundis, suppliers, and supporters.
• Feed insights into an internal playbook to keep improving the model.

Special Notes (Building Projects)

• Head Fundi is essential for order and respect on site. He coordinates fundis beneath him and manages payment distribution from the fixed price.
• Strict written arrangements (attendance, meals, safety, quality, change-order) prevent scope creep and disputes.
• Fixed-price + BoQ with pre-start material checks helps avoid “surprise” extras.

Special Notes (Non-Building Projects, e.g., AFRIpads)

• Pair distribution with infrastructure (e.g., washing space, soap) and awareness/training.
• Monitor usage and absenteeism data; adapt quickly (e.g., address leakage/irritation issues).
• Plan for replenishment or scale only after the pilot confirms proper uptake.

Why This Works

• It operationalizes our slogan: “Start with a fraction to build a sustainable future.”
• It centers listening and adaptation as the only path to durability.
• It aligns each project with One Health and community ownership.
• It protects budgets via direct local procurement, fixed pricing, and clear rules.
• It delivers measurable results, then grows responsibly.

Governance

FractionForFuture was founded in November 2024 and is led by a voluntary board:

• Thomas Schyns — Chairperson
• Celeste van Hilten — Treasurer
• Eva Schyns — Secretary
• Lieve Bokeloh — Board Member

Board members receive no financial compensation, except reimbursement for direct costs. Volunteers and project staff may be compensated when directly contributing to outcomes, under clear guidelines that define when and to what extent compensation is appropriate. (Note: the earlier label suggesting an “agriculture specialist” role for Celeste has been removed.)

Partners

Our strength lies in collaboration with organizations and communities that share our values. Current partners include: AFRIpads Foundation, A Smile From Kenya, Biblionef, BeNe Gambia, Mooi Foundation, Zusters, Soroptimisten Wageningen, and local communities in Marafa. We distinguish between formal partners (e.g., AFRIpads, Biblionef) and community collaborators (teachers, farmers, students, parents) to ensure clarity of roles and expectations.

Finances & Accountability

We welcome support from individuals, companies, schools, and institutions whose values align with ours: respect for human dignity, commitment to sustainability, and community ownership with transparency. All donations are used responsibly—100% of project funds go to implementation. Annual reports are published for accountability (the 2024 report is being finalized for publication). We maintain itemized documentation and simple, verifiable reporting on outcomes and spending.

Closing Statement

The world needs patience, respect, and a listening ear. That is our commitment. We start small. We listen, test, and grow together—always guided by the One Health principle. Because every fraction creates a future.

Appendix A — Project Portfolio (Completed, Ongoing, and Planned)

All project summaries below are relocated from the main text for readability; content and intent remain the same.

1) AFRIpads Project — Dignity and Access for Schoolgirls

Pillar: Human Health
Objective 2025: Enable 60 schoolgirls in Marafa to attend school consistently during menstruation through sustainable sanitary solutions, stigma reduction, and a scalable model.
Baseline: In 2024, teachers at Kotayo Comprehensive Secondary School reported frequent absenteeism due to lack of sanitary products. FFF first distributed 800 disposable pads for immediate relief—helpful but not sustainable.
Key Results so far:

• Jan 2025: 60 reusable AFRIpads kits distributed.
• Six-month follow-up: all 60 girls reported continued use; >80% felt more secure attending school.
• Feedback highlighted satisfaction and challenges (soap availability, washing, occasional leakage/irritation).
  Next Steps:
• Construct washing facility with water and soap by end-2026 (budget €5,000).
• Annual awareness sessions led by trusted local female trainers.
• Expand distribution to ~400 girls by 2027, informed by pilot learning.
  Partners/Owners: FFF (initiator/funder); teacher Solomon Lusasi (local coordinator); Kotayo Comprehensive Secondary School; AFRIpads Foundation; A Smile From Kenya; schoolgirls as active co-creators.
  Timeline: 2024 disposables; Jan 2025 pilot; Mar–Jun 2025 surveys; 2026 washing room; 2027 expansion.
  Budget & Financing: Initial kits €272 (Christmas donations 2024–25); training €100–200; washing room €5,000 (planned 2026); expansion kits ~€1,600; future funding via church institutions, recurring sponsors, social campaigns, NGOs.
  Risks & Mitigation: Water/soap (infrastructure); cultural taboos (local trainers); misuse/non-use (surveys/peer support); over-scaling (pilot-first).
  Monitoring: Student surveys; teacher absenteeism records; facility usage reports; awareness feedback.

2) Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Farm — From Waste to Feed

Pillar: Animal Health
Objective 2026: Develop a sustainable, community-based BSF farm to produce affordable, protein-rich animal feed while reducing organic waste and import dependence.
Baseline: Pig farmers rely on costly imported wheat bran; unmanaged organic waste accumulates.
Planned Outcomes: Phase-1 pilot producing feed for 15–20 pigs; local youth trained in BSF rearing; Phase-2 expansion with microcredit-based farmer participation; reduced costs and better animal nutrition.
Timeline: Mid-2026 pilot build; 2026–2027 training/monitoring; 2027 Phase-2 expansion.
Budget: Phase 1 €4,689.98; Phase 2 €6,209.93; Total €11,399.91.
Financing: Sponsors; microcredit contributions in Phase 2 to foster dignity, responsibility, and ownership.
Risks & Mitigation: Technical knowledge (expert training); low adoption (ownership model); infrastructure challenges (stepwise build).
Scaling: Long-term, replicable model; potential integration with other circular methods.

3) Mandazi Action Day — Student-Led Fundraising

Pillars: Human | Environmental | Animal Health
Objective 2025: Engage students in the Netherlands to raise funds and awareness while learning social innovation.
Baseline: Before 2025, no structured fundraising at Inholland supported Marafa.
Key Results: April 15, 2025 launch; 14 Business Innovation students participated; funds raised; strong institutional support from Inholland.
Next Steps: Integrate Action Day with Marafa survey analysis; students design a follow-up project using funds raised; link participation to learning outcomes (Collaborating for Change, Organising Projects).
Financing: Local fundraising; potential SIF grant €8,736.
Scaling: Replicable model for awareness, learning, and fundraising; potential expansion to other universities.

4) School Desk Project — Education with Dignity

Pillar: Human Health
Objective 2025: Provide Grade-7 students at St. Joseph the Worker Primary School with proper desks and storage.
Baseline: The introduction of Grade-7 in Kenya created shortages; many students lacked desks.
Key Results: 30 new desks (with chairs/lockers) built by Malindi craftsman Mzee Famau; delivered before the school year; documented by Joe Khatsika.
Timeline: Feb 2025 request; ~2-week construction; Mar 2025 delivery.
Budget: KSh 127,500 (≈ €850).
Financing: FFF donor network.
Scaling: Completed project; replicable upon future need.

5) Marafa Community Survey Project — Listening Before Acting

Pillars: Human | Animal | Environmental Health
Objective 2025–2026: Collect insights to guide future projects.
Baseline: Prior projects were based on observed needs rather than systematic data.
Key Results: 23 Feb 2025—100 surveys (English/Swahili) across church and school communities; urgent needs surfaced (sanitation, healthcare, food security, education, animal welfare, infrastructure); meeting held with Father Peter Ndegwato translate findings into possible projects; Inholland students linked to follow-up.
Timeline: Feb 2025 surveys; Mar–Aug 2025 translation/analysis; Sep 2025–Feb 2026 student project design.
Budget: Minimal for collection; volunteer-supported analysis; future budgets depend on selected theme, with potential SIF €8,736.
Risks & Mitigation: Representation (broad distribution); scope creep (focus on one priority); slow progress (six-month student timeline).
Scaling: Survey is a guideline, not a foundation; repeatable in future years to adapt to changing needs.

6) Sports Field — Moving Toward Well-Being

Pillar: Human Health
Objective 2024: Provide children at St. Joseph the Worker Primary School with a safe, inclusive sports facility.
Baseline: 144 children had no structured play area.
Key Results: Terrain leveled; football goals, volleyball nets, climbing structures installed; field used daily.
Financing: Mooi Foundation (€1,000), Zusters (€1,000), Soroptimisten Wageningen (€1,000); WhyDonate campaign.
Scaling: Completed; no immediate expansion planned.

7) Irene’s Pig Farm — Better Care, Better Food

Pillars: Animal | Human Health
Objective 2024: Transform Irene’s pig farm into a model for animal welfare, food security, and training.
Baseline: 14 pigs malnourished; poor drainage and hygiene; disease risk elevated.
Key Results: New stables with sloped floors and drainage; structured feeding program with vet Patrick Mweni and specialist Celeste van Hilten; farmer training in care, prevention, and nutrition; pig waste integrated into the Demonstration Farm as fertilizer.
Financing: Irene Husson €2,000; WhyDonate contributions.
Scaling: Farm operational; future breeding plans and BSF integration considered.

8) Book Shipment — Knowledge Without Borders

Pillar: Human Health
Objective 2024: Reduce educational inequality by distributing books to underserved communities.
Baseline: 800 books collected via Maastricht University, Boekhandel Dominicanen, Bibliotheek Centre Céramique, and individual donors.
Key Results: Due to customs/geopolitical issues, books were not sent to Kenya; 400 medical books shipped to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (The Gambia); 400 fiction/non-fiction books sent to schools/libraries in Sint Maarten; selections matched to recipient needs.
Financing: WhyDonate; Biblionef co-sponsorship.
Scaling: One-time project; no further expansion planned.

9) Demonstration Farm — Growing Food, Conserving Soil

Pillars: Environmental | Human Health
Objective 2023–2024: Establish a demonstration farm for sustainable agriculture and food security.
Baseline: Farmers face harsh climate and limited knowledge of sustainable methods.
Key Results: 1,000 fruit trees planted; efficient irrigation installed; farmers trained in soil conservation and crop diversification; fruit production achieved within six months—showing what’s possible even in difficult conditions.
Owners/Partners: Father Peter Ndegwa (founder); local workers (maintenance); FFF (support/coordination).
Scaling: Ongoing model for training; potential additions include permaculture and agroforestry.

Appendix Notes

• Each project connects explicitly to One Health and follows the FFF Project Lifecycle: listen → co-design → fixed, transparent execution → pilot → adapt → scale (when the community is ready).
• Budgets are lean, procurement is direct, and Head Fundi governance is used where relevant to retain quality, respect, and cost control.
• Monitoring is simple and local: surveys, logs, photos, and short public summaries ensure accountability and learning.