Organisational Capacity Strengthening
- 6 August 2022
Most organisations, including HER Fund, share the same frustration: resources are limited. The Resource Mobilisation Workshop was a perfect opportunity for participants to collaborate with one another, brainstorm new ideas, and explore practical solutions to the challenges they face. The workshop was also HER Fund’s first activity providing simultaneous interpretation of Cantonese, English, and Hong Kong Sign Language, and it was heartening to see the community come together and share knowledge from different perspectives, including women’s groups, gender groups, migrant workers, the Deaf community, carers, workers, and community development groups.
The workshop was facilitated by Debby Cheng, a project manager from Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (JCDISI) of PolyU, who began by discussing the advantages and challenges of resource mobilisation from personal and organisational perspectives. One of the biggest obstacles identified by participants was communication with foundations, and Debby suggested that summarising an organisation’s work on one page could make it easier for foundations to understand their mission and support their cause.
Participants also discussed the difficulties of mobilising resources when their topics are not popular and funding sources are limited. However, James, the founder of Rolling Books and One Seventh Bookshops, shared his personal experience of successfully using indirect resources to provide services to schools, even though they did not have direct funding available. Debby added that although some projects may not result in immediate success, they are still worth trying, as they can provide an opportunity for an organisation to grow.
The Resource Mobilisation Workshop was a remarkable event that brought together a diverse group of individuals and organisations to share their knowledge and experience on how to reach their limitless mission with limited resources. By developing capacities and providing companionship to our partners, HER Fund is committed to creating a more sustainable and supportive community of organisers in the long run.
Event Outcomes:
- The Resource Mobilisation Workshop brought together 20 participants from 16 organisations to share knowledge and experience on how to mobilise resources to reach their mission.
- Participants brainstormed new ideas and explored practical solutions to communicate more effectively with stakeholders to understand their mission and support their cause.
