Hilde Back Education Fund

A Kenyan Charity Educating Bright Children from Poor Families

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HBEF

WHO FUNDS HBEF?

Since inception, HBEF has been mainly funded by contributions from the members of the Board, with occasional support from well-wishers who feel touched by the plight of the charity beneficiaries. HBEF welcomes donations from everywhere to enable more needy children get education.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO FUND A CHILD IN A YEAR THROUGH HBEF?

For a child to go through a year of secondary school in Kenya, he or she needs about 40,000 Kenya Shillings (about 45 USD a month or 540 USD annually).

WHAT HAS BECOME OF HBEF BENEFICIARIES?

Many are still going on with their studies, but some have completed secondary school and joined public universities or institutions of higher learning. HBEF tries to bring together its past beneficiaries with current beneficiaries in order to encourage the younger ones to push ahead with their education.

We aim at creating role models. Many of HBEF have promised to help support education initiatives once they start earning, as a way of giving back to the society. HBEF encourages this.

DOES HBEF BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THE FILM "A SMALL ACT"?

No. While the making of the film has been inspired by the story and work of HBEF, the film and HBEF are two separate initiatives. It is hoped, however, that the publicity generated by the film might inspire more people to give more generously to HBEF and thereby enable HBEF to reach out to more deserving Kenyan children.

The sponsorship by HBEF involves a long process during which the applicant’s history, family background and academic performance are meticulously scrutinized. HBEF engages the community leaders and the social workers to get all the necessary information regarding applicants.

It could be that a child is poor but not a good performer, or vice versa. HBEF’s objective is to support gifted children from needy families, and deals with those who fall in this category. Of course there are many eligible children who miss HBEF sponsorship because the organisation does not have enough funds to support all those who apply.

WILL MY DONATION TO HBEF BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

Yes. HBEF, through it's US-based partner, Creative Visions Foundation (CVF), will issue a tax receipt for all donations received. click here: http://www.creativevisions.org/projects/hilde.html

HOW DO I DONATE TO HBEF?

It is easy. Simply click on the donate button on the upper left colunm on this page.

CAN ONE MAKE A ONE TIME DONATION OR DOES ONE HAVE TO SUPPORT ONE CHILD THROUGH SCHOOL?

HBEF encourages its supporters to donate in whichever way they wish. If one wants to give a one-time donation, HBEF will explain the purpose to which the particular donation has been put. If one wants to be assigned a child, HBEF first seek to know the level of commitment of the potential donor and then identify a child with the appropriate profile.