Harambee (meaning to ‘all pull together’ in Swahili) is an important aspect of Kenyan culture. Indeed,
anyone who has spent time in East Africa is familiar with the importance of fundraising events which are
considered a social institution. Ranging from informal one-day events to established, multi-day affairs, Harambee gatherings are organized by individuals seeking to raise funds for unexpected or difficult to meet expenses such as funerals, emergency medical treatments, weddings or school fees. Most Kenyan adults participate in several fundraisers each year to raise money for such causes and the ‘Harambee Spirit’ is widely encouraged to pull together ideas, time and resources for the community.

M-Changa, founded in 2011, is a digital platform which enables users to conduct Harambee fundraising online. The platform aims not only to simplify the fundraising process for fundraisers who might seek to avoid the upfront investments of time and money required for a traditional Harambee; it also seeks to broaden the potential base of donors by harnessing the network effects that inevitably develop on online platforms.