(Pictured above, left to right, are Grace Kwamboka, Harison Wamani, Simon Muya, Peter Masuman, Maryann Wangari, Cynthia Wanjiku, Nelson Munyiri)
MATCHING GRANT: Your contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Dreamfish board from now until end of campaign, up to $3,000.
About People & Project
From August to November our team will build new online community technology for Dreamfish, a global peer development network connecting entrepreneurs and individuals working together to realize their dreams. Dreamfish is the first internet-based global cooperative, co-owned by hundreds of women entrepreneurs, youth entrepreneurs and professionals in 26 countries. Our project team consists of seven youth from Nairobi, Grant, Shiku, Tiff and other Dreamfish co-op owners.
To facilitate Grant Bowman, open source community leader, will travel from California to Dreamfish Place Nairobi, Kenya to manage the project team. The team includes recent Kenyan graduates web developers and designers from Nairobits, an empowering web development training program for youth from Nairobi.
![team sharing a laptop]()
Grace, Cynthia and Nelson on IRC (Internet Relay Chat), using Tiff's computer
Our Story - Person-to-Person development
Imagine three entrepreneurs. Imagine a young mother living in a rural village in Kenya who wants to grow an income-generating project for her community. However she lacks supportive people around her to believe in her, mentor her, and connect her with coworkers and clients. Imagine an entrepreneur coach living in Turkey who has a dream to help rural women entrepreneurs succeed. Imagine a senior IT professional in San Francisco whose dream is to make a lasting impact with his Free / Open Source community leadership skills in a developing country but lacks access to the right project. Your contribution to our community technology will help these entrepreneur peers work together across barriers and differences to realize their dreams.
![mfarm]()
You will help Dreamfish members to connect, learn and work on projects with people around the world.
Many Dreamfish members come from the streets and deserts of global society. We are creative, enabled with diverse skills and motivated. We have operated with tenacity, generous sweat and faith. We
have worked toward a dream;
A world where people can work together like
humans with love and respect. A world where all people can meet their needs and flourish.
![Grant Bowman]()
Our teams collaborate using the web, voip, phone, and in person meetings. We work in cafes and art studios. Some work late at night after day
jobs. Some of us have never met in person yet we share our love for humanity.
Grant Bowman brings 20+ years of professional Internet experience to the team having served in roles such as IT Manager, Consultant and Sr. Systems Engineer in the environments of Bank of America, Adobe, SuSE Linux, Inc., several startups and open source projects. He is a founder of OpenCanopi providing Intelligent workstations to schools, libraries and community learning centers. Mr. Bowman is a contributor to the One Laptop Per Child San Francisco group, is a recognized Ubuntu Member and a Fedora Project Ambassador.
How will we use the funds?
We'll use your contribution on the following:
- Seven (7) laptops for youth - Laptop donations may be better! Shipping costs will be taken into consideration. Talk to grantbow [at] dreamfish [dot] com.
- Training youth in Open Source community and social media practices
- Designing for first-time web and mobile users
- Integrating and customizing open technology
- Workshops and coaching to help entrepreneurs learn technology
- Room and meals at Dreamfish Place Nairobi
- Bus fare in Nairobi for youth to get to work
- Internet connectivity
- Airfare for Grant to fly SFO-NBO
What will you get?
You can choose among the fantastic perks to the right. All contributors will receive a link from the About Project page on our new site.
How do I pay?
Click on "Contribute" button on upper right. You will be given options. If possible, please use the PayPal option on check out. You can use your credit card via Paypal. We prefer this method because funds are disbursed immediately for use. If you choose Credit Card or Check, the funds are held until end of campaign.
If you don't have a bank account, you can use MPesa, a reliable payment system in East Africa. Send your contribution on your mobile to Dreamfish +254 705 185 020
Is this contribution tax deductible?
No, rather you can choose the perks listed on the right. Dreamfish is a cooperative, co-owned by members, incorporated in California, US. It is not a 501c3.
What if we go beyond our fundraising goal?
![dreamfishy circuit board mobile]()
There is no cap on
the amount of funds we are raising. All additional funds will be used to enhance this project and/or for Dreamfish related activities.
What happens if we don't raise our goal?
All reservations and rewards will be honored. We will get all the funds raised
one way or another. The incentive to meet our goal is an extra $300. Indiegogo charges 4% more if you miss your campaign's target)
When will you receive your reward?
As soon as we reach our funding
deadline, we will promptly get rewards to
you.
Additional ways you can help
- Share - Share this page by liking it on Facebook, tweeting about it and emailing people about it.
- Talk - Join us using IRC on Freenode, channel #dreamfish If you want to talk to use or help, just let us know and we'll swim, swim! You can /msg grantbow or email grantbow [at] dreamfish [dot] com
- Join - Become a Lifetime Dreamfish member. The one time fee is $25. With your profile, tell us how you are "doin' the
dream!"
- Build - If you are a developer or experienced with online communities, get started here.
