A Running Start Foundation
This entry has been selected as a finalist in the
Sport for a Better World competition.
We are one of the first non-profits to utilize the immense running talent in East Africa to improve the lives of youngsters there.
About You
Location
Project Street Address
Project City
Project Province/State
Project Postal/Zip Code
Project Country
Your idea
Sport
Running
Year the initative began (yyyy)
2004
YouTube Upload
Project URL (include HTTP://)
Positioning of your initiative on the mosaic diagram:
Which of these barriers is the primary focus of your work?
Few effective tools for personal improvement
Which of the principles is the primary focus of your work?
Include through sport
If you believe some other barrier or principle should be included in the mosaic, please describe it and how it would affect the positioning of your initiative in the mosaic:
In terms of barriers, we see the lack of infrastructure and coaching in particular to be a bigger obstacle to youth development through sport. In terms of principles, we are striving to provide an education and financial independence through sport.
Name Your Project
A Running Start Foundation
Describe Your Idea
We are one of the first non-profits to utilize the immense running talent in East Africa to improve the lives of youngsters there.
Innovation
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence?
We are one of the first non-profits to utilize the immense running talent in East Africa to improve the lives of youngsters there.
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field?
Several worthy non-profits in Africa use sports and games to give impoverished youngsters a chance to enjoy themselves and work together as a team. We utilize sports in a new and fundamentally different way - by identifying a smaller segment of very talented students & athletes and harnessing their gift in a way that permanently changes their lives, by securing them a U.S. university education or a career in athletics. This model is well-suited to East Africa, which has by far the greatest concentration of running talent in the world. To date, no non-profit has tried to harness this natural resource - this is the mission of A Running Start Foundation.
What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change?
There is endless demand for elite African athletes and athletic scholarship candidates, this is not the barrier. The challenge is identifying a large enough pool of talent that a central "clearing-house" can be created. We've done so, and hence sports agents & U.S. university coaches can and do reach out to us for athletes and students. The other barrier is the lack of awareness of the power of sports in very remote but talent-rich corners of Africa.
Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing?
We can do three main things to alter the life of a talented young African runner. First, we fund coaches who identify and develop the next generation of Olympic athletes. We sponsor many training camps throughout East Africa for youth/junior-level runners. We then help them secure agents and a career in athletics - one victory on the European Grand Prix circuit and a young athlete can purchase a home for their parents. Second, we sponsor local clubs that identify and assist runners who are also performing well in school. We offer them SAT prep and other assistance, and ultimately help them secure then full athletic scholarships to U.S. universities. Third, we fund the local foundations established by the athletic superstars in East Africa in order to pay secondary school fees of talented youngsters.
How do you plan to grow your innovation?
There is significant demand for talented students and athletes. As our funding grows, we can bring more coaches into the organization, fund more camps and establish scholarship clubs outside of Kenya that can identify and nurture students who are eligible for U.S. scholarships.
Impact
Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact.
We fundamentally alter the lives of the talented few, and enable them to support their families, give back to their communities and inspire others.
What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries?
In terms of our first goal - developing young athletes - we are now housing, feeding or coaching about 300 youngsters (aged 14-20) in East Africa. Four of the top 10 runners in the world come out of these camps. Note that government or commercial funding for youth/junior-level athletes is effectively nil. In terms of our second goal - helping student/athletes secure scholarships - our projects in 2007 will send about 40 youngsters to the U.S. on full 4-year scholarships. On average, we can secure a young Kenyan a full U.S. scholarship for less than $500 - the demand from U.S. coaches is huge. In terms of our third goal - using sports to assist primary school kids - we recently rebuilt a rural primary school in Ethiopia and in 2008 we intend to donate to the Foundations of Kenyan running stars, with the money going to pay school fees for talented kids.
How many people have you served directly?
We estimate that about 500 kids have passed through the various training camps that we fund. About 75 young Kenyans have secured full U.S. athletic scholarships since we began funding these programs and we've helped over 100 with their SAT prep.
How many people have you served indirectly?
When a young East African earns money racing on the international circuit, or comes to the U.S. on a full scholarship, they usually assist their extended families. So, we estimate that perhaps 1,000 have benefited indirectly from these initiatives. We estimate that over 3,000 young Ethiopian kids benefited from the refurbishment of the rural primary school we donated to.
Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation?
When a talented Kenyan high school graduate secures a place at a U.S. university, we'd like to think that the university community benefits from the presence of this African in their class and on their athletic team. Back in Africa, the community celebrates not only when a "son or daughter" secures an education abroad, but the country celebrates when one of their elite athletes succeeds.
What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact?
The limited supply of talented athletes is one barrier, although the talent pool in East Africa is almost endless. The other barrier is the availability of qualified and honest African coaches. Finally, in the U.S., we are limited by the number of university coaches interested in African athletes, although with the scholarship funding so plentiful, this is not yet an issue.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)?
U.S. runners helping African runners - this is our fundraising goal. In early 2007 we were admitted to the charity programs of several major U.S. races, including the NYC Marathon, Chicago Marathon, etc. The races give us gauranteed race slots, which we give to runners seeking admission (often after registration has closed) in return for a minimum donation to the Foundation. The runners, in turn, seek donations from family & friends, using our online fundraising tool. In 2007, about 100 runners from across the U.S. joined our teams, and are expected to raise over $75,000. The program has been wildly popular - our slots for the Chicago Marathon sold out in less than 2 weeks.
If known, provide information on your finances and organization.
In 2007 we expect to raise about $75,000, all of which will be used to fund projects in 2008. In 2008, we are on target (given our success in 2007 and our inclusion in several new races) to raise over $125,000. The organization still consists of one U.S.-based individual - Karl Keirstead - who manages the Foundation, as well as several volunteer individuals based in East Africa. The use of the internet for fundraising by our charity running members greatly reduces the overhead required.
What is the potential demand for your innovation?
There are over 50 road races in the U.S. that have charity programs. We'll raise over $75,000 in our first year as charity program participants in just 4 races. There are hundreds of thousands of runners in the U.S. - this fundraising tool could raise over $500,000 within a few years.
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability?
We must continue to appeal to the race directors to include us in their charity programs, and we must offer good service to the individuals who join our event teams.
The Story
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story.
I am a former marathon runner myself, running 4 marathons between the ages of 12 and 14. At the time, I idolized the great distance runners, many of whom were impoverished East Africans, and I never lost this fascination. In 2004, at the age of 39, I decided to take a few years off to establish a non-profit that would focus on Africa, and that would offer a unique model based on assisting the very talented, not necessarily the most impoverished or sick. I was watching the 2004 Athens Olympics on television and vividly recall the track races, which were dominated by East Africans. I decided that there must be a way to better harness this extraordinary athletic talent in East Africa. So, I traveled to East Africa in late 2004 and spent a month meeting with everyone involved in the sport - agents, athletes, coaches, government officials, etc. A Running Start Foundation was formed soon after.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material.
I am a Canadian, growing up in Toronto. After finishing my MBA in 1994, I was recruited by one of the large Wall Street investment banks, Lehman Brothers, and moved to NYC. I spent 9 years there, becoming a senior vice-president and equity analyst covering technology stocks. I left in 2003 to pursue other interests and formed A Running Start Foundation in 2004.
How did you hear about this contest and what is your main incentive to participate? (this is confidential)
I was notified of the contest by Ashoka. The contest could raise the profile of A Running Start Foundation and put me in contact with others who share a passion for using sports as a tool for youth development. We'd also love to come to the attention of firms such as Nike.
Affiliation (please list all that apply)
None.
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Comments
Fantastic! I am a distance runner too and have always been amazed by the extreme running talent that comes from Kenya and other East African nations. I like how you've described this talent as a natural resource and it is exciting that you are working to harness that resource!
How are you marketing your idea to the East African community? What kind of outreach are you doing to find the right athletes and coaches? You've mentioned that it is difficult to find qualified and honest African coaches. Have you considered including a coaches training program into your project?
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
thanks Dana. In terms of marketing, not much is required, as we now know most of the agents & coaches in East Africa and have a good pipeline to athletes. There are many more camps, athletes & students than our budget allows us to help, so marketing is not an issue yet. We'd love to add a coaches training program...this would help a lot. However, for now, the cost of implementing such an effort would be too high...we'd rather use the B-level coaches that are there to help with the many talented youngsters who can benefit from our programs. Quite frankly, the athletes are SO talented that a B-level coach is good enough to train them to the point that they can secure an agent or a U.S. scholarship. Thanks again for your thoughts!!
Karl Keirstead
A Running Start Foundation
Thank you for sharing your program. How does your program manage the cross-cultural shifts and transitions of the student-athletes as they go to the United States and return to East Africa? Also, how will the alumni of your program benefit your overall business strategy? Thank you again, and look forward to your reply.
Kindest regards, Eli
Eli A. Wolff
Manager, Research & Advocacy
Center for the Study of Sport in Society
Northeastern University
e.wolff@neu.edu
Thanks for the comment Eli. In general, we are too small a charity to also manage the student/athletes when they arrive in the US - we leave that to the university coaches who've recruited them. However, they do retain email access to their clubs back in Kenya and before leaving, their clubs offer cultural lessons to reduce the shock. In a few cases, some student/athletes haven't adjusted well...and we've helped put them up with a Kenyan family for a few weeks to help them adjust. But in general, this hasn't been a big problem. Enough Kenyans have gone to the US on athletic scholarships that the awareness of the cultural challenges is high; the US coaches are familiar with overseas athletes and are in a good position to help; and the student/athletes, being runners, mix very well with the American runners on their track and XC teams - in effect, there is a natural support group. Great question though.
Karl Keirstead
A Running Start Foundation
I think that you've certainly come up with an effective model to serve developing runners in East Africa, Karl. Not only have you selected a sport which speaks to so many of the African continent's people, and of which they can justifiably be proud, but also one where others' impact in the form of coaching or monetary subsidization can be most effectively realized.
Distance running is simultaneously ancient as well as completely topical. Not many sports can boast a legacy that goes back two-and-a-half millennia, and that's just in the West. Today's runners in Africa tread pathways that both literally and figuratively have carried their forebears for countless years.
Steve Byars
Thanks Steve. I certainly hope it's a pathway that can now carry them to a U.S. university or at least a measure of financial independence. One of the kids that we developed at our camp in eastern Uganda, Moses Kipsiro, just returned home after a summer in Europe, where he won the Bronze at the World Champs 5,000M. With his prize money, he just bought a new 4x4, is renovating & expanding his family's home and is investing in local businesses. This is EXACTLY what we hope for...use an inherent skill base and generate more opportunity that they can on their own. Thanks for your support!
Dear Karl,
We found this to be a fabulous identification and capitalization of this resource pool, it's the open economy of talent in the works. Some of us were concerned that this shift of talent out of the region may lead to an effect similar to the brain drain, have you thought beyond what the athletes can achieve once recruited to Universities, perhaps a way that the athletes can contribute their successes back to East Africa? Perhaps an innovative mechanism to make these athletes aware of the athletes to be socially minded once they attain an elite level of success and how they may leverage their successes to bring their talents back to their homes? Or do you find that many athletes are already in a place where they want to do this for their families and their communities?
Also, have you heard of Nike Plus and how it works to create a community of runners? The entry by Boxgirls Roadworks is a great demonstration of how the product can work to create runners across the globe.
Thank you for your response!
Tyler Ahn
Changemakers
thanks Tyler, great questions. Our goal is clearly to have these kids eventually contribute to their home countries...this is exactly where you get leverage by assisting very talented youngsters. Unfortunately, the creation of "change agents" can often be best achieved by having the youngster secure a U.S. education; most schools in East Africa are weak and don't create graduates that have the skills & perspective & means to give back. In our programs, this can either be achieved when the student/athletes return home after graduating, or by securing employment in the U.S. and remitting funds back to their families & friends. One small example...Erich Too secured a full scholarship to Farleigh Dickenson University, studying accounting. After classes, he got a job selling running shoes in the local New Balance store. His scholarship covered all his living expenses in the U.S., so he sent his part-time earnings home...and was supporting 25 family members in his Kenyan village. We're happy with even this kind of contribution. In terms of the elite athletes, most already give back...they don't forget where they came from & the struggles they overcame. We do, however, require that they contribute a portion of their winnings to the camp, to meet the costs of assisting the younger athletes. This creates a culture of giving...one that has not taken hold in East Africa yet, but if it starts with the sports stars, it can grow. I have not heard of Nike Plus but will check it out. Thanks again for the thoughts...Karl
Hello Karl,
Could you expand on your response to "How do you plan to grow your innovation?" What are some of the step by step plans you have? What connections are you making? What are your goals for the next 5 years?
Do you have any plans for engaging the non-college demographic and perhaps creating more of a industry of sport that starts with younger generations?
Do you have any methods of fund-raising and revenue generation? Have you considered hosting a marathon for a good cause?
You mention the story of Erich Too sending money home to his community. In addition to this, are there other examples of runners giving back to their communities? Is there any social conscience aspect to the program that requires that runners give back? Is it an unspoken hope that runners will give back or an explicit expectation of the program?
Great work. I look forward to hearing from you.
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Dana
Changemakers
Good morning Dana.
In terms of growth, there are many avenues. Most African countries offer NO support for youth/junior-level sports, so there is ample opportunity to fund more clubs/camps for 15-20 year olds, to introduce them to the merits of sport and if we do it well, to identify youngsters that can use their talents to secure U.S. athletic scholarships or a career as an athlete. In December we are setting up month-long camps in remote regions of Tanzania and Uganda. We'll house, feed and coach about 30-50 runners at each camp. There are countless programs such as this that we could establish in the next five years. Moreover, once funding is in place, we'd like to move into Rwanda, then Eritrea, possibly Sudan. We'd like to have 1,000 elite kids training at our camps within five years and be sending 200 kids per year to U.S. universities. In terms of fundraising, we're entering charity running (i.e. fundraising) teams in 6-8 U.S. races in 2008, up from 4 in 2007, and we could easily be in 25 races per year within 5 years. Organizing a dedicated race is a great idea.
In terms of a non-college demographic, most of the 250-300 or so "elite" youngsters training at our existing camps are already under 20 years of age. Right now the opportunity to groom them for U.S. university scholarships is just so big but in 2008, we plan to expand into paying high school tuition fees for impoverished but very talented athletes, so in this way we are at least helping the non-college-bound kids stay in school. In terms of giving back, most of our camps have strict policies in place - 10-15% of any prize money earned goes back to the camp. There are countless examples I could provide of the successful runners giving back...the superstars such as Haile Gebreselassie & Paul Tergat give generously and a culture of giving back is (slowly) taking root.
Thanks, Karl
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