One of Nigeria’s foremost documentary photographer, Mayor Otu has given Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) insights on how they can raise funding for their course with the simple act of story-telling.
Otu took to his Twitter handle @MayorUyo to outline the guidings NGOs need to follow to make their course compelling enough to get positive responses from organizations through storytelling.
The photographer, through his photography documentary project in Katampe Abuja, was able to secure the help of Starling Bank to get the people of the community clean water supply.
According to Uto, “Storytelling is your ability to share your organization’s values with people in their learning language and hoping that they will remember it like a nursery rhyme. Storytelling is communicating emotions that people can easily relate with”
He advised NGO to ensure that they understand their organizational values and use storytelling media to communicate these values and emotions.
Otu revealed that some NGOs merely take photos of events they organized, instead of taking pictures that capture the situation of things. This he described as counterproductive.
See full thread:
My Name is Mayor Otu, Storyteller based in Lagos, Nigeria.
I use photography, writing and filmmaking to share authentic stories of ordinary everyday people and I use these stories to help the vulnerable people in our communities.#storytellingforngos— MAYOR OTU | STORYTELLER (@MayorUyo) August 12, 2019
The first problem.
Most NGOs create every other thing about their organizations like logos, publicity materials, T-shirts etc and even take pictures/ videos and they never think about storytelling.This is the first reason you’re not getting attention.#storytellingforngos
— MAYOR OTU | STORYTELLER (@MayorUyo) August 12, 2019
That your goals are great doesn’t mean you will get attention.
That you’re trying to save the world doesn’t mean people would give you money to fund it!It’s in how well you are able to communicate these problems.#storytellingforngos
— MAYOR OTU | STORYTELLER (@MayorUyo) August 12, 2019
Storytelling is about taking your audience to a place they have not been before!
Storytelling is about giving a voice to a people, places or issues in pictures, written words and videos.#storytellingforngos— MAYOR OTU | STORYTELLER (@MayorUyo) August 12, 2019
Let me talk about the Pictures you put out for your awareness and fundraising campaigns.
What kind of images should you use as a non profit in your storytelling? #storytellingforngos
— MAYOR OTU | STORYTELLER (@MayorUyo) August 12, 2019
Most often than not, NGOs uses pictures they took from an event they went for maybe in a community they’re trying to help.
These pictures don’t work because they aren’t communicating emotions.
Emotions not pictures #Storytellingforngos
— MAYOR OTU | STORYTELLER (@MayorUyo) August 12, 2019
And others post images that people often refer to as “POVERTY PORN” and that get their prospective sponsor irritated.
Emotions not eyesore #storytellingforngos
— MAYOR OTU | STORYTELLER (@MayorUyo) August 12, 2019
And the reason most of these projects if not all get attention and funding is because of STORYTELLING.
And most NGOs especially the startups always get it wrong when it comes to storytelling.
But I hope this changes today!#storytellingforngos
— MAYOR OTU | STORYTELLER (@MayorUyo) August 12, 2019
Subscribe To Daily Email To Get an Ebook on Online Business Ideas
Get a Copy of my ebook on Online Business ideas that Assure You of Financial Freedom.
We won't disturb you with spams or temper with your privacy
I run an NGO and have found it a bit challenging raising funds towards drilling a borehole in Ikono. With this piece, I believe it would help us more in that line
Good to know that this piece was helpful. please, keep us posted concerning the progress of the efforts of your NGO via info@stationmag.com.