How NSMQ Helped Find 50,000 Cedis...In Church!

Stop!

Frown no more.

That is, if you don't know what NSMQ stands for. 

(If you do, skip the next couple of sentences.)


The Explainer

NSMQ stands for National Science and Maths Quiz.

It's an annual, nationally televised quiz held in Ghana for senior high students in the public school system.

Participating schools are heavily supported by past students around the country. 

As a result old rivalries are rekindled every time the quiz is held and social media only helps to stoke the competitive spirit.

By the time the final is aired, the NSMQ becomes one of the biggest news items in Ghana with many old boys and girls shouting themselves hoarse for their teams.

This year was no exception.

After weeks of nerve-wracking combat, the all-male St. Augustine's College from Cape Coast emerged victorious.

So that's the NSMQ and its associated fever explained.

Now to how it found us 50,000 Cedis...in a church of all places.


The Process 

Last Sunday, I was given the task during second mass to raise money for the launch of the annual harvest.

"How much do we want?" I asked.

"Oh we don't really have a target. As much as they can give" replied Reuben my fellow fundraiser.

When I pressed him, he disclosed that 23,000 Cedis was raised during first mass.

Then he went on to say that piggybacking on the euphoria of the NSMQ helped raise the money. 

Why not try it again?

When we were introduced for the fundraiser, Reuben kicked off with remarks about the importance of the fundraiser. 

Then I proceeded to state our target of 50,000 Cedis, our (self-) allotted time of 20 minutes and the rules of the event (raise your hand to signal interest, clap when someone gives).

I then asked old boys of St. Augustine's College to raise their hands so we could congratulate their alma mater for winning the National Science and Maths Quiz. 

Hands shot up with fervent pride.

My fellow fundraiser continued by making a passionate appeal to old boys of St Augustine's College to give generously.

2 pledges took us straight to 10,000 Cedis. 

Staying with the NSMQ theme, I enquired whether old students of other participating schools could outdo the the guys from St. Augustine's.

Yet more pledges and donations flowed towards us.

The audience was having fun.

It was no longer simply a fundraiser but a game now.

Even a primary school pupil who announced her school as Brainy Bairns School chipped in with 500 Cedis.

As soon as we hit 50,000 Cedis, we suspended the solicitation and passed a hat around to mop up cash donations. 

The total amount we raised was over 52,000.Cedis.

Mission accomplished!

And that's how the NSMQ helped us find a lot of money in church. 


The Lessons

1. Always work with a target. It gives you something definite to aim at.

2. Take note of how much time you have. Finísh ahead of time and your audience will venerate you. Drag the event and the same people will berate you.

3. Refer to relevant news items to relax the audience and win them over. The National Science and Maths Quiz gave us a perfect tie-in to leverage our fundraising effort.