For those of you who already know about CREATIV, you will know the idea started in 2009 and by January 2010 we were working on CREATIV: Nigeria. We have organised a fashion show, published an anthology of poems and short stories, and hosted two book launches, all of which you can see on our website.
So in 2011 CREATIV decided to step it up a notch in and get all the administration in order by going for charity registration, choosing a board of trustees, developing an advisory group, and getting our name out there through marketing and PR before we start CREATIV: Ghana. So it is now July and how much have we been able to do?
Well let’s say we are getting there...
To register as a charity there are 101 things that need to be done, so first we’re going to get incorporated as a Company Limited by guarantee. These forms have just been sent off so if they like us we will be a company soon... yippee!!!
We call the newly set up advisory group the ‘Engine Room’ and so far have had one fruitful meeting. This is a small group of people interested in what we do, who provide us with objective advice, and critique our ideas and processes help expand CREATIV.
A good board of trustees must have people with a range of expertise, who are committed to working for you and are as passionate about what you are trying to do. This is not easy to find... but we are getting there. I personally aim to have a group realised by December 2011.
So for now our aims of 2011 are becoming realised but we have some way to go.
Before I sign off, this will be our last year of our CREATIV: Nigeria project and we will be finishing off with a bang in Lagos by hosting an event in December. You will be hearing more about this in the near future. So my entries will not just be about the ups and downs of starting a charity, but also about organising something from 4669.95 Kilometres away…
Olamide