As the second decade of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance unfolds, a distinct culture of giving is emerging among Harambeans. This culture, rooted in both financial support and volunteerism, mirrors the successful strategies of prominent institutions like Harvard University. By fostering this culture, Harambeans are not only ensuring the Alliance’s growth and sustainability but also laying the foundation for an enduring legacy that may enhance its impact for decades to come.
The Emergence of a Giving Culture
The emergence of this culture of giving can be seen through numerous contributions from Harambeans over the past few years.
Acts of Generosity: 2021 – 2024, Founders Club
In 2021, Mr. Velani Mboweni H’18 donated $1,500 to sponsor the travel expenses of incoming Harambeans who could not afford their flights to their induction ceremony in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. This act of generosity enabled aspiring Harambeans to experience the Alliance’s onboarding Symposium, ensuring that financial barriers did not limit the diversity and growth of the group.
In 2022, Mr. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji H’10 further exemplified the spirit of giving by providing the resources necessary to establish the Aboyeji Medal for Servant Leadership. This award honors those within the Alliance who embody the values of servant leadership, reinforcing the core principles that the Harambean community strives to uphold.
In 2023, a group of Harambeans came together to raise $29,000 in support of the Harambeans Global Summit. The contributors included Eric Muli H’14, Naadiya Moosajee H’15, Adetayo Bamiduro H’15, Velani Mboweni H’18, Janade du Plessis H’18, Zachariah George H’19, Tesh Mbaabu H’20, Aéko Ongodia H’20, Mike Mompi H’20, Douglas Hoernle H’22, Hema Vallabh H’22, Katlego Maphai H’23, and Kiiru Muhoya H’23. This collective of Harambean donors, now known as the Founders Club, exemplifies the Alliance’s growing capacity to mobilize significant resources in support of its key initiatives, marking an important milestone in its continued development.
Most recently, in 2024, Mr. Idris Bello H’11 made a thoughtful contribution to the Alliance by donating a bell for official gatherings. The bell, inscribed with the note “Gift to the Alliance by Idris Bello H’11,” symbolizes the importance of community and the continuity of the Alliance’s work. Such acts of generosity not only provide immediate benefits to the Alliance but also serve as tangible reminders of the enduring connections among its members.
The Foundation of Harambean Giving
These examples represent just a few of the many contributions Harambeans have made to the Alliance, but they are also a reflection of a broader, evolving culture of giving that has been steadily cultivated since the Alliance’s inception.
Early Days of Volunteerism
In the early days, when financial resources were scarce, Harambeans donated their time and expertise to support the organization. Members volunteered to lead knowledge transfer sessions, providing valuable insights to fellow Harambeans. They also played a pivotal role in reviewing thousands of applications and interviewing hundreds of candidates for the Alliance, ensuring that each new class was selected with care and commitment.
Sustained Volunteer Efforts
This practice of volunteerism continues today, with Harambeans like Esther Nwachukwu H’23 serving as the Harambeans Admissions Fellow to select the 17th class of Harambeans. The ongoing dedication of members to volunteer their time and talents is a cornerstone of the Alliance’s growth and sustainability.
Lessons from Harvard: A Vision for the Future
This culture of giving reflects the invaluable lessons Harambe’s Founder and Chairman, Okendo Lewis-Gayle, gained during his time at Harvard University. Through his interactions with Tamara Elliott Rogers, the former Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development at Harvard, Lewis-Gayle acquired deep insights into fundraising and alumni engagement. Reflecting on these experiences, he noted:
“In my weekly breakfasts at the Harvard Faculty Club with Rogers, a key architect of Harvard’s $9.6 billion capital campaign, I realized that Harvard’s fundraising success wasn’t the product of a time-bound campaign but the culmination of a decades-long culture of giving.”
This philosophy—centered on consistent, sustained support—has profoundly influenced Harambe’s approach to fostering a lasting legacy.
Cultivating an Enduring Legacy
By adopting a similar strategy of fostering both financial support and volunteerism, Harambeans are ensuring that the Alliance will continue to thrive. The combination of personal contributions and the volunteer-driven spirit that has long been a hallmark of the Alliance guarantees that future generations of Harambeans will have the resources and opportunities to create meaningful change in Africa and beyond.
Just as Harvard’s culture of giving has enabled it to remain a global leader in higher education and philanthropy, the Harambean Alliance is poised to cultivate its own enduring impact for generations to come.
Planting Seeds for the Future
Mr. Lewis-Gayle concluded with a reflection on a Latin phrase etched above a fireplace in a Harvard University room often visited by Harambeans: Alteri seculo. It is a fragment of Cicero’s timeless wisdom, “He who plants trees labors for the benefit of future generations.” While it remains uncertain if the seeds planted by Harambeans in these formative decades will grow into a capital campaign rivaling Harvard’s, the foundation is clear. The Harambean culture of giving is rooted deeply, and its branches will continue to spread, offering shade and sustenance to generations of Harambeans yet unborn.