GOHubSpec

Project Title: GOHub - Empowering Kenyan GOs Online

Project Description:

I. Introduction:

GOHub is a comprehensive web builder designed specifically for small Kenyan community-based charity Grassroot Organisations (GO), providing them with a centralised platform to establish and manage their online presence. The primary goal is to address the challenge of perceived legitimacy that hinders these community-led organisations from obtaining necessary funding and support.

II. Main Features:

1. Customisable GO Profiles:
   • GOs can create personalised profiles with detailed information about their mission, activities, achievements, and impact.
   • Customisation options include adding logos, images, and videos to enhance their online identity.
2. Contact Information:
   • Dedicated sections for contact details to facilitate easy communication for inquiries, collaborations, and donations.
3. Project Showcase:
   • Space for GOs to showcase ongoing projects, highlight past successes, and outline future initiatives.
   • A visual representation of their work to help potential donors understand the tangible impact of their contributions.
4. Social Media Integration:
   • Allow GOs to link their social media accounts, facilitating easy sharing and increasing visibility on other platforms.
5. Recommendation System:
   • Implement a recommendation system suggesting GOs users can donate to and interact with based on user-specified filters and preferences during their current session.
6. Donation Integration:
   • Secure donation platform integration to enable one-time or recurring contributions.
   • Options for various payment methods, including M-Pesa, to cater to the local context and promote financial inclusion.
7. Special GO Needs:
   • Host information about special GO needs that will improve their operations.
   • These will include volunteering to perform services like cleaning, cooking; donation of physical items like sanitary products; content creation needs like videos and photography etc.
8. GO Establishment Process:
   • A step-by-step guide on how GOs can register their operations with the government, making sure to be transparent about my sources of information etc.
   • Potentially have some information on how they could create an online presence.
9. Volunteer Matching: 
   • Allow GOs to post specific volunteer needs, and have a system for interested individuals to filter based on skills, location, and availability.

III. Benefits:

• Empower small Kenyan GOs by providing them with a robust online presence.
• Increase their visibility, fostering trust and legitimacy among potential donors.
• Increased opportunities for financial contributions and other forms of support.

IV. Donors & Stakeholders:

1. Small Kenyan GOs:
   • These organisations are the direct users of GOHub, utilising the platform to create and manage their online presence, connect with donors, and showcase their work.
2. Donors and Supporters:
   • Individuals, corporations, and organisations interested in supporting and contributing to small Kenyan GOs are crucial stakeholders. They use GOHub to discover and engage with GOs aligned with their interests.
3. Community Members:
   • The local community served by the GOs benefits from increased awareness of the organisations and their projects, fostering community engagement and collaboration.

V. Approach / Methodology:

1. Needs Assessment:
   • Conduct thorough research to understand the specific needs and challenges faced by small Kenyan GOs in establishing and managing their online presence.
2. User-Centric Design:
   • Employ a user-centric design approach to create an intuitive and user-friendly platform, ensuring GOs can easily customise profiles and donors can navigate seamlessly.
3. Collaboration with GOs:
   • Engage in collaborative discussions with representative GOs to gather insights, test prototypes, and refine features based on their feedback. (Agile Methodology)
4. Verification System Design:
   • Develop a robust verification system, potentially in collaboration with relevant authorities, to ensure the legitimacy of listed GOs, promoting trust among users
5. Integration with M-Pesa API:
   • Collaborate with mobile payment providers like M-Pesa to seamlessly integrate secure donation options, considering the local context and enhancing financial inclusion.
6. Documentation and Training:
   • Provide comprehensive documentation and training resources for GOs, donors, and administrators to ensure effective utilisation of the platform.

Run the Flask app:

cd backend
source venv/bin/activate
export FLASK_APP=app
export FLASK_DEBUG=1
flask run --host=0.0.0.0 --port=5162 

Run the react app

cd frontend
npm start