1. A care leaver makes a plan
Only scalA members can start a campaign, and every member is a care leaver. Before a campaign can be published, the member verifies their identity with a national ID. Then they write their plan: what they want to do, why it matters, how much it costs and what each part of the money pays for.
2. We review it before it goes live
Every campaign starts as a draft that only scalA can see. Our team reads the plan, checks the budget and talks to the member before anything is published. Only approved campaigns appear on this website, so every campaign you see has passed that review.
3. You choose and give
Read the campaigns, pick the one you want to support and give any amount. Payments go through Paystack, a licensed payment provider, so you can pay securely by:
- M-Pesa, the quickest way to give from Kenya
- Debit or credit card, from anywhere in the world
- Bank transfer: choose it at checkout and complete it on Paystack's secure page. For a large gift, or to pay straight into our account, email hello@scala.co.ke and we will send you the details.
- Other: if your preferred way to pay isn't listed, choose "Other" to see every option Paystack offers, or contact us and we will find a way that works for you.
Gifts are charged in Kenyan shillings (KSh). We show amounts in US dollars for international donors, converted at a fixed KSh 129.5 to US$1, and the checkout always shows the exact shilling amount before you pay. scalA never sees or stores your card or M-Pesa PIN; Paystack handles those.
4. Your gift goes to that campaign
Your gift is recorded against the campaign you chose and counts towards its goal straight away. 90% goes to the campaign; 10% covers the costs of verifying members, reviewing campaigns, running this platform and following up on how funds are used.
You can sign in to see every gift you have made. If you need a receipt for your records, email hello@scala.co.ke.
5. We follow up
Campaign budgets are written for the public: you can read each one line by line before you give. After you give, you can ask us at any time how a campaign is progressing and what your gift has paid for.
Accountable and verifiable
- scalA is a community-based organisation in Kenya, registered under the Societies Act (Reg. No. SOCA-77SJRAV). Read our Certificate of Registration (PDF).
- We are led by care leavers, for care leavers, and work closely with SOS Children's Villages Kenya.
- We have zero tolerance for abuse and exploitation. Stories and photos are only published with written consent. Read our safeguarding policy.
- Questions about a gift or a campaign? Email hello@scala.co.ke or WhatsApp +254 716 913 416.