Accra SOUP is a "laudable initiative bringing together young industrious minds" - SOUPer Kojo Asante.

After two successful SOUP dinners, it's time to reflect. What better way to get feedback than from people who have attended the crowdfunding dinners? So we spoke to Kojo Yiadom Asante, who has been all the dinners.

The following is a conversation between Accra SOUP (AS) and Kojo (KYA). 

AS: How did you come across Accra SOUP? 

KYA: Stumbled across Accra SOUP on a friend's Facebook timeline (events).

AS: What were your expectations before you came to the SOUP dinner?

KYA: The great soup! On a more serious note, had very little expectation except for the believe that Accra needs fixing and events like Accra SOUP could serve the catalyst, no matter how small, for us to get there.

AS: How did you feel when you finally attended? 

KYA: Felt proud to be a young Ghanaian. The depth of the passionate engagement on the night gave me hope that, indeed, we will get there some day as a nation. And oh, the soup was soooo good had to go for a second bowl.

AS: What was/were your favourite project(s)? 

KYA: My favourite was the one that was aimed at creating a hub for the art and creative (Express in Ghana) people of the city. Unfortunately, the presentation was not so great and he lost out to 'Action Accra' who had an awesome project too.

For the second edition, the project to get more kids to develop love for Maths slayed all the others on the night. A truly brilliant initiative!

AS: What did you think about the winning project? 

KYA: Winners for each event deserved it and my follow up indicates that both have made great strides after Accra SOUP.

  Kwasi from Accra SOUP (left) presenting the crowdfunded donation to Dormenyo from Action Accra.

AS: How about the food?

KYA: On point. Loved it.

AS: Did you meet new people at SOUP? And how have you gone on to build lasting relationships with them?

KYA: Oh yeah, met some incredible personalities on the night and some are friends I interact daily with now. That's another upside to being at Accra SOUP.

  

Kojo (centre) at the first dinner in August 2015.

AS: What can be done to improve the SOUP experience?

KYA: Great work done so far but more publicity should be carried out for the call for projects so we get more awesome ideas coming through. 

AS: Overall, what you think about Accra SOUP and the work it is trying to do?
KYA: Very laudable initiative that is bringing together young industrious minds, a positive impact is imminent. Duff my hat off for the Accra SOUP team.

AS: What would you like to tell anyone reading this but has not had the SOUP experience?

KYA: If you are passionate about making meaningful contributions that would make Accra a better place (and get to sip some delicious light soup as well), then you have to be at the next Accra SOUP.

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Accra Soup. Welcome Note

Hi Reader,

This is our first blog post and we are happy you took time to come and check us out.

We are as excited as you are and we are working round the clock to organize the first SOUP dinner in this beautiful big village called Accra.

Just in case you don't know what Accra SOUP is, this first post will sum it up all for you.


Accra SOUP is a micro-granting dinner to fund, celebrate and support creative social projects in Accra. It is modeled on Detroit SOUP.

It's a simple concept: people turn up to the dinner, pay 5 cedis at the door and they get soup and a vote.

What are they voting for?

Attendees listen to four people pitch an idea to improve Accra. Pitchers cannot talk for more than four minutes and cannot use PowerPoint. The presentations are followed by four questions from the audience.

The ideas that are presented range from art, urban
agriculture, social justice, social work, education, technology and more.
 In fact, any brilliant idea that can change Accra.

After the presentations, delicious soup (light soup) is served; Ghana style. We also encourage the audience to come along with their own foods as well to add to it and share with others; i.e. Potluck style.

At SOUP, attendees eat, meet, talk, share resources, enjoy art and most importantly; VOTE for the idea they think benefits Accra the most.

At the end of the night, we count the ballots and the money. The idea with the most votes gets to take home all the 5 cedis taken at the door and use it to fund their plan, with the promise that, they will come back three months later to report on their progress.

No agreements are signed and winners do not need to possess grade (A) financial knowledge.
 It is the public that determines whose project they like the most and they back it up with 5 cedis.


Interesting, isn't it? Yeah! We know right!



Do you already have a fantastic idea that can make Accra a better place? Click on the link http://goo.gl/forms/QnHbtrVmB4 to get the chance to win seed money for that idea from ordinary Accra residents.

We can't wait to hear about your idea but always remember to be as brief as possible.

Like our Facebook page; Accra SOUP (https://www.facebook.com/AccraSoup) and follow us on Twitter; @Accra SOUP (https://twitter.com/AccraSoup). Recommend Accra SOUP to your folks too.

Visit again for our second blog post.

Bye!