How We Work
How does Hidaya Foundation assist students to make sure they do not drop out of school due to poverty?
Hidaya Foundation uses Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all of its projects to maintain project implementation quality worldwide, in turn minimizing overhead cost. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Sponsor a Student is summarized below:
Step 1: Hidaya Foundation receives funds from donors.
Step 2: Central Operations provides a document to District Operations called Scope of Work (SOW) summarizing funding available for the project, goal to achieve etc, based on 5M (Money, Manpower, Material/machines, Method, Mother Nature) and 5W & 1H (What, Why, Where, When, Who, How).
Step 3: Hidaya Foundation’s District and Field Operations run by Hidaya employees and volunteers or partner organizations are advised to document project proposals based on the SOW and a SOP.
Step 4: Project Proposal is approved by minimum two layers of management and funds are released.
Step 5: Project is advertised at district or county level through Hidaya formed Student Selection Committees (SSCs), through Hidaya appointed Sector-In-Charges (SICs) at various neighborhoods and via local media.
Step 6: On the prescribed forms, Student Selection Committees and Sector-In-Charges submit deserving students’ names belonging to their neighborhoods. Students, due to media advertisement, come directly to Hidaya office.
Step 7: Hidaya’s team interviews the student and family to evaluate the family’s condition for being a possible candidate for assistance under the Sponsor a Student project. If they qualify, separate forms for students and parents are filled.
Step 8: Hidaya’s team visits every applicant student’s neighborhood and local schools to complete the investigation process and make sure students do qualify for the project.
Step 9: Once qualified for monthly assistance and management approval process is completed, the student and parents start receiving monthly cash stipends as well as in-kind assistance for a minimum of one year. On completion of one year, their case is re-evaluated for any major changes in the family and supported again for another year.
Step 10: Students who are qualified for partial and monthly assistance are provided with essential supplies for receiving a proper education (school admission and exam fee, uniforms, shoes, books, school supplies)
Step 11: Semi-annual monitoring process is in place where the student submits school grades and Hidaya team members meet with the teacher and interviews the family. If grades are not good, monthly monitoring begins and the student is watched closely. Regular monthly meetings with teachers take place to evaluate the student’s progress.
Step 12: At times, Hidaya arranges for tutoring to help improve the student’s grades. Basic computer and other vocational training is arranged for the students.
Step 13: Every six months, a Project Completion Report is submitted to Hidaya Foundation. In addition a Project Proposal for the next six months is submitted. The Project Completion Report includes details such as the number of students supported, age of students, number of males and females, stipend given each month to students, nature and quantity of In-kind assistance, any other technical or vocational training provided, any assistance given from other Hidaya projects such as water hand pump, meeting medical needs of students, etc.
Step 14: Every month, a Project Overview is provided. In addition, photos, videos, case studies, and interviews of students, are provided time to time to Hidaya Foundation.