Join Us: Transforming Mandara Through Community Action

Making a Difference Without Funding – Imagine What We Could Do With Your Support

For months, a dedicated group of volunteers has been quietly working to improve our Mandara community. The Mandara Association of Ratepayers and Residents (MARR) has been tackling issues that affect our daily lives, our property values, and our sense of community—all without formal funding.

Today, we’re inviting you to join us and help take these efforts to the next level.

What We’ve Accomplished So Far

Even without financial resources, our passionate volunteers have achieved remarkable results:

Reclaiming Public Spaces

• Cleared illegal informal vendors from the corner of Pringle and Eastern Drive, then landscaped the area
• Removed a dangerous informal gas vendor on Eastern Drive
• Cleared an illegal vendor at Corner Crawley and Pringle and beautified the space
• Shut down an illegal informal vendor on Riverton

Improving Road Safety

• Implemented 3-tonne truck prohibition and installed traffic restrictions at key access points to prevent brick lorries illegally using residential roads to access the Yu Dao Brick factory located at Chikurubi Prison farm
• Currently negotiating with council for speed humps on Wallis and Beeston

Environmental Clean-Up

• Organised two community clean-ups, collecting over 150 bags of rubbish
• Actively confronted suspected land barons pegging wetlands and brought issues to council attention
• Developing plans to clean up and formalise Mandara Shops public space

Security Initiatives

• Reclaimed three motorbikes which were donated for community security purposes
• Currently investigating comprehensive security programme options

Building a Sustainable Organisation

• Established a functional association with a registered bank account, constitution, and operating structure
• Implemented zones and appointed zone leaders for better community coordination
• Created a professional website with membership management and community project fundraising capabilities
• Set up social media profiles, official email addresses, and newsletter systems

What Could We Accomplish With Your Support?

While we’re proud of these achievements, imagine what we could do with consistent funding:

• Implement regular security patrols throughout Mandara
• Enhance street lighting in key areas
• Establish a rapid response system for community concerns
• Fund more extensive beautification projects
• Host community-building events and workshops
• Provide better tools and resources for our volunteer teams

How Your Money Will Be Spent

We believe in complete transparency about how your membership fees and donations will be used:

Immediate Priorities

In order of importance:

1. Security initiatives and infrastructure
2. Community space improvements and maintenance
3. Emergency response fund
4. Administrative costs (communication systems, banking fees)

Our Commitment to Financial Transparency

• Quarterly financial reports published on our website
• Project-specific fundraising with clear budgets and outcomes
• Regular updates on how funds are being utilised
• Member input on funding priorities

Targeted Project Fundraising

In addition to membership fees, MARR will raise funds for specific community projects through our dedicated project fundraising platform on our website. This allows residents to contribute directly to initiatives they feel passionate about, whether it’s a beautification project, security enhancement, or infrastructure improvement.

Each project will have:

• A clearly defined scope and objective
• Transparent budget and timeline
• Regular progress updates
• Accountability for results

This approach ensures that urgent community needs can be addressed even as we build our membership base and recurring funding.

Setting Realistic Expectations

We want to be clear: MARR is building a foundation for long-term community improvement. Your membership is an investment in Mandara’s future, not a quick fix for all challenges.

• MARR is run entirely by volunteers who give up their personal time for the community
• There are no full-time employees or paid staff members
• We cannot solve every issue immediately
• Improvements will be incremental as our membership and funding grow
• Early focus will be on security and basic infrastructure
• Some initiatives require patience as we work with council and other authorities
• Our strength comes from consistent community support over time

Rather than promising miracles, we commit to steady, sustainable progress built on transparency, member input, and careful stewardship of resources.

Two Ways to Join and Support MARR

Community Supporter – $20/year

Basic membership that allows you to support our core activities and have a voice in neighborhood decisions. Perfect for residents who want to show their commitment to community improvement.

Mandara Guardian – $10/month

Our sustainability-focused membership provides the ongoing funding needed to implement security initiatives and community projects. Guardians form the backbone of our operational capacity.

Businesses Can Make a Difference Too

Whether your organization is based in Mandara or simply wishes to support community development, our Corporate Membership ($300/year) welcomes you. This membership allows your business to demonstrate community leadership and contribute to neighborhood improvements. While we especially value local businesses, we appreciate support from any organization that shares our vision for a thriving Mandara community.

Our Journey: Building for the Long Term

It has taken considerable time to reach this point, and many residents may have wondered what was happening behind the scenes. We’ve deliberately focused on establishing proper governance, legal structures, and operational systems before a broader launch—building this association for long-term sustainability rather than quick, temporary wins.

We’ve learned valuable lessons along the way. In one early initiative, we raised funds for patching potholes along Pringle Road. Unfortunately, the contractor didn’t perform the job to our satisfaction, and we’re currently pursuing redress. This experience strengthened our commitment to careful vendor selection and project management going forward.

The Time to Act Is Now

For too long, we’ve relied on the extraordinary efforts of a small group of volunteers. While they’ve accomplished remarkable things, sustainable community improvement requires collective investment.

Your membership doesn’t just provide financial support—it’s a statement that you care about Mandara’s future and are willing to be part of the solution.

Together, we can transform Mandara into the thriving, safe, and beautiful community we all want to call home.