Harambee is a Kiswahili word that means "Let us all pull together". This word was originally used by porters along the coast of Kenya like Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi. It is pronounced as "haa-raam-bay".

The concept of the Harambee Circle was introduced by the first president of independent Kenya, Jomo Kenyetta. On June 1, 1963 (Madaraka - Kenya’s First Independence Day Celebration), Kenyetta said,

"...as we participate in the pomp and circumstance, and as we make merry at this time, remember this: we are relaxing before the tall that is to come. We must work ...therefore I give you the call Harambee. Let us all work harder together for our country, Kenya!"

Kenyetta suggested that if fellow Kenyans pooled their resources together they would be able to fund badly needed improvements to the county’s transportation, sewer and water systems. Harambee is still used today as a rallying cry for collective work and duty.

This grassroots fundraising concept can also work in America. It just takes YOU, your organization or a group of your friends, committing to donate or to initiate small fundraisers. Your efforts will (a) increase our capacity to provide quality services to the needy, (2) provide unrestricted funds to support work that is not covered by grants or contracts and (3) ensure that BFL is around for many more generations to come.

Harambee Circles typically try to raise $3,500 or more over a period of two years or less.