How we look drives what we do.

In business, we like to believe that decisions are driven by data, strategy and evidence. But before we analyse data, we decide what to look at.

What gets our attention gets resources. What gets measured gets managed. What gets funded gets developed. And what we don’t look for can easily become invisible.

This matters in sustainability and social impact. We often ask: What is missing? What needs to be built? Where is the gap?

All valid questions. But what if we asked:

What already exists — and what would it take to keep it working?

That is not a charity question. It is a resource-allocation question.

Shakur recently contacted me about the VICCO Catch Them Young Library in Viwandani and Mukuru, Nairobi. He wasn’t asking for a new building or programme. He was asking: Can we keep the existing library open?

Since 2020, more than 10,000 children have used the library. For many, it is a place to study when home is overcrowded or there is no electricity. It is also part of a community centre where VICCO serves around 800 cups of porridge every weekday.

The rent, including utilities, is $100 a month.

But $100 is the wrong unit of analysis.

The real question is: What existing value disappears if that $100 is not available?

An established learning space. Existing relationships. A community asset. A place where education, nutrition and safety come together.

This is not about creating impact. It is about preventing the loss of existing impact infrastructure.

In business, we understand this logic: before replacing an existing asset, we ask what value it creates, what it costs to maintain and what happens if we let it disappear.

Why don’t we apply the same thinking more consistently to social impact?

We often fund what is visible — new buildings, programmes and launches — while overlooking the infrastructure that keeps impact working: rent, staff, coordination, maintenance, local ownership and trust.

A very concrete opportunity

The VICCO library needs $100 per month to stay open. Rent has been outstanding since January, and the landlord has asked VICCO to leave next month.

So rather than looking for one large donor, why not:

12 months. 12 sponsors. $100 per month.

A company, team, foundation, family or individual could take responsibility for one specific month.

“This month, I am keeping the library open.”

A small commitment. A very tangible outcome.

If you or your company would like to become a Monthly Library Sponsor, or know someone who might, send me a message. I will connect you directly with Shakur and VICCO.

We see what we are looking for.

Sometimes the most valuable thing is not what we build next — but what we choose not to let disappear.