Helping More Girls Stay in School by Strengthening a NGO's Voice
A conversation with OneDay volunteer Irina Beznea about supporting Comfy Care 12 in Tanzania
A OneDay by Irina Beznea, SKIM
Working with the founder, Magdalena, to create a strong and unified brand presence and standardize tracking of key metrics to show progress to potential funders.
Tell us a little about the NGO you worked with: ComfyCare12
Irina: I partnered with Comfy Care 12, a grassroots organisation in Tanzania that provides menstrual health education and period products to young women. Their mission is incredibly important because access to these resources helps girls stay in school and creates opportunities for safer, more independent futures.
What challenge were they facing?
Irina: Like many small charities, they were so focused on delivering their mission that they had little time to invest in areas such as branding, communications, and impact measurement. When I first spoke with Magdalena, the founder, I realised the challenge wasn't just about creating a logo or improving visuals. The organisation needed a stronger way to communicate who they are, what they stand for, and the difference they are making. They also wanted better ways to track and demonstrate their impact to supporters, partners, and potential funders.
What did you actually do during your OneDay project?
Irina: Initially, I thought I would be helping with branding. But after speaking with Magdalena, we realised there was an opportunity to support the organisation in a much broader way.
Over several weeks, I helped the team tackle their most pressing issues by creating several resources:
A clear brand guide and visual identity
A social media strategy with content pillars, example content calendar in Notion, and guidelines for posts (in Canva)
I helped build systems to track key metrics and progress
Designed surveys and interview guides to help measure impact
Created reporting materials that could be used with stakeholders and funders
Was there a moment that stayed with you?
Irina: What stayed with me most was how appreciative the organisation was of skills that I use every day. In my professional life, things like branding, research, measurement frameworks, and reporting can feel routine. But for a small charity, access to those skills can be genuinely valuable. It reminded me that expertise is a resource too. Not every contribution needs to be financial. Sometimes sharing knowledge can unlock opportunities that wouldn't otherwise exist.
What difference did the project make for Comfy Care 12?
Irina: The best way to answer that is through Magdalena's words.
"The training helped us become confident representatives of the Comfy Care 12 brand. It strengthened our credibility, improved consistency and supports future growth through partnerships and funding opportunities."
Magdalena, Founder, Comfy Care 12
For me, that's what success looked like. Not the documents we created, but the fact that the organisation felt more confident communicating its mission and future ambitions.
And what did you take away from the experience yourself?
Irina: I learned that the skills we build throughout our careers can have value far beyond our day-to-day jobs. I also learned that meaningful volunteering doesn't always require a huge commitment. Sometimes a few hours of focused expertise can help an organisation solve challenges that have been holding it back for years.
Most importantly, I left feeling inspired.
Inspired by the organisation, inspired by the people behind it, and reminded that the work we do professionally can also be a force for good.
Finally, what would you say to someone considering a OneDay project?
Irina: I'd tell them not to underestimate the value of what they know!
You might think you're "just" bringing research skills, strategic thinking, communications expertise, data analysis, or project management experience.
But for a charity, those skills can open doors.
OneDay gave me the opportunity to apply my expertise in a completely different context and see the impact from a new perspective.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
