How To Use Twitter To Effect Social Change?/ My idea of a virtual HUB-coordinating center for volunteers(ing)/community service in Bulgaria!

source: http://socialchangenews.com - it's a really great site.
This is a really nice video :)




i still don't think in Bulgaria people really use Twitter so much, especially for bringing virtual ideas into real meetings/events with real supporters,activits fighting/standing up for real causes. Yet, i hope it will soon become a social space for uniting change-makers, like-minded people who want to make a positive difference in the world!
Any ideas of how to make it more popular among such people?...I'm not even sure how to find them in the first place...

I reaaally want to establish a network of people who want to volunteer in various areas, around Bulgarian institutions, for improving the Bulgarian society as a whole! I want to create a HUB for people willing to share their time, their efforts, their money, their skills etc. with underprivileged people in our society!!! and excited about making this world, our society and each small community - a better, more equal and just place for everyone!!!

So, i began by creating a survey, see earlier post, about volunteering/community service among young Bulgarians. Still don't have any results, want to get the word spread around to as many people as possible and get a somewhat clear picture of the current situation.

While waiting for the results, I will prepare a list with various possible areas for volunteering, collect info on institutions that need and desire volunteers (this will be a tough one!, I already found a website that lists all orphanages in Bulgaria, which is a start!), assess what kind of skills, activities etc. can volunteers get involved in etc. Then I wish to go to schools, get in touch with some media (online), as well as companies (plus governmental institutions?). I will make a proposal to them to create a volunteering/community service club/office/or sth of the sort. A place where employees/students etc. can see available volunteer opportunities divided by areas of interest, institutions, skills required, age?, gender? (if any preferences) time available, place (first, mainly in Sofia) etc. They will have the right to choose and apply, organize groups and GET INVOLVED. The HUB will coordinate, inform, organize, recruit, train, and make people excited about sharing their available resources with others. :) Therefore, I need to make this proposal exciting, interesting, and attractive to each individual group, like for students in schools/headmasters..I can explain the benefits of such a volunteer club, or an extracurriculum activity, optional class or sth. Then to companies, I can try to 'sell' the idea of CSR-Corporate Social Responsibility, stress the benefits that will come out of such activities-team bulding, networking, better working atmosphere as well as better results for the company etc. (The hub can also provide help for companies to become members in the UN Global Compact, see its Principles) etc.

People will have the option to become members - either as individuals, as organizations,  institutions or else. Also, there will be a need of really dedicated people who will help run the coordination, organization etc. work. E.g., people who will lead the groups to the designated places, explain and introduce volunteers to the tasks etc. I already created a Social Network at Ning (it's just a sample now) that will enable us all to stay connected by chat rooms, forums, blogs, photos etc. We can post maps to guide to the places, explain how to reach, share info/guidelines etc. etc.

Some companies may decide to "Adopt" a certain cause, like an orphanage, or a park/part of a park, or creating banners for other events etc. They can choose to simply use their professional knowledge/resources and thus support a certain cause or the HUB as a whole. I wish to get some of the online media sources to devote a column or so to volunteering opportunities, stories about development issues etc. etc. - social focus that invites people to become Active, to Care and Take Action! :) Students can teach lessons, (Musical School- can perform or teach kids how to play instruments), (Drawing School- can teach kids Art, get super creative), (Drama School - can organize and perform in orphanages or teach kids exciting and interesting stuff).

Of course students can do so many other cool things! They (people from the HUB) can also get together to
watch interesting and provocative documentaries, form debates, give voice to their points of view, share their experiences, ideas, projects etc. They can organize/participate/sponsor etc. diferent events, different activities, conferences, meetings etc. the HUB can become the Number 1 Spot for SociallyMinded Active and Responsible Bulgarian Citizens! A place where people gather to think positive, to learn, to make a difference, to help those in need, to fight poverty, injustice, climate change and a whole lot of other issues!
The list of ideas is endless indeed. I think some funding will be necessary, and I definetely need some help in how to go about this, how to approach institutions, how to get people interested in things like volunteering etc!

I think that Social Media (like Twitter, Facebook, Blogger etc.) and all kinds of Cool and Useful Web Applications will be of great use towards achieving this project, so I wish to get the most useful ones and master them! :)

Anyways, I am really really really excited about the possibility of seeing a DIFFERENT/CHANGED/TRANSFORMED BULGARIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There will grow a community that will have a shared Honour Code, a shared code of Moral standards that will unite people of all walks of life, all colors, all genders, all ages, ALL-who desire to help, to give, to make our society one made up of true CITIZENS with great and good convictions, high-moral standings, with spirits full of enthusiasm, commitment, love and compassion!

Together WE CAN make a REAL and LASTING POSITIVE DIFFERENCE and make our World a better home for All Inhabitants (of all kinds)! :)

Please share any comments, advice, ideas etc. concerning the realization of this Vision! I truly, greatly appreciate this! Thank you so very much in advance!

May we all, each one in their own way, using their unique set of talents and God-given resources, bear good fruit and nourish our World with more goodness, with more love and compassion!

Yours truly,

Uwera
Check out the rest!

Water your cracked soul! (Volunteering Part II)

The cracked earth beneath my soul
Cries out in need of my support
Invest in me! Water me! Plant seeds in me!
And I’ll grow crops
Don’t let me wither and be gone…
It cries through me, when I see pain
When I see suffering it calls my name
It says I have a mission here…

Yet I am bothered by its cry
Why can’t it be happy with what I have now?
Why does it scratch me every now and then
As if trying to press me to go another way?
Why can’t it be quiet and leave me alone
Undisturbed and self-absorbed, why can’t I be so?
It says it’s not about me…that I am a part of a whole…

The squealing, shrilling voice beneath,
Comes out through every hole, indeed
Through the cracks it travels straight to me

And says – you ARE a part of HUMANITY

Yet, I don’t see what all this means,
After all, around me I see only this:
Crashed/destroyed lives vs. wealthy chaps
Forgotten lives vs. remembered/glamorous lives
People who need vs. such who have much
Displaced vs. those with A mile-long p(a)lace
…
Isn’t it nature’s order to attempt to balance this mess (the scales)?
Is this a fair and just verdict? I don’t really ask this!

I go on my way, without a concern
For the problems of others,
After all, am I not immune?
Yet, that little voice rising to speak
Is up for some campaigning and debating with me
It shows me my blessings and gives me some time
Until I start feeling a growing emptiness right in the core
I have everything that one really needs
And yet, I feel somewhat Incomplete
…
Then I start to listen, to hear this voice
And slowly to realize one truth that beats the odds:

I AM A PART OF A WHOLE,
AND I HAVE A CRUCIAL ROLE:
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCALES
DON’T LEAN ON ONE SIDE,
WITH NO REGARD FOR THE REST!

So I water the earth, I start planting seeds
And see how in time
It yields rich harvest
Now it’s all different, what I hear in me
It’s a chorus of voices that make my soul leap
A joyous song, a re-MIX of
The transformed lives of those I have reached!

Arise, oh, Human, arise and shine! Let lives be touched by your HumanE role!

You are a crucial part of HUMANITY! Play your role! Be HumanE!

p.s. the photo is from Hannah's facebook profile

Check out the rest!

The Chronic Condition of Bulgarian Political Life - Diagnosis and Treatment

Elections bring change...or so they say. True, Bulgaria has seen much of this so called change come and go like a gentle, subtle breeze or a powerful, destroying hurricane, change - we know!
But has life really changed? and by that i mean improved. But of course, with no doubt, especially (and exclusively) for those who have had the chance to usurp the power for various period of time during the last two decades.
If Bulgaria continues following this trend, in the near future it might as well reach its desired goal- improving the lives of all its people. Impossible? Think again! With a shrinking population of less than 8 million people and a new power mandate ordained every four years (or less), the arithmetic calculation is as simple as one plus one - almost anyone can go through the power circle ... at least once..at least for awhile..if they find how to crack the system. This, on the other hand is presumably quite remarkably feasible, since the cracks in the system already look like abysses and not peepholes!

Take this recent example of an ordinary citizen, who was elected as the leader of the people. He is 'the good Samaritan' Boyko Borisov, known among the common citizens simply as 'bat' (slang for 'brother'), whom i remember as a somewhat well-built bodyguard of our former king ( 'crowned' prime-minister in 2001). He became mayor of our capital Sofia in 2005, and will most probably become the next prime-minister of my country, in other words, the 'Bat-man' of Bulgaria, the super hero that will deliver the country from all evil. Another shining example of a not-so-ordinary (but by no means extraordinary) citizen is the enthusiastic young communist leader Sergey Stanishev, famous for his rocker image - riding a motorbike (wishing it's a Harley), wearing a leather jacket, and having ideals and ideas that will bring the country only prosperity and happiness. This rather suspicious figure is now holding the position of prime-minister of Bulgaria and has successfully 'charmed' away with his sleek smile everyone's hopes for change (maybe not everyone's, but everyone who is able to think and reason).

Looking back, the statistics clearly shows that Bulgaria has had a rather diverse and enchanting array of leaders, starting from a former king in the shoes of a prime minister; followed by a former communist party young rocker, disguised as a 'statesman'; and finally, even a former bodyguard in the role of the super hero...Is there anything more queer and bizarre able to pop up yet, or should we just apply for the Guinness record book for the most absurd leaders in history now!?
Bulgaria has turned into a market place, where new products are displayed and advertised every four years, begging the 'consumers' to pick them and to 'buy their stories' . They play a masquerade ball, wearing all kinds of super hero masks, savior redeemer masks, innocent angel masks, good Samaritan masks...and we get to pick, who wins the competition for best dressed at the masquerade! Bulgarians are praying that once the mask is off...the face behind it will not resemble a demon or a monster...but only a beast or a frog that can, hopefully, turn into a Prince at any moment. Bulgaria is a hopeful nation, always, always, looking for and believing in change for the better! Is this what they call the freedom to choose? or is it really freedom, if you can choose only 'the less evil' among all the evils?

America wants CHANGE! and it got it, its name is - Barack Obama. What will Bulgarians want next spring? what will they get? What mask will answer their questions, raise their hopes, draw their attention, and eventually win their vote? The experiences dogs are now mobilized. They are thinking of new strategies to attract voters, making social surveys, leaving aside some of their 'savings' to complete projects put on hold because of corruption scandals and 'get some tough measures' to stabilize the country and bring prosperity for all! One such technique has been practised quite often, namely - one-time minimal increase of the pensions, as a Christmas bonus, so that the elderly can afford to buy a piece of meat after their year-long...forced fast; or a vacation on the sunny beaches of Bulgaria for some 5000 elderly people, to warm their bones and prepare for the cold winter without heating! You see, Bulgarian politicians are really full of great ideas for massive change and full-throttle redemption, after all, who needs a Savior, when we have Sergey...or Ivan or George, or Simeon, or Boyko...?

Bulgarians like to vote for change, especially change of the mask and the slogan. For instance, they were happy to cast their firm 'Yes' vote for 'The New Time', led by former King Simeon II, whose government, eventually, didn't stand for anything else but a countdown of 4 years of lies, mismanagement of resources and widespread corruption (with some exceptions). Then appeared 'National Union Attack', with its chauvinistic, extreme nationalistic, racist slogans and 'patriotic' appeals, which, to the surprise of many educated Bulgarians, gained popularity among the masses and paved its way to parliament, led by a figure quite dim and schizophrenic. As for the currently leading coalition, it is safe to say that its main member, 'The Bulgarian Socialist Party', is a devoted and faithful successor of the Bulgarian Communist Party which ruled the country under a tight totalitarian regime for roughly 45 years (1945-1989)! The only change that they put forward was in their appearance. They did some face-lifting by 'upgrading' their party with ambitious, young 'leaders' ready to plunge into the political pool and grab all they can, and also changed their name, to symbolically assert their uniqueness and distinctiveness from their mentor and 'ancestor'.
http://www.dnes.bg/article.php?id=61020 (video prepared for the 100th anniversary of the party! total madness)

The time for change is ripe again, but are there any clean clothes to put on? Or everything is dirty and old. The Bulgarian political scene resembles a recycling plant. 'What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun' (Eccl.1:9) But who needs new, when recycling protects the environment, protects our common interests, and leads us to sustainable development...or so we think. Do we need new wine?or our old wine is more mature in taste and high in quality? or do we have to change the wine skins altogether first(Luke5:37)? because, instead of producing good old wine, we have produced sour vinegar! When democracy was stripped off the myths and legends surrounding it and its halo was removed, the truth that was unveiled hurt - recycled, unrefined, deformed and vague image of the one existing in western Europe, looking more like a 'possessed' democracy, or 'demoncracy'.

This is our wine skin - electoral democracy - and it can be perceived as a young maiden, only 20 years old, still not having been exposed to labor pain and life hardships, therefore fragile and insecure, immature and somewhat vain, but full of potential and courage, vision and strength. Or, it can be perceived as an old rusty witch, with a power only to destroy. So, where does the truth lie? Is democracy yet to gain ground and establish itself as the pillar and engine for the sustainable development of the Bulgarian society, or is it to be questioned, reexamined and revised? if democracy is not the least to blame for this 20 year old (almost) chronic condition of failure and mismanagement. Then who is to blame?
First of all, despite the objections I might face, I firmly believe that part of the problem lies in the way democracy was brought to Bulgaria in 1989. The main fuel that stirred our engine towards democratic transition was America and it raised democracy to a level of sacredness and sanctity, without mentioning the side effects that might accompany the rapid change from one kind of fuel to another, from one type of system to another. Democracy was believed to be universal, therefore automatically comprehended and applied by the people of every nation. Bulgarians embraced it fully and with great zeal and enthusiasm they started constructing their new democratic society (from scratch). The problem was that the tools they had and the skills they possessed were insufficient...because they lacked a blueprint, a vision that went beyond the assembly of a new government and the realization of free elections!

'Where there is no vision, the people perish' (Prov.29:18)! Can it be clearer? The Washington consensus applied to the Bulgarian context did not adjust itself to the context but merely set its bases, machines and plans and started operating. Reflecting on this process, it seems to me that it was like choosing to build a house, with no regard to the terrain or the materials that fit best this terrain. Blind conviction that the terrain is excellent because on similar terrain houses have already been successfully built elsewhere, or relying solely on data from the other terrain about the perils hidden on this one and therefore constructing it by modelling this house as a mirror reflection of the other ones - all these were mistakes made by the Bulgarians and their main architects and technical advisers - the Americans. Later on, these mistakes reflected back on the people and burned their hopes and dreams numerous times throughout the long transition (which has become a stable determinant of the Bulgarian state, and does not possess any trace of transition).
The purpose is not to blame, but rather to search for the flaws, so that they might be fixed (repaired) promptly and will not constitute a threat to the safety of the people in the future. Until now, threats have only increased in number, their severity has escalated and every slight wind that blows causes a massive shocks for the inhabitants of this house. Is it the terrain to blame? the materials? the construction workers? or the technical advisers? the architects? What should and can be changed after all?

In the beginning, the house was built only with decorations but no wind or rain protection layers. It was constructed to attract the eyes of its inhabitants and on-lookers, tempting them to believe that it's all there is to it. Elections were praised by all as the culmination of their freedom and development, as their ultimate achievement and goal. Their house was perfect.
Then, the first winds blew through the windows, the first storms raged and shook the floors and the walls, the first rains fell and the roof started leaking...and the house was put to the test. Freedom turned into chaos because it wasn't accurately defined and directed; the appearance of multi-party system only diffused the responsibility of any failure and left the general public tied with 'choice' and election 'freedom'; party politics became a toss-the-power mutually accepted game with its crooked rules... All these have led the country to a condition merely resembling a house, and more and more looking like a shack unsuited for a secure and stable life!

Some will argue that Bulgaria has gone through dramatic and significant changes in the course of the last 20 years, pointing to its membership in NATO and recently in the EU. These are facts and I do not denounce them. Has democracy played a role in these improvements? Of course! It has led to freedom of expression and freedom of ideas and opinions. Democratic values are accepted and respected (at least on paper) by everyone nowadays. Freedom of religion and press, the right to enjoy fair trials, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be protected by the government, to be granted basic human rights and civil liberties etc. are all values and ideals praised and instilled on every level of our society today.
Nevertheless, these changes have been only surgical, changes of the terrain, and not of the structure of the house! They have proved to be rather favorable for the stability, security and progress of the house as a whole, but even they, so far, have failed to repair the house's deepest cracks and flaws. Now, Bulgaria has been awarded the title 'black sheep' of the EU and has been scolded on multiple occasions, punished with the stick not once or twice, and all these...to no effect!

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99257

The chronic condition of this house is apparent. There is mould everywhere, the doors are creaking, the windows banging, the roof leaking, the smell of carcass spreading, the rust embellishing every corner...and change has become a distant mirage and delusion. Chronic disease is hard to treat and appease, yet what are the prospects?
Bulgaria urgently needs to renovate its foundations. It needs to start treating the causes of this illness, find the cracks and the holes and repair them and not only treat the symptoms by covering the cracks with a new decoration (elections). For the past 20 years, the winds have been favorable for Bulgaria and that is why today it enjoys full membership in the European Union and has prospects for development. Nevertheless, the EU has been forced to admit the unfortunate reality that surrounds its new member state. There is nothing charming and encouraging about its politics and it might as well be a real recipe for disaster. Penalties and punishments have been in vain, since there is no decency or sense of shame on the Bulgarian political scenery. All there is farce and act in a mediocre play, directed by self-made, pretentious directors with big ambitions and small visions!

Democracy is indeed to be praised. Yet, it is the democracy which establishes the rule of law in its foundation and builds on it the rest of its structure, that should be praised! Only so, will political pluralism and the separation of powers prove effective and efficient weapons to fight corruption, overcome stagnation and lead to prosperity and progress. Unless this is done, unless the rule of law becomes the pillar of our house, we will never be safe. Democracy will not mature on its own and will not bear good fruits automatically. It resembles young wine, which needs to be attained and preserved well, in a special place, under certain temperature and conditions, so that it may mature and become excellent both in taste and fragrance!

As for whom shall be the 'doctor' and 'Change-maker', the future will tell. My guess is, this person might as well be from a whole new generation. In another 20 years, who knows, Bulgarians can choose their own first 'colored' president. There are good prospects. My future husband (from Uganda) and I (from Bulgaria), might be the chosen ones for the task. Who is to say, only God knows! Until then, change will remain a flickering light within every person seeking hope and a better life, yet it will not burn out, but rather, remain burning like an eternal fire, preparing the way for the real CHANGE! When and how nobody knows, we can only hope...it is not little, too late!
Check out the rest!

A little Drop in the vast Ocean

Don't give on your hope for change
just because you think
you are a a mere drop in the vast ocean we live.

if you Are a drop, with ideals and faith
and i am a drop, with enthusiasm and vigor
and then He and She, and eventually We
all become drops each uniquely equipped and united,
ready to act...
then the ocean, my friend, will become all the more,
filled with sweet fragrance, with peace, love and freedom for ALL!

Don't let the waves (of man's evil)
sweep away your dreams or ideals

Don't let NOone (for Any reason)
stomp on your beliefs or values
(just because they are hard to believe/achieve)
God will help us!

But rise above all earthly evil, greed, and false
and ride the waves of change
and guide the winds to progress and peace!

You have the power, you little drop that falls in the perfect place~!


Jesus said: " EVERYTHING is possible for him who BELIEVES!" Mark9:23

Check out the rest!