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!
www.350.org"
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