Using Social Media to Further Your Service

June 16th, 2009

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The other day I was struck by a tweet from Twitter phenom, http://www.twitter.com/amoyal.  This tweet said simply something to the effect of “remember that Twitter is great, but the point is to use it to make face-to-face relationships.”  I think that is something that is easily forgotten in the world of social media: that social media is a means to an end and not an end within itself.  Social media is there to help spread the word & inspire action.  When used appropriately, it can be an amazing, life-saving tool that can really help you do just that; you just have to be careful to use it correctly.

I was just recently asked by a new member of Enchanting Challenge how to most effectively use Twitter to further a service goal.  I sat down and brain-stormed, and this is what I came up with:

  1. Only follow those Twitter users that inspire you.  Don’t get side-tracked by celebrity gossip or people who utilize Twitter for meaningless chatter.  Stay focused.   Follow those who tweet messages that inspire you and get you excited. 
  2. Tweet with short, simple, get-to-the-point and personalized messages always with links that help shed light on your cause.  If you do this often, your Twitter personality will gain momentum, and those that follow you will soon have an idea of your theme & mission.
  3. Reply to like-minded followers with links they might specifically be interested in.  For example, for Enchanting Challenge, one of my duties is to circulate information regarding service trips.  If I tweet about a service trip that I know a specific organization or publication will be interested in, I always make the tweet a reply to that user.  For instance, I often make tweets such as “@Idealist, u would luv this service opp in Ecuador: http://www.abcd.org” or something like that.  If you do this often, those users will most likely reply to you, and you will begin to form a Twitter community.

I really believe in the power of social media to further service causes.  I am inspired and moved by organization’s like Ripon College’s R.I.P.E.N. local food program that has been widely expanded partially due to Twitter.  Such good news is amazing and we can learn from organizations like these to use social media correctly and productively.  I really believe in the advice I have given here about how to most-effectively utilize social media.  If you have any further questions, or advice you would like to share with me on this topic, please don’t hesitate to contact me at sarahannmaxwell@gmail.com or to comment on the blog!  I’ll be sure to get back to you asap!

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Service Trip to Africa–Humanitourism Call to Africa!

June 11th, 2009

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Yesterday I introduced you to Zoe Katsulos from Inside/Out, the altruistic group that plans humanitourism missions all over the world.   Today I want to bring to your attention their up-and-coming voyage to Africa this August.  There are still some open spots available on this journey, and after reading a little about it, you very well might decide that it is the perfect service trip for you…

The Destination: Maasailand, between Tanzania and Kenya.

The Mission: Planting jatropha trees, which are used for biofuel.  You will work with the local Maasailand community.

Lodging: Participants will live with hosts in the local Maasailand community.

Unique Aspects of the Trip: After the jatropha-tree planting mission has been accomplished, the volunteers will be led on a climb up Mt. Kilimanjarao. Yep, you read that right: an ascent up MOUNT KILIMANJARO!  Followed by a safari in Amboseli National Park.  That sounds like an absolute dream to me…A true African dream…

The Dates: August 15th-29th.

The Cost: The total cost is $4495.  That’s a BIG number we know, but if this is the service endeavor of your dreams, like SalaamGarage, Inside/Out provides you the service opportunity, the cultural opportunity, the destination and activities in an all-in-one package that you would be hard-pressed to make happen without their guidance.  If you decide afterall that this just might be the trip with your name stamped on it, click here to learn more about registering.  If it sounds great, but you decide that you just can’t swing it financially but are interested in future trips, contact me at sarahannmaxwell@gmail.com so I can send you Inside/Out material on long-term advice for saving money for service journeys.  It really is great material and can really help in the long-run! insideout-africa21

 

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Inside/Out: Humanitourism Adventures

June 10th, 2009

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The other day I received a comment on the blog from Zoe Katsulos, the wonderful leader of Inside/Out, a program similar to SalaamGarage.  Like SalaamGarage, Inside/Out hosts organized trips throughout the year to various regions of the world.  During these voyages, the participating travelers work together on a collaborative service project that is particularly relevant to the region at hand.

Meet Zoe: zoe-katsulos

Here what Zoe says about Inside/Out’s mission:

inside/out provides life changing travel experiences for people who want to make a difference in the world. Our trips are designed around opportunities to do humanitarian volunteer work on meaningful international projects and are combined with sustainable eco-adventure travel in the local area of the project and people. These Humanitourism™ trips are designed to create longer-term relationships between communities and travelers.

I love how they sum up their mission, and I LOVE their term, Humanitourism.  It couldn’t be more spot-on! 

As we speak, Inside/Out is leading an animal welfare mission in Greece, where they are working with the local homeless dog population.  Some of their projects during this endeavor include installing permanent feeding stations for the animals, and also preparing some dogs to be adopted into homes.  They are very excited about this project (rightfully so! and so I’m sure are the dogs they are helping! :-) )greek-dogs

If this animal welfare mission is something that is right up your alley, don’t fret: they’ve had such great responses to this trip that they are planning another one for next year!!  So you can follow along with this year’s trip, learn all you can, get pumped up, and take part next year!  Pretty great, huh?  You can follow along with them on Twitter, Facebook, and by emailing Zoe to sign up for the Inside/Out newsletter (mail.insideout@gmail.com).

I get so excited learning about these various organizations that are out there, welcoming service as a part of travel, and am so happy that through Enchanting Challenge, we can help get the word out and connect volunteers to the service trip of their dreams…Tomorrow, there will be a post about Inside/Out’s summer trip to Africa, for which they are still openings!  Keep your eyes peeled! :-)

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Let’s Help Fellow SalaamGarage Volunteer, Simon Cordova!

June 9th, 2009

Last week I blogged about SalaamGarage and their wonderfully altruistic voluntourism endeavors.  Well, they haven’t gotten out of my mind.  I’m infatuated with their organization!  And I want to do what I can to get the word out to help them with their endeavors.  (After all, that is the goal of Enchanting Challenge: to connect the volunteer dots across the universe!!)

I think one of the coolest things SalaamGarage does is offer advice about how to raise money for their adventures.  There are so many organizations out there that offer altruistic and exciting travel packages, but so often it seems impossible as to how one can afford such an under-taking.  SalaamGarage breaks it down and reminds you that you can raise money, a little bit from a lot of different sources, to help you get on your way. 

In my last post, I also mentioned Simon Cordova, a SalaamGarage volunteer who is taking part in their September 2009 voyage to India.  Simon has under-taken quite an endeavor: not only is he embarking upon the voyage to Rajasthan, India and taking a nose-dive into some serious service work there, but he is also taking on a MAJOR citizen journalist project once he returns home to Los Angeles…Let me explain the full monty here.

Meet Simon: simon

An LA resident and photography guru, Simon will be working with the KARUNA mobile education van this September in India through the Vatsalya nonprofit.  KARUNA is basically a school on wheels that drives to the slums in Jaipur, India to help educate children who are too poor to be sent to school.  KARUNA has the best intentions, but not the best funding, and thus it can only make this educational voyage once every five weeks.  Simon’s goal is to accompany the KARUNA operators on their voyage this fall, and to document their efforts.  He will use this documentary to raise money so that the van can make the trip more often than only once every five weeks; his goal is to get the van to the slums ONCE A WEEK.  It’s a big goal, but reachable with outside help.

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But, Simon is VERY ambitious and doesn’t plan on stopping hiw work when he leaves India.  Nope, he’s got more in mind: when he returns to Los Angeles, Simon plans to put his photography to work, to let the picture tell the story.  He is scheming to put on a photography exhibit of the photos he took while in Vatsalya to further spread the word and raise more money for the KARUNA van.  I think this is SUCH an amazing idea, and one that could turn his potential into reality.  BUT, he needs funds.  He says it best when says, “Though I have plenty of drive, and the desire to make an impact with the KARUNA effort, I lack the necessary funding to do so.”  So let’s get the word out there and help Simon however we can.  With a lot of helping hands, a little bit goes a long way.  Simon needs a total of $5000 to make this trip happen (flight, project amount and fee’s).  To carry this dream to fruition, he’s begun the penny collecting journey and is at $150 right now in donations.  To donate yourself, click here:  http://www.vatsalyaproject.com/donate/.  To spread the word to others who may be interested, you can read Simon’s words on his blog here, check out his photography here, or follow him Twitter here.  Volunteers like Simon bring such hope to the world, and that hope is contagious.  If we all help Simon a little bit, we can all be a part of his work, and the further work that his work creates, and help spread that wonderful feeling of hope…

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Posted in Children, Community Volunteering, Education, Interviews, Joy, Service, Service Abroad, Social entrepreneurism, socially responsible travel | 1 Comment »

 

SalaamGarage Service Opportunity in India this September

June 3rd, 2009

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Flashback to SalaamGarage…

The other day I posted about the lovely voluntourism organization, SalaamGarage.  Today I want to talk specifically about their upcoming service trip to India this September.  They have 3 spots left for this trip and I want to get the word out so that any of my loyal readers that are interested can have the opportunity to sign up! 

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The 411…

Here’s the low-down.  The SalaamGarage journey to India will voyage to Rajasthan, India from September 18-October 1.  In Rajasthan, volunteers will work with the Vatsalya Nongovernmental Organization, a really lovely & altruistic nonprofit that seeks to bring opportunity to the underprivileged people of their city.  Some of their endeavors include housing homeless women and children in a group home away from the city; orchestrating educational, mental, and physical support systems; teaching HIV/AIDS awareness programs; and coordinating internships and vocational training for impoverished city residents. 

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How to learn more, an insider’s story…

To learn more about the details of the service involved with this trip, you should check out Salaam volunteer Simon’s website.  Simon has talked in detail about the specific project he will be working on, helping to coordinate Vatsalya’s Educational Van that tours some of the city’s poorest areas to bring the education to the children.  He talks with wonderful passion about his wonderful ideas and plans.  You should check out his site asap for inspiration! :-)

The cost…And the reason to choose SalaamGarage

Okay now for the details that make everyone groan…The price.  The total cost of the trip is $3300, and that includes all housing, 2 meals a day, all transportation, translators, in-country guides, and museum entries.  Also, 10% of the profits go directly to Vatsalya to help them in their endeavors.  ALSO, if you refer a friend, you get a $200 discount! :-) So spread the word!!  Keep in mind that the prices does not include air fare, spending money, visas, vaccinations, laundry, tips, 3rd daily  meals, beverages, and the necessary travel & health insurance (this is a big must!).  It definitely sounds like a lot of money, but if this type of hands-on service in this region of the world is something you are looking for, SalaamGarage prepares it all for you at the lowest possible cost. 

How to pay for this…

SalaamGarage includes lots of ways that you can raise money to support such a venture.  For example, the aforementioned volunteer, Simon, has a donation tab up on his website that is helping his readers and supporters donate to his cause.  Many of the past volunteers have similar stories of raising all the money they needed for their trip by putting the word out about their endeavors and collecting a little money from a lot of different places.  Anything is possible if you want it enough.  Good luck, and Salaam! :-)

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Three Cups of Tea & The Central Asia Institute

June 2nd, 2009

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I just finished reading Three Cups of Tea, and my life is forever changed because of it.  This book is the amazing story of Greg Mortenson, a man who orchestrates the construction of dozens of schools, mostly for girls, in Pakistan & Afghanistan.  A mountain climber at heart, it all started when Greg began a journey to hike K2, the world’s second tallest mountain, deep in the trecherous terrain of the Pakistani Karakoram Mountains.  Due to complications and health/safety emergencies within his climbing team, Mortenson ultimately failed to summit the mountain.  But it was all meant to be: upon his descent, he stumbled upon a small mountain village, over-flowing with kindess, and in desperate need of a school.  Greg promised to return to the village and help his newly-found friends build a school.

He more than kept his promise.  He returned to the village a couple months later to begin the school’s construction.  And then he went to another village, and another village, and another and another.  Since the beginning of this journey in 1993, Greg and the foundation he founded, the Central Asia Institute, have built 78 schools, and they’re still going!

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This summary does not do Greg Mortenson’s work justice.  Every page of the 340-pages that make up Three Cups of Tea was moving.  If you take one iota of advice from this blog, let it be this: read Three Cups of Tea.  If you want to learn more right now, you should visit the Central Asia Institute’s website for information about its past, present, and future projects.

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The best thing about the book is that it is so inspiring, and it makes you realize that you really have the power to help, wherever you are and whoever you are.  At the end of the book, there is a list of ways you can help after reading the book, such as donating a copy of Three Cups of Tea to your local library.  And when you log onto the Central Asia Institute website, you can see that if you send a check for $20, you can buy enough school supplies for a student for an entire year.  Such simple ways to help out that really do help! 

Right now, this book has really hit home for me because everyday there have been stories in the news about the violence that people in Pakistan are currently suffering.  As we read the news about refugees fleeing the Swat valley, about suicide bombers attacking the normally-peaceful city of Lahore, violence ripping apart Peshawar, Greg Mortenson’s work stands apart as beacons of hope, as candles in the darkness.  He reminds us to not give up hope, that every place has the potential to be a center of peace, and that we can make that happen. 

I am lucky enough to have the most wonderful friend, Hira, an amazing young woman from Pakistan who will change the world with her goodness and her kindness.  When we were discussing Greg Mortenson and Three Cups of Tea, she left me with this beautiful quote from Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, that I want to share with you:

There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women.
My message to you all is of hope, courage and confidence. Let us mobilize all our resources in a systematic and organized way and tackle the grave issues that confront us with grim determination and discipline worthy of a great nation.

Let’s listen to Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s message, and choose the power of the pen.  Let us embrace hope, courage, and confidence, and together bring peace to our personal corners of the world.

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Voluntourism

May 29th, 2009

salaamgarage3Voluntourism is the new term that I keep seeing popping up everywhere.  It is the wonderful term that describes exactly what groups like Enchanting Challenge promote–tourism with a service spin.  Voluntourism is the wonderful way to see the world while leaving a positive mark upon it.  And the trend is catching on!

The other day while surfing through Idealist.org, my normal every-day wake-up routine, I came across an organization that seemed especially beautiful: SalaamGarage.  I have to admit that it was the title that drew me in right away (I know, I know, don’t judge based on titles…).  But how could I not be taken with an opener that begins with the beautiful word, Salaam, meaning peace in Arabic?  It just takes your breath away and makes you stop in your tracks!

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Upon further research, I learned that SalaamGarage is a wonderful organization and a leader in voluntourism.  SalaamGarage organizes trips around the world where the participants visit a unique destination and partner up with an NGO in that region to work on a project that is calling for attention.  The volunteer himself/herself CREATES the project together with the NGO, based on what they think is most pressing.  This is really beautiful because then the volunteer is a real mover-and-shaker with this work; they are even a part of the creation stages.

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While on their visit and contributing to their project, the participants become citizen journalists, or independent writers that transcribe their experience and pass the lessons on to others through their writings.  This does not mean that SalaamGarage trips are limited to professional writers.  No, it is open to everyone, and it encourages everyone to discover their own voice.  You can write (or rather transcribe your experience) in whatever medium you prefer–whether it be through social media like Twitter or Facebook; your own blog or publications; or photographs; or anything else you can think of!!  These transcriptions then become independent media projects that help to show the outside world what beautiful projects you are taking part in (helping to spread the word about what needs HELP!). 

salaamgarage5As their website points out, because of their profound relationships that have taken a decade to create, SalaamGarage is able to lead you to people and places that are not normally on a tourist’s radar.  SalaamGarage gives you the chance to make an intimate impact upon a region and a people. 

Alright, you sold yet?  Wait til you hear the list of places you can travel to!  Right now, SalaamGarage is planning an Indian Voyage, for which sign-up’s are being accepted until June 15th!!  So hurry up and get your signature in, they are waiting for you!!  The land of tea and sari’s is calling your name…I can just hear it…Can’t you?!

Check out what Max Gladwell (one of my Idealistic heroes) wrote about SalaamGarage in the Huffington Post on May 9th:

“SalaamGarage coordinates trips for citizen journalists (that means you) to places like India and Vietnam in conjunction with non-government organizations like Seattle-based Peace Trees. The destination is the story, as these humanitarian journalists report on the people they meet and discoveries they make. Their words, images, and video are posted to the social web to gain exposure and because these stories just need to be told.” Max Gladwell, The Huffington Post 5/09

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Posted in Service, Service Abroad, socially responsible travel | 2 Comments »

 

A Message of Hope from Young Pakistanis

May 28th, 2009

Last Monday I read a news story in the New York Times that I have not been able to stop thinking about.  The story is called, “Young Pakistanis Take One Problem Into Their Own Hands,” and it is about a wonderful group of young people in Lahore, Pakistan who gather every Sunday to pick up trash in their city’s public places.  The trash-pickers were organized by a group of teens and young twenty-something’s that are frustrated by the prevailing sentiment that all is lost.  These youngsters refuse to believe that all is lost, and they are starting to set a new tone by showing that one visible problem that bothers everyone, TRASH, can be taken care of by a small collective movement.  This they hope will help show people that other problems can too be solved with collective action.

Shoaib Ahmed, one of the founders of the trash collecting movers and shakers
 
Shoaib Ahmed, one of the founders of the trash collecting movers and shakers

 

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These young people are defying a suffocating sentiment in Pakistan, and despite huge obstacles, they are changing the way people think and behave.  And they couldn’t be doing it at a more important time.  For the past few years, news of increasing violence and Taliban insurgencies have been discoloring poor Pakistan.  Then, 2 weeks ago, Swat Valley was evacuated, leaving so many without homes, missing family, and desperately vulnerable to violence, illness, and poverty.  Yesterday, a suicide bomb rocked Lahore, a city that has remained proudly seperate from the violence sweeping through the border and tribal regions, and also the city where the trash collecting young people hail from.  And, today, news reached the world of another bomb shaking up Pakistan, this one in Peshawar.  Pakistan really needs a ray of hope to remind them of the potential power they have as a people to restore peace, and these young trash collectors are starting the movement…My heart is with them and I know your’s is too!!!  Join their Facebook group here and start helping spread the word, spread the movement.

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Get Your Green Headlines!!!

May 27th, 2009

Hello hello!!  I’m here again to remind you of all the good news hiding in our newspapers these days!!!  Today I have read some REALLY hopeful stories that I would like to share with you now!

1. Right now, as we speak, the 2nd Annual Biofuels Summit is currently going on in Marina Madarin, Singapore.  As the blogger Cecilia wrote in her post, “Innovative News,” the goal of the Summit is to “evaluate the latest developments and opportunities in the Biofuel industry as a real solution to climate crisis and ever-rising energy prices.”  Of course, biofuel is controversial and there are arguments for and against it.  Thus, it may not be the solution to everything, but at least major world powers–and polluters–are meeting to discuss ways that they can take action to green themselves.  To read updates on the Summit, which ends today, check out their official website here: http://www.biofuelssummit.com/.

2. The Clinton Climate Initiative along with the US Green Building Council (USGBC) has launched a Sustainable Urban Development Program, meaning that they are going to build green communities, not just green buildings.  Talk about ambition!!!  And wait to you hear the details of this plan.  First of all, this plan is hosting 16 projects that span 6 continents.  The projects will strive to build and revamp (retrofit) urban developments that have a major reduction of on-site carbon dioxide emissions.  As the website states, “when the initial 16 projects are completed, nearly 1 million people will live and work in Climate Positive communities.”  Here is the list of cities hosting the projects:

  • Melbourne, Australia
  • Palhoca, Brazil
  • Toronto, Canada
  • Victoria, Canada
  • Ahmedabad, India
  • Jaipur, India
  • outside Panama City, Panama
  • Pretoria, South Africa
  • Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Stockholm, Sweden
  • London, England
  • San Francisco, USA
  • Destiny Florida, USA

3. Slow Food International is spreading like wild-fire through college campuses!  And it is a GREAT phenomenon because it is teaching college kids the value of cooking, and the value of cooking with local resources unique to their region!  This is arming young adults with the skills they need to then go out into the world and cook up a green household.  One very special story is the story of Marquette University’s Slow Food Chapter.  This chapter is very close to my heart because it is my alma mater. :-)   But I am so proud of these students, because they have banded together to teach each other the value of local cooking, and they really are learning how to be socially responsible adults through cooking!  So far the Marquette Slow Food Chapter has hosted 2 events:

  • Friday Night Gourmet Meeting:  members gathered at one of their homes and together cooked up a pizza using ingredients that were donated by a local business. 
  • Cooking Class: a cooking teacher from neighboring Mukwonago instructed a class on how to cook hors d’oeuvres and appetizers!!!  Good stuff!

Linda Menck, a professional-in-residence, said it best when she said,

I am so proud of these students.  What they have done is more than create a Slow Food Chapter…They are poised to make social change on campus.

Go Marquette!!  To read more, check out their write-up they received in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Marquette Slow Food Members cooking away their local pizza

Marquette Slow Food Members cooking away their local pizza

Go Slow Food!!! We love you at Enchanting Challenge!

Go Slow Food!!! We love you at Enchanting Challenge!

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Must-See Green News Programs

May 21st, 2009

I know I’ve mentioned before that the news sites I choose to read often lean towards good news, so that I sometimes feel like there is no bad in the world at all (that is, until, I pick up a normal newspaper!).  Which I know is not a very good strategy, as it is what the Ethical Man deems as seeing pregnant women everywhere.  Okay, let  me explain–in a post made in March on his wonderful blog, the Ethical Man talked about how when his wife was pregnant, they suddenly noticed all the pregnant women around them.  It seemed like pregnant women were everywhere, but it was really that they were just acutely aware of anyone and everyone pregnant.  So now the Ethical Man says he is doing the same with good green news–because it is HIS job to track green goodness, he suddenly notices the good news everywhere, so that he thinks that all news is good green news. 

We know that can’t be the solution, and we need to be careful to be fair and balanced.  However, a hefty dose of good news is good for the soul, and I want to cheer up all my readers today with sharing some emerald gems of news programs that you should really check out to perk up.

First: The PBS Program Planet Forward.  Planet Forward is a web program that collages ideas regarding the energy future of our planet.  The program features interviews, commentary, brainstormed ideas, and discussions.  It is a great discussion forum, and very interactive with its community of viewers.  Check out today’s interview with Van Jones, the founder of Green for All, and the Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  Check out the interview here!  Van Jones on Planet Forward

THE program

THE program

the man, Van Jones
the man, Van Jones

Second: The Ethical Man, the BBC’s global warming correspondent.  He’s STILL at it, and he is inspiring!!  He is totally tireless as he traipses across the US interviewing people on their green initiatives.  You can read his blog here and you can join his Facebook fan group here.  ALSO, you can watch his BBC episodes online here!  Check it out asap, it will make your day!

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Third: The Carrotmob movement.  The Carrotmob movement is an organization of like-minded people who vow to support local business within their community.  If you visit their website, you can see how carrotmobs are sweeping the globe!!  You can see how you can get involved with the carrotmob closest to you, taking part in all their cool endeavors!  If it just so happens that your community does not have a carrotmob, their website can help show you how to start one!  So go to it, visit their site and check out their awesome welcome video!  It will convince even the staunchest cynic. 

Fourth: The new amazing documentary, FRESH.  Fresh is a powerful documentary about where the majority of our food comes from.  It is frightening, but it is also very hopeful, in that Fresh also documents the rapidly-gaining steam movements spreading from coast to coast to promote natural, toxic-free, and local food.  In the creator, Ana Sofia Joanes’s own words,

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

Check out their website today to become informed.  I promise it will empower you!

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Okay, troops!!  That reading/viewing material should keep you busy for a little while!  Please let me know if you check out any of the sites–give me your thoughts, feelings, and personal endeavors!!  And if any of these sources motivate you to make your own personal green goals, don’t forget to list them on http://www.enchantingchallenge.com to open up the dialogue and spread-the-word!!

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