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Tips
& Hints from Marc Gold: How to Change the World While Traveling
How do you prepare?
-
Get a lot of education about the place you're going to -- through
reading, watching videos, talking to people, surfing web sites.
Learn about the area's history, politics, and geography. Get there
with as much knowledge as possible.
- Learn
20 phrases in that language. People appreciate that, and it goes
a long way toward making connections.
- Do
special research into the problems of that country. Find out what
the NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are doing. Meet with
them when you get there.
How
do you raise money?
- Talk
to people. Write a letter (see sample letter) and send it to everyone
you know. If you don't have 100 acquaintances, so what? Do you
have 40?
- Start
a web page. Talk to web designers, let them know what you're doing,
ask if they can help.
- If
you have time, talk with rotary clubs, be on the radio. It's all
about making the time and having the guts to follow through.
- Become
a non-profit [this is actually more affordable than you might
realize -- check out the National Heritage Foundation] or become
associated with one.
- Create
a newsletter. Have photos to send, or to show on your web page.
- The
most important part of raising money? ASK for it.
How
do you know whom to donate to?
-
You meet trustworthy people, and you keep going back to them.
-
Meet with people at NGOs once you're in the country, and ask them
to connect you to good people who are especially worthy or needy.
-
Be cool. Hang out for a number of days. Get to know people before
you start talking about money.
-
Trust your instincts. It's easy for money to go into the wrong
hands. One family member can keep it from the others, or it can
introduce jealousy. You learn as you go.
-
The longer you do it, the stronger your connections will be, the
more you'll know whom to trust -- and they'll connect you with
honest, reliable, deserving people in the community.
-
When you're giving to people on the street, look for people collecting
bottles, cans -- they're not begging, they're working. $3 or $5
goes a long way.
-
Do a web search for NGOs or NGO directories in the region you're
planning to visit. Visit the World Organization of Non-Governmental
Organizations (WANGO), Taking It Global or the Journal of Philanthropy
for resources and listings that can get you started.
How
do you avoid imposing your ideas about what people need?
-
Ask. Find out from people who know the area or the organization
or from the person him or herself what would make sense.
-
Look for people who are already trying to help themselves and
give them a little boost.
-
Let people know that the only way they can pay it back is by helping
someone else.
-
What do you say to concerns about being an over-privileged westerner
walking into communities and throwing your cash around? If you
talk to people who desperately need it, they'll say, "That's
cool." But you have to be smart and sensitive about it. There
are definitely ways money can do more harm than good.
-
Ultimately you have to ask yourself, Is it better to sit around
doing nothing, or to do something, however imperfect?
How
to get involved in "adopting a village" while living at
home:
Here
is information on starting your own website:
Here
is information on applying for IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status:
Here
is information on starting your own nonprofit agency:
Here
is information on fundraising for your nonprofit agency:
Here
are some links from other "Global Ambassadors" that are
very helpful to those who want to change the world while travelling:
Copyright (c) 2004 Judy Wolf
www.judywolf.com
Judy has also written a sample fundraising letter
for those who want to start their own project:
http://www.judywolf.com/resources/100friends_tips-n-hints.html
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