Community: Actions and Supporter groups

Community Actions are something that everyone can get involved with and they are crucial to the work that we do. Raising awareness about the issues that we work with, increasing understanding and showing people what actions they can take have a huge impact. 

All returned volunteers complete a social action project in their own communities as part of the programme so chances are if you're an RV you're on here looking for inspiration or wondering why your fabulous project isnt up here as one of the examples! In the past our returning volunteers have done a variety of different actions from large to small, serious to way out there but the key thing is that they have all raised awareness of at least one development issue and they have all asked those taking part to take action on something to do with those issues. We hope that the ideas of previous volunteers and supporters will inspire and motivate you. 

Tell someone  - Talks, workshops and speeches from returned volunteers are increasingly popular. Once you've exhausted your friends, family and random strangers on the bus with your stories about volunteering why not transfer all that enthusiasm and experience into telling a school group, youth club or univerisity group not only what you've seen and done but what they could do to about it. Numerous returning volunteers every year go and tell people about their GX experience. We believe that hearing first hand about the issues that people around the world face everyday is a powerful tool to inspire and involve people, to break down sterotypes and assumptions and to build the sense of a global community where people understand how their actions impact those around them.

You can organise a talk yourself or ask us if we have a any requests for a speaker in your area. Local supporter groups often get requests for talks so don't forget to check with them too.  

If you are a group that would like to organise a speaker please contact response@vso.org.uk and we will try and accomodate your request.  

Show someone - Have you ever heard the phrase a picture speaks a thousand words? Well some of our volunteers use that theory to really transport the people in their community into the heart of the issues that they care about. We know you'll have taken photographs and maybe even made some films while you have been away so why not show them to wider audience. Use the power of those images to really put people in the shoes of the people you have been working with. One returning volunteer took this to call to action very seriously and we're proud to say that the "take one action" film festival has been born as a result. We don't expect you all to start a film festival but showing an exhibition of photographs, film or art work along with some advice on constructive things people can do about the issues you are showing them can be an exciting way to get your message out.

Challenge someone - How many times have you heard people react to a call for fundraising, signing a petition or getting involved in someone way by belittling the issue, it surely cant be all that bad. One returning volunteer decided to show people just how hard it was to get a daily essential like water in some ofthe countries we work in. Helena filmed how hard communities in Namibia have to work to collect and save water and then challenged a local youth group to live in the same way, walking long distances to obtain water, using minimal amounts and saving wherever possible. After the event, which recieved large amounts of press coverage, she gave out water hippos (which reduce the amount of water used in toilet flushing) and advice on using less water. Helena's event reached over 100,000 people and her film will be shown nationally as short films in GP surgeries and local schools through the organisation Life Channel, ensuring that the impact of the project continues long into the future. 

 

So why not challenge those around you to deal head on with the issues and see how they fare, living on a dollar day, walking a mile for water or having electricity for just a fews hours a night.

 

The above are a just a small taster of the things you could do to fight poverty by raising awareness in your own community.  You've had the experience, you've got the skills, knowledge and enthusiasm, we're here to support you so now its over to you.

 

To see if there is a supporter group in your area who could help you check here.