This week I have done 3 presentations, all of them with a different theme, vibe and ultimately experience for me.
2
of the presentations were in schools: one to over 100 pupils, and the
other only 30 pupils (catholic school). Both schools are very active in
their awareness raising of global poverty and regulary engage the
children in a variety of activities which focus on the topic. I am
always so amazed by the knowledge of even the youngest students and how
interested they are in the world around them.
Although I do smile with
the noises they make when they see the video of ye old London and there
is shit (literally) flowing into the river Thames.
My other
presentation was in partnership with Ayrshire Fairtrade Alliance. It was
a public event and only around 22 people came. However, the feedback I
received was amazing, I met with a huge variety of people who had
different socio-economic backgrounds and varying degrees of interest is
some of the issues I talked about.
This was the first time I was
properly grilled on the presentation and asked for more facts and
figures. I was so glad I brought my training pack with me; I’d rather
have the right information and was not at all embarrassed about having
to look things up for people. Some of the questions really threw me, but
I think I managed to handle them well, with a degree of
professionalism. Coping under pressure is part of my paid employment,
and I think it stood me in good stead. I managed to obtain quite a few
commitments, which is what the aim of the game is really. These people
all want to know more, be more involved, and wither that’s 10 people or
100 or 1000 I know that it was because of me, and as the saying goes
“every little helps”.
Monday, 26 November 2012
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Presenting to kids
So today I am off to do my first presentation in a Primary School....ECK! I am pretty excited as its over 100 kids, plus 20odd teachers. Plus because of the attention span/ time allowance it'll be much shorter than usual. I just want to make sure I get all the main bits plus keep it interesting for the kids. Fingers crossed for me :)
I have my GPP t-shirt on. I love my t-shirt, I feel awesome in it!!
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Charging ahead, business style
So today has been a very productive day, with a total of four presentations secured in the last week and a further two prospective meetings half set up. Despite my previous concerns that things just weren't moving, today proves that maybe I haven't been hitting this with the right gusto.
As some of you know when I am not volunteering I also engage in some paid employment (you know to pay bills, eat and of course buy nice things from time to time...) Some of you may know that my paid employment is in fact that of a helping people variety, for by day I am in fact a social worker.
I love my job. Despite the stressful case load, long hours (9-5 my ass) and rollercoaster of emotions that come on a daily basis, I do actually love my job. The reason I am telling you this as part of my blog on my peronal experiences and thoughts on extreme poverty is because today I made a connection between the two.
I have sent e-mails, letters, contact sheets, to a variety of schools, churches, and comunity groups in my local area. I have had next to no response and was beginning to think that I was swimming against the tides.
Then I thought, I work with difficult people every day. People who avoid my calls, ignore my letters and dodge my visits. I don't just sit back and let it happen, I don't feel like a failure and most importantly I don't give up!
So today I applied my work ethos to my voluntary work and total divided my list of schools up into sections. Todays was the local acadmeys and I called each one. I applied my work skills: polite, clear, to the point, and instantly making people like me, I combined them with the excellent skills taught at recent ambassador training on campaigning (thanks Sam) and made sure I caught and hold their attention quickly. I used the unsuccessful e-mails to my advance, quoting them as a reference before politely asking if there was any interest in the presentations explained in the e-mails. Funnily enough almost all the people hadn't seen or read the e-mail but I was able to leave ne number, and have secured two further meetings with head teachers as a result.
Tomorrow I move onto another segiment of the list. At this rate I may need another ambassador to split the jobs!! haha!!
As some of you know when I am not volunteering I also engage in some paid employment (you know to pay bills, eat and of course buy nice things from time to time...) Some of you may know that my paid employment is in fact that of a helping people variety, for by day I am in fact a social worker.
I love my job. Despite the stressful case load, long hours (9-5 my ass) and rollercoaster of emotions that come on a daily basis, I do actually love my job. The reason I am telling you this as part of my blog on my peronal experiences and thoughts on extreme poverty is because today I made a connection between the two.
I have sent e-mails, letters, contact sheets, to a variety of schools, churches, and comunity groups in my local area. I have had next to no response and was beginning to think that I was swimming against the tides.
Then I thought, I work with difficult people every day. People who avoid my calls, ignore my letters and dodge my visits. I don't just sit back and let it happen, I don't feel like a failure and most importantly I don't give up!
So today I applied my work ethos to my voluntary work and total divided my list of schools up into sections. Todays was the local acadmeys and I called each one. I applied my work skills: polite, clear, to the point, and instantly making people like me, I combined them with the excellent skills taught at recent ambassador training on campaigning (thanks Sam) and made sure I caught and hold their attention quickly. I used the unsuccessful e-mails to my advance, quoting them as a reference before politely asking if there was any interest in the presentations explained in the e-mails. Funnily enough almost all the people hadn't seen or read the e-mail but I was able to leave ne number, and have secured two further meetings with head teachers as a result.
Tomorrow I move onto another segiment of the list. At this rate I may need another ambassador to split the jobs!! haha!!
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Oxfam Grow Campaign - a worthwhile cause?
This month's campaign is the Oxfam grow campaign. This campaign has been going for a while and is a worthwhile (and easy cause) to get behind.
We all eat, its a universal human basic need. Some of us eat too much, some don't eat meat, others have food allergy's, but we all eat.
What you may find amazing is the fact that 1/3 of humanity is feed by small farms in the developing world. Over 500million of them!! In sub-sahara Africa and Asia produce almost 80% of the worlds food.
We all eat, its a universal human basic need. Some of us eat too much, some don't eat meat, others have food allergy's, but we all eat.
What you may find amazing is the fact that 1/3 of humanity is feed by small farms in the developing world. Over 500million of them!! In sub-sahara Africa and Asia produce almost 80% of the worlds food.
However, the majority of smallholder farmers still lack
investment and consequently struggle to produce much beyond subsistence levels.
Moreover, 1 in 7 people around the world goes to bed hungry every night and
global population is set to increase by another 2 billion by 2050.
The Co-operative believe that with the right tools, training
and investment, smallholder farmers offer an excellent route to feed the
world’s growing population fairly and sustainably. What’s more, if supported to
form co-operatives, this enables them to pool resources, realise economies of
scale and secure fairer prices. In fact, on the launch of the International
Year of Co-operatives, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, International
Fund for Agricultural Development and World Food Programme all pledged to
recognise and do more to enhance the contribution agricultural co-operatives
can make towards food security and poverty reduction.
During Rio+20, Nick Clegg
announced that “Britain will help millions of small farms and communities adapt
to potentially devastating changes in the climate and pull themselves out of
poverty” and that “Over six million smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa and
developing countries across the world will receive extra support as a result of
Britain’s help”. Also, the Rio declaration itself affirmed that co-operatives
are key for sustainable development.
This is a great
starting point but that there is more to be done.
·
Sign the petition
Encourage
others to sign the petition
Further reading
To find out more about The Co-operative’s Grow campaign you
can visit
http://www.co-operative.coop/join-the-revolution/our-plan/tackling-global-poverty/campaigning-against-poverty/
Friday, 14 September 2012
Craftivism....good Winter Activism?
Staying active can be tiring. Talking about global poverty can drive the people around you up the wall (they have heard it a million times) and of course trying to re-inspire people when competing with TV adverts, campaigns, red nose day, all these things, can be really difficult.
A new type of activism is creeping through the UK. Craftivism. Putting Craft and Activism together.
Sarah Corbett founded the Craftivist Collective here in the UK and I have had peripheral interest since Sam Bacon mentioned it at the last training day. I would say I am quite a creative person (blogs?) but the problem is I tend to lack the skill to create what's in my head.
I did use to do a lot of cross stitching, and sewing is something I have been dead keen to get into for a while now. The things my mother can do - have you seen my cushions? That was big bits of material from a charity shop!! Honest.
I also think that sitting in when its cold and dark and wet outside is a given. And on a selfish and personal note anything that stops me reaching for the biscuit tin during the winter is a plus. (that's why I started blogging - to keep busy when I needed a cigarette - not really worked out the way I had hoped but I have acquired a taste, and I think a skill, for creative, free flowing narrative that is published online.... modestly).
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
The power of a to-do list
We should never under estimate the power of a to-do list.
I have been described, on several occassions, as superbly organised, some have even used the phrase "anal-retentive", in fact in one of my placements I was asked to think about wieither my obsession with organisation was actually making my counter productive.
Anyway, you get the picture, the point is that as a result of this need to have things in a linear structure I can sometimes quickly lose focus, and motivation, when things go off-script. If things start to pile up, I panic, can't see the wood for the tress, and all that jazz!
However, I do have the power of self-recognition. So the other I sat and made a to-do list for the global poverty project and drew up a timeline to act on said list. So now I have a wonderful list of people to contact about the presentation, and a clear set of goals to achieve.
The result: a calmer, much happier, activist.
I shall let you know how I get on :)
I have been described, on several occassions, as superbly organised, some have even used the phrase "anal-retentive", in fact in one of my placements I was asked to think about wieither my obsession with organisation was actually making my counter productive.
Anyway, you get the picture, the point is that as a result of this need to have things in a linear structure I can sometimes quickly lose focus, and motivation, when things go off-script. If things start to pile up, I panic, can't see the wood for the tress, and all that jazz!
However, I do have the power of self-recognition. So the other I sat and made a to-do list for the global poverty project and drew up a timeline to act on said list. So now I have a wonderful list of people to contact about the presentation, and a clear set of goals to achieve.
The result: a calmer, much happier, activist.
I shall let you know how I get on :)
Monday, 27 August 2012
lack of motivation, lack of structure, lacking all over
Its not been a positive time. Life, as they say, is giving me lemons - but people want orange juice!
Not to make excuses - but of late I have been extremely busy. Work is Mon-Friday, 9-5 (hahaha try 8-6 most days!). I run 3 nights a week, have guides one night, pole class one night, and squeeze in some me time and housework as well. My weekends are now spent back in Inverclyde, due mainly to the blossoming romance with my manfriend.
Now I am not blaming my manfriend, he is absolutely lovely and I love spending time with him. We don't see each other during the week because we live over an hour apart, and we both work during the week. Its not a chore or a hassle to see him at the weekends, plus my wonderful friends and family, who I try to spend as much time as possible with. My world revolves around the people in it, and I am finding more and more I don't want to be on my own.
However, my charity work is suffering. Saturdays were a great day to get online, read the blogs, brush up on my issues, tweet my MP and practice the presentation. I wrote my letters and sent 100s of e-mails off to schools, churches and local groups. I am finding it harder and harder to squeeze things into my life, and the last thing I want is to be half-arsed, at anything, especially the work I am doing for the Global Poverty Project.
I am in some need of motivation, a holiday, time off. I need a to-do list, structure, but find myself so wiped at night during the week I just don't have the energy to combat this. I have continued to send out e-mails, to little response. Which is becoming increasingly frustrating as time marches on. I feel restless, aggravated. I know of the violence and horror people are living in, through, in the poorest places in the world. I know, I care, and I feel guilty when yet another week passes and I have done nothing about it. I know the presentation is amazing, moving, motivating, inspiring, and yet I am struggling to sell it.
I need 8 days a week!
Not to make excuses - but of late I have been extremely busy. Work is Mon-Friday, 9-5 (hahaha try 8-6 most days!). I run 3 nights a week, have guides one night, pole class one night, and squeeze in some me time and housework as well. My weekends are now spent back in Inverclyde, due mainly to the blossoming romance with my manfriend.
Now I am not blaming my manfriend, he is absolutely lovely and I love spending time with him. We don't see each other during the week because we live over an hour apart, and we both work during the week. Its not a chore or a hassle to see him at the weekends, plus my wonderful friends and family, who I try to spend as much time as possible with. My world revolves around the people in it, and I am finding more and more I don't want to be on my own.
However, my charity work is suffering. Saturdays were a great day to get online, read the blogs, brush up on my issues, tweet my MP and practice the presentation. I wrote my letters and sent 100s of e-mails off to schools, churches and local groups. I am finding it harder and harder to squeeze things into my life, and the last thing I want is to be half-arsed, at anything, especially the work I am doing for the Global Poverty Project.
I need 8 days a week!
Monday, 6 August 2012
Severly neglectful!
Can't believe it has been so long since I updated this blog (or any of my blogs to be honest) I have been a little neglectful of late (as a certain Scot's women living in Wales forcible reminded me) and for that I do apologise!
Volunteering for a cause you are so passionate about is like another full time job, and the one I already have takes up a lot of time. Add to that a new relationship and extremely successful social life (its the summer...we may not have sun but we still party) and I am afraid I have begun to lag behind on the campaign front.
It has been difficult what with the schools etc being shut. But September is just around the corner and I want to be ready to hit the ground running. I have a feeling the Autumn/Winter seasons are going to be my best yet in terms of presentations. I am certainly going to push more, now that other aspects of my life are settling down somewhat.
So apologises but I am going to try refocus somewhat on the project. I do want to do more, but life, as it has a habit of doing, gets in the way. And to be honest the charity party really did take some wind out of my sails in terms of energy, so I have enjoyed my well rested break.
Volunteering for a cause you are so passionate about is like another full time job, and the one I already have takes up a lot of time. Add to that a new relationship and extremely successful social life (its the summer...we may not have sun but we still party) and I am afraid I have begun to lag behind on the campaign front.
It has been difficult what with the schools etc being shut. But September is just around the corner and I want to be ready to hit the ground running. I have a feeling the Autumn/Winter seasons are going to be my best yet in terms of presentations. I am certainly going to push more, now that other aspects of my life are settling down somewhat.
So apologises but I am going to try refocus somewhat on the project. I do want to do more, but life, as it has a habit of doing, gets in the way. And to be honest the charity party really did take some wind out of my sails in terms of energy, so I have enjoyed my well rested break.
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
And the final total raised is....
Well, it is Tuesday after the Friday Purple Party and this is literally the first chance I have had to sit down and get some reflections out my head and onto...well its not exactly paper but you know what I mean.
First of all...charity nights are hard work! At this point I would like to say that I am probably one of the luckiest girls in the world to have such amazing supportive friends who literally did almost everything! My friend Johanne in particular (she's the one in the purple wig) done a super amazing job and getting stuff organised for the hall and half the raffle prizes! My other pals Stacey (cowgirl) and Jenny (not pictured) were also tremendous support!
The stress was still high however and staring at an empty hall at 7.30 I began to think that maybe this was the worst idea I had ever had. I had a rough guesstimate of 60 people, but as txts and facebook messages floated through from this one and that one saying they couldn't make it: i won't lie - the panic was setting in!
Then my parents arrived (Thank GAWD!) followed closely by my aunt and uncle and a bunch of their friends. Slowly, a couple of groups at a time, the hall began to fill. I estimate I had around 30 people. Not great - but not the end of the world either!
So on with the night, starting with my mini presentation. I have to say - most people I have spoke to since have said that the presentation really stuck in their mind (one person even said I was very professional!). Spreading the message of Polio was one of my major aims - so I was overjoyed that all teams got all of their Polio questions correct in the Quiz later.
The rest of the night went well - I forgot loads that I was going to do (The 7 bags of chocolate eclairs that were meant to be handed out that are current living above my kitchen cupboard for example). I got flustered, I got frustrated, I never got drunk! I danced, somewhere in between the maddness my boyfriend met my parents for the first time (I abandonded him as well...major making up to do for that one!) and before I knew it the lights were on, last orders were called and the night was over!
After deducting monies for the hall, the food and entertainment we have a grand total:
drum roll please.....
£422!!!
I also secured 17 commitments for the End Polio Now Shout Campaign and 12 people signed the petition!
Ok I am not going to lie - the figures aren't earth shattering (not this time) but what I am realising through doing this work is that sometimes it's not about the biggest, best, largest and shiniest accomplishments. Thats not why I am here, not why I am passionate! What I have secured is 804 Polio Vaccinations, 804 Children's lives changed for the better. I am one tiny person who has made a dent in Polio, who is helping in a small way to Eradicate Polio.
Special Thanks to: D'Cake Company, TreeTopTreats, PartyPlanit, O2, Flower Stall Oak Mall, Kmax Photography, Hair Shades Wemyss Bay, Sandra Conway, Harry and Alison Conway, Bryan Gorry, Johanne Robertson, Nicole Boslum, Jenny Lang, Stacey McNeill, David McGarva, IBM, The Grosvenor Bowling Club, The Global Poverty Project, Andy McGerr, Total Entertainment and Manzils!
First of all...charity nights are hard work! At this point I would like to say that I am probably one of the luckiest girls in the world to have such amazing supportive friends who literally did almost everything! My friend Johanne in particular (she's the one in the purple wig) done a super amazing job and getting stuff organised for the hall and half the raffle prizes! My other pals Stacey (cowgirl) and Jenny (not pictured) were also tremendous support!
The stress was still high however and staring at an empty hall at 7.30 I began to think that maybe this was the worst idea I had ever had. I had a rough guesstimate of 60 people, but as txts and facebook messages floated through from this one and that one saying they couldn't make it: i won't lie - the panic was setting in!Then my parents arrived (Thank GAWD!) followed closely by my aunt and uncle and a bunch of their friends. Slowly, a couple of groups at a time, the hall began to fill. I estimate I had around 30 people. Not great - but not the end of the world either!
So on with the night, starting with my mini presentation. I have to say - most people I have spoke to since have said that the presentation really stuck in their mind (one person even said I was very professional!). Spreading the message of Polio was one of my major aims - so I was overjoyed that all teams got all of their Polio questions correct in the Quiz later.
The rest of the night went well - I forgot loads that I was going to do (The 7 bags of chocolate eclairs that were meant to be handed out that are current living above my kitchen cupboard for example). I got flustered, I got frustrated, I never got drunk! I danced, somewhere in between the maddness my boyfriend met my parents for the first time (I abandonded him as well...major making up to do for that one!) and before I knew it the lights were on, last orders were called and the night was over!After deducting monies for the hall, the food and entertainment we have a grand total:
drum roll please.....
£422!!!
I also secured 17 commitments for the End Polio Now Shout Campaign and 12 people signed the petition!
Ok I am not going to lie - the figures aren't earth shattering (not this time) but what I am realising through doing this work is that sometimes it's not about the biggest, best, largest and shiniest accomplishments. Thats not why I am here, not why I am passionate! What I have secured is 804 Polio Vaccinations, 804 Children's lives changed for the better. I am one tiny person who has made a dent in Polio, who is helping in a small way to Eradicate Polio.
I could not be happier!
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
My name is Grace and I survived Polio
Yesterday I was in the office and my mobile rang. It was a Greenock number and when I answered a women introduced herself as Grace, she was enquiring about my End of Polio Party.
I had handed out letters seeking raffle prizes and put up posters about how to get tickets so I was quite excited at the phone call. Raffle prizes had came in thick and fast but we could always use more right?
"Thank you so much for phoning Grace, how can I help you?"
"Well, having survived Polio I would like to contribute to the campaign."
......
Grace is 80 years old and living in Inverclyde. She contracted Polio when she was 6 years old and because very ill. She remembers being in hospital for a long time, aware of others who were sick. Vividly she recalls a man who was in an iron lung; she didn't know at the time but severe cases of Polio can paralyse the lungs and cause death.
Grace missed two years of school - "we didn't have teachers in the hospital in those days love, we just lay there"
Grace survived Polio but has had limited mobility in her legs ever since. She tells me how she never saw herself as disabled and worked hard at school to catch up. She went on to work, she has travelled and had a family of her own.
Grace is an 80 year old women who has survived Polio. She lives right here in the UK.
Grace is an inspiration.
N.B. Grace has given her permission for me to share her story.
I had handed out letters seeking raffle prizes and put up posters about how to get tickets so I was quite excited at the phone call. Raffle prizes had came in thick and fast but we could always use more right?
"Thank you so much for phoning Grace, how can I help you?"
"Well, having survived Polio I would like to contribute to the campaign."
......
 |
| An Iron Lung ward at a hospital treating Polio sufferers. |
Grace missed two years of school - "we didn't have teachers in the hospital in those days love, we just lay there"
Grace survived Polio but has had limited mobility in her legs ever since. She tells me how she never saw herself as disabled and worked hard at school to catch up. She went on to work, she has travelled and had a family of her own.
Grace is an 80 year old women who has survived Polio. She lives right here in the UK.
Grace is an inspiration.
N.B. Grace has given her permission for me to share her story.
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Just 5 days to go
So it is just 5 days until my charity event: The End of Polio Purple Party.
Things are going from good to better. Over 50 tickets have sold which puts us into £100 worth of profit already! Raffle prizes have been pouring in, and I now have plans to collate some stories from those who live with the threat of polio now, and suffered it in the past!
The party is shaping up to be an amazing night. Entertainment, food, drink and glamorous guests!
Something I find interesting is the feedback from the GPP. They seem to think that I am doing something amazing, a huge effort, a really big deal. Its lovely to get that feedback, although I don't feel I am doing that much.
I am really excited about the night now. I have my petitions all signed, orders in for food, drinks, Dj is booked, hall decorations are looking awesome and the day off has been signed off by the manager.
Also...I have my dress...!
Moving from nervous to excited now!
Things are going from good to better. Over 50 tickets have sold which puts us into £100 worth of profit already! Raffle prizes have been pouring in, and I now have plans to collate some stories from those who live with the threat of polio now, and suffered it in the past!
The party is shaping up to be an amazing night. Entertainment, food, drink and glamorous guests!
Something I find interesting is the feedback from the GPP. They seem to think that I am doing something amazing, a huge effort, a really big deal. Its lovely to get that feedback, although I don't feel I am doing that much.
I am really excited about the night now. I have my petitions all signed, orders in for food, drinks, Dj is booked, hall decorations are looking awesome and the day off has been signed off by the manager.
Also...I have my dress...!
Moving from nervous to excited now!
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Preparing for a Chairty Night
Ok so this is probably more work than I originally thought! Teeny tiny wee bitty bit stressed!
Actually I am not too bad - thanks once again to the amazing people around me who have offered to help left, right and centre to pull this night together! I know with their support this night is going to go awesome!
Firstly I scored a massive discount on my entertainment cause me cousin is a self-employed DJ/quiz master/entertainer! Then one of the local 3-in-1s called Manzils offered a hot buffet for nothing :)) The hall's already cheap thanks to my friend Chris' position on the social committee! And I am going to ensure East Ayrshire Council (where I work) get involved by offering use of the printing and photocopying facilities!!
So, I have my letters to hand out to local businesses for raffle prizes, plus I have ticket design (see photo) and posters! My friends have been set the challenge of selling at least 10 tickets - 1st one to sell gets a prize!!!!
Things are going well. Press releases have been sent out to local news and radio - I'll follow up with that closer to the night! I still have much to do, not least get my head around Polio facts and figures, get stuff handed out, collect money, cross fingers for raffle donations....
Actually I am not too bad - thanks once again to the amazing people around me who have offered to help left, right and centre to pull this night together! I know with their support this night is going to go awesome!
Firstly I scored a massive discount on my entertainment cause me cousin is a self-employed DJ/quiz master/entertainer! Then one of the local 3-in-1s called Manzils offered a hot buffet for nothing :)) The hall's already cheap thanks to my friend Chris' position on the social committee! And I am going to ensure East Ayrshire Council (where I work) get involved by offering use of the printing and photocopying facilities!!
So, I have my letters to hand out to local businesses for raffle prizes, plus I have ticket design (see photo) and posters! My friends have been set the challenge of selling at least 10 tickets - 1st one to sell gets a prize!!!!
Things are going well. Press releases have been sent out to local news and radio - I'll follow up with that closer to the night! I still have much to do, not least get my head around Polio facts and figures, get stuff handed out, collect money, cross fingers for raffle donations....
Oh yeah - and get a killer purple dress!
Monday, 11 June 2012
End of Polio Purple Party!!
So, getting slightly frustrated at the lack of motion with presentations. Really hoped that being at the community garden would have sparked more, but schools officially out and I've had no replies to my letters yet either.
Sometimes its hard to keep going, when you just feel you are treading water - no affecting real change.
This month the focus is on End Of Polio - an international campaign which aims to, quite simply, eradicate Polio. Polio is a highly contagious viral condition that affects a person's ability to breathe. It also affects the brain stem and core nervous system which can lead to problems in the bones, especially in children.
Polio cases have fallen by a massive 99% in the last thirty years! 99%!!!! That's super amazing! You see we, i.e. the human race, are very good at saving lives. We're eradicated smallpox, an awful condition that killed thousands. It No Longer Exists! Polio can soon also be a thing of the past.
So this month the plan was to give as many presentations as possible and push the Polio message out there. However, I am finding the presentation side of things slow...due muchly to my lack of time in the last month. But I don't want to do nothing!
So I figure I'll just throw a charity night together :) The End Of Polio Purple Party!!
For tickets please e-mail me at sconway16@hotmail.co.uk
Sometimes its hard to keep going, when you just feel you are treading water - no affecting real change.
This month the focus is on End Of Polio - an international campaign which aims to, quite simply, eradicate Polio. Polio is a highly contagious viral condition that affects a person's ability to breathe. It also affects the brain stem and core nervous system which can lead to problems in the bones, especially in children.
Polio cases have fallen by a massive 99% in the last thirty years! 99%!!!! That's super amazing! You see we, i.e. the human race, are very good at saving lives. We're eradicated smallpox, an awful condition that killed thousands. It No Longer Exists! Polio can soon also be a thing of the past.
So this month the plan was to give as many presentations as possible and push the Polio message out there. However, I am finding the presentation side of things slow...due muchly to my lack of time in the last month. But I don't want to do nothing!
So I figure I'll just throw a charity night together :) The End Of Polio Purple Party!!
Tickets are £5
Venue: Grosvener Bowling Club
Entertainment By: Total Entertainment
Buffet By: Manzils and Conways Kitchen
Raffle, Quiz with Prizes and Cheap Plonk!
Monday, 28 May 2012
Presentations in Mongolian Yurks
 |
| Me in the Yurk! |
Would I hopefully would get though is more presentations as they took my details into their own communities. And as a result I have been in touch with two schools, looking for presentations in the next term.
Had a great, positive day and I am looking forward to many more!!
Sunday, 20 May 2012
£234 raised :)
Well I finished my LBTL last week, and first of all I need to apologise because I have fallen completely behind in my blogging responsibilities. A bit like my alter-ego Carrie Bradshaw, there is the odd deadline that I just don't meet. Sometimes life just takes over and all last week I had to work late, the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was go onto another computer.
However, I do apologise because I know there are some avid fans of this blog (feel free to share and pull in more!) and I do feel I have let you down a little so I will try to do better in the future.
However, the rest of LBTL went very well to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I won't be having rice and curry sauce for a long time, but due mostly to my experience of last year coupled with better planning meant that overall I did pretty well. I was hungry, and by day 4 very tired (and constipated, sorry but its true) but muddled through.
What really hit home for me however was my reliance on having access to clean drinking water. I had no coffee (and a sever lackofcaffeine migraine) and only budgeted for 4 cups of tea a day. So I drank a lot of water! Water that I did not have budget in! Drinking water in Scotland comes out the tap, and personally I think it tastes amazing (it does have a taste, I have had this argument over with people and it does, there is a difference between taps, and brands!!). My work has a positive employee scheme and in accordance to legislation we have drinking water freely available at work. In fact, I have always had a thing about always having a bottle of water on me at all times, and I simply reuse 5 or 6 bottles with tap water. I am a big water drinker, so that aspect of the challenge didn't knock me but what really struck me was the significance of having water available to me. A thought emphasized by Hugh Evan's (CEO of the Global Poverty Project) blog, where he talks about his final 3 hours of the challenge where water isn't available.
It is estimated that right now, today, in 2012, 1 in 8, 1 in 8, people do NOT have access to clean drinking water. Also, 1billion, 1BILLION, people have no access to a toilet. A toilet!! Charities like WaterAid have determined that for ever $1 invested in clean water and sanitation facilities would bring returns of $9. A 900% increase....who is saying that this is a bad thing!!
Even when you're in amongst it, when you know the stats inside out: challenges like LBTL still remind you to really think about the things we take for granted, and gives focus to the journey that will see the end of extreme poverty in our generation.
However, I do apologise because I know there are some avid fans of this blog (feel free to share and pull in more!) and I do feel I have let you down a little so I will try to do better in the future.
However, the rest of LBTL went very well to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I won't be having rice and curry sauce for a long time, but due mostly to my experience of last year coupled with better planning meant that overall I did pretty well. I was hungry, and by day 4 very tired (and constipated, sorry but its true) but muddled through.
What really hit home for me however was my reliance on having access to clean drinking water. I had no coffee (and a sever lackofcaffeine migraine) and only budgeted for 4 cups of tea a day. So I drank a lot of water! Water that I did not have budget in! Drinking water in Scotland comes out the tap, and personally I think it tastes amazing (it does have a taste, I have had this argument over with people and it does, there is a difference between taps, and brands!!). My work has a positive employee scheme and in accordance to legislation we have drinking water freely available at work. In fact, I have always had a thing about always having a bottle of water on me at all times, and I simply reuse 5 or 6 bottles with tap water. I am a big water drinker, so that aspect of the challenge didn't knock me but what really struck me was the significance of having water available to me. A thought emphasized by Hugh Evan's (CEO of the Global Poverty Project) blog, where he talks about his final 3 hours of the challenge where water isn't available.
It is estimated that right now, today, in 2012, 1 in 8, 1 in 8, people do NOT have access to clean drinking water. Also, 1billion, 1BILLION, people have no access to a toilet. A toilet!! Charities like WaterAid have determined that for ever $1 invested in clean water and sanitation facilities would bring returns of $9. A 900% increase....who is saying that this is a bad thing!!
Even when you're in amongst it, when you know the stats inside out: challenges like LBTL still remind you to really think about the things we take for granted, and gives focus to the journey that will see the end of extreme poverty in our generation.
Friday, 11 May 2012
Reflections of day 2
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| My 5 days worth of food! |
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Had to actually stop half way through this blog to have my breakfast...crumpets...again! But with scrambled egg, a splurge this morning but hoping it'll see me right through to tea time, where I am having rice, veg and curry sauce....again!
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| Its a VERY small plate! |
Repetition of food if definitely another of the points of this challenge that you see very quickly! I may never look at another crumpet at the end of this challenge, or an egg!
However, yesterday something else quite interesting happened. I was at work and it was manic and I had to stay late. Now, I am always, always, hungry at 5pm when I leave work. Its probably more a phychological issue than a physical, but when it was the back of 6pm my stomach was echo-ing around the empty office and I started to feel quite sick. This would probably be the situation regardless of if I was on live below the line or not but I also knew that my dinner was a long way off. So I broke into my emergency 5p cup of soup I have had at the bottom of my bag and managed to work through and had my dinner at 7!
What struck me though was how organised you have to be to survive on this. I have a drawer full of snacks, nuts and seeds, at work, and always have fruit. But I can only afford an apple once a day because fresh fruit is so expensive! Having that cup of soup really saved me from getting to a point where I was going to be really uncomfortably hungry and binging when I got home! Planning is certainly a key.
Which is fine. Its fine when you have a local store, which is always in stock, and your income is steady, and regular. Its fine to be organised, and plan it out, when there are less variables. In fact bad planning for us really equates to laziness! For 1.4 billion people in the world, this is not the case. Their shops may be their neighbours, they depend on the harvest, and people have stock to sell at the same time. But most of all they depend on a wage, a steady wage, and for many this is the difficulty.
That's why it's important for us to make choices here, every day choices. Like purchasing fair trade products. Yes, they are more expensive, but that's because they are fair. Those prices are what we should be paying, but instead we choose companies that cut costs, and therefore prices, to make more profit. Now I don't tar them all with the same brush: Ben and Jerry's and Cadbury are huge companies that are fair trade as well, they have obviously found alternative, fairer, ways to cut costs whilst still giving those who are growing, picking, harvesting the raw materials that make our food a fair wage for their labour!
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Day1, reflections with words.
Apologies, will make sure tomorrow's Vlog has at least clean hair :s eck!
But for those of who like to read, and for me who likes to write, here is my reflections in a little more depth.
So I currently sit at the end of day 1, feeling still very satisfied and knowing I half just under half of my dinner uneaten and available for a reheat if I need to :)) Here's what I have had:
Today I want to talk about the interesting reaction I got from many of my colleagues at work. The reaction of charity.
I know your probably thinking that the whole point of this challenge is for charity. What I found intriguing was the direction of the charity. I had people asking me if it was ok for me to accept food from them as extra. One of my friends said "I really want to feed you". We laughed about it at the time, but it made me think, because I have read in other blogs that this phenomenon, of people directing genuine sympathy and empathy for us, the challenge takers.
This is not to say that the concern does not spread to the people or plight that I am campaigning for. I just found it weird that people's first desire was for me to, effectively, cheat. Someone even threw a multi-pack of crisps across my desk!
This is a tough challenge, almost impossible feeling at times. I feel pretty good today but I know from last year the worst is yet to come. The point is though that this is a choice. If I really wanted to I could just nip to asda and buy food, I live alone, no-one would know. I can try to keep my budget low some weeks, but I can indulge on others. I can chip in with friends or go it alone!
Take my normal diet: I tend to choose convenience or low maintenance foods (I can't cook, pasta is about as adventurous as I get!). I also choose to drink fruit juice twice a day, I choose peppermint tea at night, I choose brown pasta and rice and I choose fresh fruit daily. I prefer to eat chicken or fish over red meats, although I do like beef mince. These choices are a result of my desire to try and eat healthily, to try and keep my digestion and...well the results of that process...in good order (I know I am sorry but if you are squeamish my live below the line blog is probably not your cup of tea.)
I choose fair-trade: coffee, tea, chocolate, ice-cream and whatever else I can get. Its more expensive, but I can afford it, so I do it, because its the right thing to do.
In the last few paragraphs I used the word choice (or choose - derived from choice, don't split hairs) 8 times, I also used the words prefer, want, but all indicating that I have a decision to make, I have a choice.
Of the most pertinent and quickly realised points of LBTL is that choice is the first thing that goes out of the window. When you live on such a tight budget without an end date in sight the challenge becomes much bigger. Its about getting the most for your money, every penny literally counts, every day, all day...forever. Its certainly a humbling thought!
But for those of who like to read, and for me who likes to write, here is my reflections in a little more depth.
So I currently sit at the end of day 1, feeling still very satisfied and knowing I half just under half of my dinner uneaten and available for a reheat if I need to :)) Here's what I have had:
- 2 crumpets with butter and cup of tea (breakfast) : 5p
- 2 cups of tea in work : 4p (I shared the tea bag!!)
- Apple : 11p (fruit is soooo dear)
- 150g Rice (6p), Veggies (25p) and 1/4 jar of curry sauce (6p) : 37p
- Another 2 cups of tea : 4p (I can't help it...I'm giving up coffee for goodness sake!)
Today I want to talk about the interesting reaction I got from many of my colleagues at work. The reaction of charity.
I know your probably thinking that the whole point of this challenge is for charity. What I found intriguing was the direction of the charity. I had people asking me if it was ok for me to accept food from them as extra. One of my friends said "I really want to feed you". We laughed about it at the time, but it made me think, because I have read in other blogs that this phenomenon, of people directing genuine sympathy and empathy for us, the challenge takers.
This is not to say that the concern does not spread to the people or plight that I am campaigning for. I just found it weird that people's first desire was for me to, effectively, cheat. Someone even threw a multi-pack of crisps across my desk!
This is a tough challenge, almost impossible feeling at times. I feel pretty good today but I know from last year the worst is yet to come. The point is though that this is a choice. If I really wanted to I could just nip to asda and buy food, I live alone, no-one would know. I can try to keep my budget low some weeks, but I can indulge on others. I can chip in with friends or go it alone!
Take my normal diet: I tend to choose convenience or low maintenance foods (I can't cook, pasta is about as adventurous as I get!). I also choose to drink fruit juice twice a day, I choose peppermint tea at night, I choose brown pasta and rice and I choose fresh fruit daily. I prefer to eat chicken or fish over red meats, although I do like beef mince. These choices are a result of my desire to try and eat healthily, to try and keep my digestion and...well the results of that process...in good order (I know I am sorry but if you are squeamish my live below the line blog is probably not your cup of tea.)
I choose fair-trade: coffee, tea, chocolate, ice-cream and whatever else I can get. Its more expensive, but I can afford it, so I do it, because its the right thing to do.
In the last few paragraphs I used the word choice (or choose - derived from choice, don't split hairs) 8 times, I also used the words prefer, want, but all indicating that I have a decision to make, I have a choice.
Of the most pertinent and quickly realised points of LBTL is that choice is the first thing that goes out of the window. When you live on such a tight budget without an end date in sight the challenge becomes much bigger. Its about getting the most for your money, every penny literally counts, every day, all day...forever. Its certainly a humbling thought!
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