Making the site

From one of our active Helpalot members, our newest 9 Questions interview is with Simon Weststeijn.

1. Can you give a quick introduction of yourself?

Just turned 50, married, 3 children, Agricultural Engineer by profession, involvement with development issues since 1977. I have been involved with Agrinas as a volunteer since it’s existence.

2. What are the main goals of Agrinas?

To help improve the well being of the rural population in some of the most remote and backward parts of the World. This though agricultural and rural development support.

3. Do you support a projects of other charities? If so, what strategy do you have for finding trustworthy projects?

We would look especially for small scale bottom up initiatives and ownership of the different stakeholders. Furthermore it would be important that we believe we can have a substantial positive contribution to the present situation.

4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the future for Agrinas?

Continue to find professional equipped volunteers to help implement the projects. Furthermore to help find profitable endeavours for small farmers in an increasingly global competitive market.

5. How do you use the internet for Agrinas?

Most of our communication with the projects around the world takes place through email and VOIP telephone, thus reducing communication costs to a minimum. Most of our communication with supporters is through our website.

Julius: Here is the Wikipedia article on VOIP. Skype is a great example. Member can put their skypname on their Helpalot page.

6. What do you think is the main struggle for charities in general?

To cope with the increasing red-tape in the western world. Due to ever increasing corruption and the resulting mistrust, the (financial) control and time spent on increasing the transparency of the organisation takes an unbalanced part of available recourses of small organisations.

7. What do you see as the biggest challenge and opportunity for Helpalot?

The number of similar organisations on the internet is increasing rapidly and it involves quite a workload for again small organisations to keep their information on a number of these sites updated. So the danger is, that the Helpalot site will have much outdated information.

Julius: On preventing outdated information; On Helpalot a project manager can ask someone else to co-manage a project. So a supporter can update the site for instance and relief some of the workload. Since pages on Helpalot are managed by real people (in stead of using a wiki approach or buying a database from another organization) we try to decrease the chance of outdated information. Also see my comment on question 8.

8. If there is one thing you can improve or one feature you can add to Helpalot, what would that be?

Find cooperation with other similar sites (like www.geefgratis.nl / www.allegoededoelen.nl) and together use one database. This will result in organisations to have to update only one database.

Julius: We are aware of the problem. An attempt to collaborate with GeefGratis has been put ‘on cold ice’, because of fundamental differences in opinion on what would be in the best interest of (supporters of) charity projects. Here you can read a 9 questions interview with Jordan van Bergen from GeefGratis we did 2 years ago.

In the Netherlands there is CIGD (Centraal Instituut Goede Doelen), they have the database you are refering to, and we are looking for ways to collaborate with them. Also we are interested to collaborate with parties in other countries that have similar goals as CIGD.
I discuss a more global approach to your problem in the ‘social actions mash-up‘ post.

I agree it is in the best interest of everyone to set up a system that makes updating your project for all sites you are involved in easier and quicker. I’ll probably blog about this problem and possible solutions in the future.

9. Thank you for your time, is there anything else you think is important to mention?

Nice site!

Thank you for your time Simon. I’ll do more 9 Questions interviews in the near future.

Today a new 9 Questions interview. Yvon has not a direct link to a charity, but does have her mission for a positive contribution to the world.

1. Can you give a quick introduction of yourself?

My name is Yvon Hajunga. I am Dutch. I am a painter and a writer. Since 19 years I travel to Egypt were I have a simple Bedouin house in the Sinai. I work in Holland to earn money to paint some months a year in Egypt.

2. Can you tell something about your trip to Cario?

I have lived in Cairo many times. It is a horrible crowded and in the same time beautiful city were I have many friends and wrote many stories about. The architecture is great, the people so interesting and helpfull.

3. What is the most difficult part of arranging your trip?

For me it is not difficult at all. Egypt is not difficult to travel in general. My difficulty is that i want to finish my book. I think with my book I can make a bridge between the west and the east.

The problem is that I cannot finish the book well. It takes me now allready more than 3 years to come to a stage that it can be read by a publisher. My biggest wish is to publish the book in Arabic. I have written it in English. (more…)

In this latest 9 Questions interview, we learn about Goodwill. One of the bigger charity organisations in India. Prof.Dr.J.Christopher Daniel elaborates on his Goodwill Social Centre and Helpalot.

1. Can you give a quick introduction of yourself and Goodwill?

The Goodwill Social Work Centre, a professional social work organisation deeply committed to the development of children, youth and women was founded by a Prof.Dr.J.Christopher Daniel,M.A.,Ph.D,a professionally qualified social work Educator and a Practising Social worker in November 1981 in the temple city of Madurai, India with the prime objective of performing a wide spectrum of roles in the development of children, youth and women and undertaking a comprehensive action through professional approach with a preventive, curative and rehabilitative perspective. It aims at utilising positively the scientific methods of Social Work for problem identification, problem solving and problem prevention for the multifaceted development of children, youth and women who are at a disadvantage.

It is a Non-governmental organisation registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 27 of 1975 and Foreign Contributions (Regulations) Act 1976. Our Centre is a Member of the International Forum for Child Welfare, [IFCW], Child Rights Information Network [CRIN], U.K and ENSCW, Belgium and World Association for Non-Governmental Organisation (WANGO),USA .

It is included in the NGO database of the websites: www.idealist.org (Action without Borders), www.enscw.org, www.euforic.org and www.glinet.org. Our Society’s Registration number is: 112/1981 and our FCRA number is: 075940124. Please take a few moments to visit our website at http://mfcs.malianfoundation.org/goodwill/

Aims and objectives:

The centre aims to promote the overall development of children, youth and women in rural and urban areas in India, who are socially and economically deprived; to provide family centred home based intensive services to children, youth and women in dysfunctional families in slums and backward areas in India; to sensitise rural and urban children and women on various environmental issues and concerns through education, training and communication; to create public awareness on the rights of the child and women and to work for the promotion, protection and defence of children’s and women’s rights. It focuses education sponsorship; home based care and school placement for children in dysfunctional families; referral services to children for problem children; family counselling; environmental education for children and children and women rights education. It is operational in service provision, training, advocacy, research and information.

Our project activities:

1) Home and School placement, 2) Functional Literacy and Value Education, 3) Educational Support & Sponsorship, 4) Material and Financial Aid to Children, 5) Childhood Enrichment Services, 6) Family Fellowship Programmes, 7) Crisis Intervention and Counselling Services, Parent Education and Support Services 9) Resourcing and Advocacy, 10) Health Promotion Programmes for Children, 11) Job Search and Placement for Parents, 12) Capacity building and Training for youth, women and men, 13) Income Generation Activities for Families, 14) Non formal employment training for children and young women, 15) Environmental education and communication, 16) AIDS Preventive Education and training for young men and women workers, 17) Children’s rights campaigning, 18) Networking with Local Support Systems and International organisations

OUR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS CENTRE (A children’s Human Rights unit of GOODWILL)

The GOODWILL has set up a Children’s Rights Centre with a prime objective of promoting, protecting and defending children’s rights as affirmed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child(1989).The intervention strategies include, 1. CRC education and training, 2. CRC communications, 3. CRC research, 4. CRC information networking and, 5. Provision of support services especially endangered children-street children, working children, girl children, children of Dalits (socially oppressed caste groups) and children in dysfunctional families.

2. What do you see as the most important problems for a charity like Goodwill?

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Since the SIGCHI conference there have been major developments on the Helpalot project. I like to inform you by introducing Derick Mekking:

1. Can you give a quick introduction of yourself?

My name is Derick Mekking, I run my own company Sporttaste Interactive. I work with different partners on building “Social Network” Internet communities. I am currently working on www.teazel.net, http://network.globaldutch.com and hope to add more Internet communities to my list.

My goal for the next coming years is to have a lot of fun helping out companies, foundations or other organizations in the field of social network communities.

2. How did you come in contact with the Helpalot project?

I was surfing on the Internet and run into the Interactive Marketing Event SIGCHI conference, where you made your first public appearance by presenting the Helpalot project.

I am very interested from the first moment I got the message that Julius wants to help out people to find the charities that fit them best. When he talked about a social network community I send him a message to tell him I want to help him out.

For now we are trying to find more partners so we can make the “Helpalot Foundation” a big success. We have found our first partners: NXS, MVG and Herman Wiegerinck (co-founder of VODW).

3. What is your role now in the Helpalot project?

At this moment I would describe my role as a big believer of Helpalot. With that in my mind I want to support Julius with all the knowledge and resources I have build up during my 27 year life including the last 2 years as an entrepreneur. Within a month we hope to make a big step so we can launch the website a.s.a.p.

4. How would you use the Helpalot site?

I hope to get relevant information about charities. The site with my network of friends can help me out as I search with my pocket money – all bits will help out - for Interesting, local and trustful donations. From the moment I support a charity I hope they will give me feedback on their project via the Helpalot website.

5. What do you see as the challenges and the opportunities for Helpalot?

The challenge will be to make the site an icon in the world of charities. It will be an independent portal open to all individuals. To make it a success we need a lot of people to help us out. At first we hope to find them in our own network of friends. If we succeed to make them as enthusiastic as we are we hope to spread the virus via them. We will find out very soon if our friends are the real ambassadors we hope for. To become a good ambassador, as we know Marco Borsato (A successful Dutch artist with a beautiful wife) is for Warchild, we need you to speak up and deliver relevant content or contacts to the Helpalot website.

Opportunities will come if we are successful in our challenge.

6. What do you see as the most important reason for individuals to participate on the Helpalot site?

To be part of a new world where you can help friends, friends of friends, all members and charities with their questions, search and expression to make the world a better and trustworthy place.

7. What do you see as the most important reason for charities to participate on the Helpalot site?

So they can tell their story of what the charity is all about. Questions or maybe misunderstandings can be resolved. By setting up your own site you can communicate with your supporters. It can give a charity valuable feedback for future steps.

8. We’re going to use your social network site as a starting point to build Helpalot. Can you give a rough estimate of when Helpalot might be launched?

We want to launch Helpalot January 2007. As I have some experience with building Internet communities I know the site is never finished or perfect. Off course we aim for perfection!

If you want to help us develop the website as you are very keen as a programmer you can always contact us. The more help we get the quicker we can launch the website.

9. Thank you for your time, is there anything else you think is important to mention?

Thank you for the interview and the introduction to all your friends, visitors, family viewers and all other supporters. Hope to see you all when we introduce the website.

You have a great Weblog, keep up the good work!

This was the sixth 9 questions, I’d like to thank Derick, not only for this interview, but also for all the effort he has put into the Helpalot project.

By doing email interviews I’m trying to get different perspectives on the Helpalot project. This latest interview is with Kessie from the Uk. She’s speaking on behalf of the UK SOS Africa team.

1. Can you give a quick introduction of yourself and sosafrica.com?

The story of SOS Africa began back in 2003 during Matt Crowcombe’s (UK President of SOS Africa) gap year placement in Mafikeng, South Africa, where he was sent by Gap Activity Projects. During the placement at the International School of South Africa he became associated with Henry Matthews (SA President of SOS Africa), Head of Sport at the International School. Henry showed him the local township areas and widespread poverty and famine, as well as the lack of a basic education that existed throughout these areas.

Matt Crowcombe in South Africa

Not only did it make Matt realize how fortunate he had been throughout his life, but also that is was within his capability to work with Henry do something about this situation. Henry and Matt after much discussion, decided to set up an organisation to help promote the education of the underprivileged children of the Mafikeng township and the surrounding areas, in the hope that by providing these children with a basic sound education, it would bring jobs, money and an overall improved standard of living for these children and their families in the future. And so in January 2003, SOS Africa was born.

Since that day SOS Africa has empowered children through education and at the same time provided the care and support that they need throughout their school life. SOS Africa goes to great lengths to provide these children with everything they need for school from uniforms and sports equipment to transport and medical support.

SOS Africa encourages individuals or organisations to become involved and sponsor a child through school, bringing a smile to the children who deserve to be empowered through education.

2. What do you see as the most important problems for a charity like SOS Africa?

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