5 Days for the Homeless is almost here. The campaign that raised $13,000 for Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) is returning to the U of M for the second time with the same mission: to educate, energize, and fundraise for the cause of homelessness. In March of 2009, four students braved the cold weather and slept outside for 5 nights. It was a difficult but profound experience for each of them, and proved an old adage to be true: nothing that is truly worth knowing can be taught. That being said, few, including the participants themselves, believe that living outside of University Centre for 5 days can in any way parallel the daily experience of Winnipeg’s estimated 10,000 homeless men and women. That’s why this campaign is merely one tiny part of a much broader effort that’s required to combat homelessness and the underlying scourge of poverty.
In many ways, the problem is one of identity. While a disease like cancer may strike indiscriminately without respect to class, gender, or ethnicity, poverty and homelessness tend to be cyclical in that they stay within certain demographic regions. Those who are born poor tend to stay poor, just as those born into middle and upper-income families tend not to become poor. This creates somewhat of a disconnect, an ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality wherein those who live prosperously cannot and do not identify with those who live in poverty. As such, those with a vested interest in improving the situation are least able to, and those with the greatest means are less motivated to do so.
The role of this campaign is to help bridge that gap, and in so doing, the vision becomes a little clearer. This campaign recognizes the value of people: both those whom this event is intended to serve, and those who bring their passion and enthusiasm to alter the current state of affairs. For many charity campaigns, the primary measure of success is the amount of monetary donations collected. Though fundraising is of great importance, 5 Days for the Homeless is not focussed simply on raising money. The strength of this campaign rests on its ability to motivate and inspire people – to create an awareness that sparks active community involvement, not only in the short-term, but on a continuing basis. The hope is that the noble actions of a few students can help instil a charitable ethic, or present an opportunity to nurture one that already exists.
The problem we are facing is one of inaction, and therefore what’s required is a well coordinated and concerted effort. JFK said it best: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” 5 Days for the Homeless is one of many great ways in which you can get involved and become a part of the solution. I believe that solution to be nothing more, and nothing less, than the energy and dedication that’s drawn from human compassion.
Want to volunteer?
Contact us at: 5days.2010@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Are We Over-Medicated?
These days I can’t help but notice an epidemic quietly taking hold of the people of this country, and of this world. There have been a few high profile incidents covered by the media but have soon been forgotten. I want to throw off the silk scarf that is clouding our vision, and expose a dark issue that needs more attention.
Are we as a society over-medicated?
When did it become ok to try to fix, hide, or blanket our raw emotions? It is hard to believe that over the last 100 years human beings have developed the thousands of new diseases and problems that are now being treated and diagnosed. Perhaps we haven’t changed, but our perspective has. For example, these days if someone avoids large crowds, is quiet and chooses not to partake in mass socializing, it is thought to be a social disorder causing serious developmental problems and needing medical treatment straight away.
50 years ago it was called being shy.
Perhaps there is a certain comfort in being “diagnosed”. Rather than dealing with certain qualities that make one unique or different, they can now be rest assured that they have a real problem and it can be fixed. The growing obsession of being fixed is slowly eroding the ability to accept oneself as is. I agree that there are illnesses and problems that need treatment, but I don’t agree that the treatment should always be in the form of pills.
Medication seem to be the new band aid fix in order to avoid solving the root cause of issues. Things like depression, anxiety and mood disorders are often treated with medication so strong, that the side effects are often worse than the initial illness. But of course treating those issues with therapy and counseling take patience and time: both of which we have so very little of these days.
Today society is preoccupied with efficiency, speed and agility. We need things done yesterday, and are always late for something. But this obsession with efficiency has spilled over into our health care system, causing quick fixes for problems that need time, and serious attention. The growing addiction to prescription drugs is becoming more apparent and dangerous as seen by the high profile deaths of Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and most recently Brittany Murphy, suffering cardiac arrest at the young age of 32.
The world might never slow down, as it has become infatuated with achieving, producing, inventing, developing, and perfecting. But the problems we have created are also growing at twice the speed. And unless we slow down, and analyze the effectiveness of how we treat those problems, we only become more vulnerable.
Are we as a society over-medicated?
When did it become ok to try to fix, hide, or blanket our raw emotions? It is hard to believe that over the last 100 years human beings have developed the thousands of new diseases and problems that are now being treated and diagnosed. Perhaps we haven’t changed, but our perspective has. For example, these days if someone avoids large crowds, is quiet and chooses not to partake in mass socializing, it is thought to be a social disorder causing serious developmental problems and needing medical treatment straight away.
50 years ago it was called being shy.
Perhaps there is a certain comfort in being “diagnosed”. Rather than dealing with certain qualities that make one unique or different, they can now be rest assured that they have a real problem and it can be fixed. The growing obsession of being fixed is slowly eroding the ability to accept oneself as is. I agree that there are illnesses and problems that need treatment, but I don’t agree that the treatment should always be in the form of pills.
Medication seem to be the new band aid fix in order to avoid solving the root cause of issues. Things like depression, anxiety and mood disorders are often treated with medication so strong, that the side effects are often worse than the initial illness. But of course treating those issues with therapy and counseling take patience and time: both of which we have so very little of these days.
Today society is preoccupied with efficiency, speed and agility. We need things done yesterday, and are always late for something. But this obsession with efficiency has spilled over into our health care system, causing quick fixes for problems that need time, and serious attention. The growing addiction to prescription drugs is becoming more apparent and dangerous as seen by the high profile deaths of Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and most recently Brittany Murphy, suffering cardiac arrest at the young age of 32.
The world might never slow down, as it has become infatuated with achieving, producing, inventing, developing, and perfecting. But the problems we have created are also growing at twice the speed. And unless we slow down, and analyze the effectiveness of how we treat those problems, we only become more vulnerable.
Event Planning 101
No matter what path in life you choose to follow you are probably going to be in charge of the organization and execution of something. It may be your wedding, a friend's birthday, a loved one's funeral, anything. It is a basic human skill that most people have. This is good for personal social lives, but terrible for the world of professional event planning.
The fact of the matter is, thinking "I did my wedding" or "My parties were always the best in high school," does not translate into success on a grander scale. This belief also causes those "casual-event-planners" to look down on those of us who have done larger ones. To lay it out there: As the numbers increase you don't just have to buy more chips and dip.
I have been involved in planning large fundraising efforts, conferences, banquets, and a number of other events and I wish that I could have documented all the steps necessary. Turns out, though, that it is impossible to record every little thing needed, since there is always something which can be done or improved. The constant need for innovation alone is enough to drive you crazy!
I'm not going to attempt to make a list/timeline of everything needed (probably impossible as things aren't linear), but I will go over a few very important points to consider during every event planning process...
Determine the Purpose
Everything happens for a reason. Events are no exception: None of them happen without a reason. It could be as simple of hosting a dinner for friends whom you haven't seen in a while, but there is still a purpose there. Even if you don't consciously think about the purpose, be assured that there always is one.
Addressing the larger scale purpose is vital. Are you raising awareness for a product? Addressing shareholders? Is it a fund raising effort? Without purpose (and a correct one at that) you will not be able to accomplish the goal(s) of your event, wasting lots of time and potentially lots of money.
A sub-heading of this would be managing expectations. You need to have a budget as well as ensure you are only making promises you can deliver.
Identify the Stakeholders
Like it or not every single event is a business venture, no matter what the size or timeline. Because of this the needs of all interested parties must be taken into consideration. This extends far beyond the attendees.
There could be corporate partners who have paid to be involved with the event and you better make sure that their goals are accomplished as well (this would also fall under setting realistic expectations). There is also the venue, any presenters at the event, etc.
Once they are identified take them into consideration for all decisions. I know it's been said that "You can't be everything to everyone," but as an event planner you must be.
Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate
I can't stress this enough. From the venue, to the marketing costs, to speakers, to centerpieces everything can be negotiated. Do this even if you have a huge budget! If you have lots of cash to work with and you still negotiate it just means you can do more, which is always good. This leads into...
Doing the Extra Things
This is the most vague and hardest part to master. Most every event wants to stick out in people's minds. In order to do that you have to focus on the extras that will make your event "pop". The main things should be done, regardless (having food at a gala dinner), but no one's going to take notice of all that. It's expected. It's everything after the job description which counts.
Notice that I don't say "the little things" like others may/do. They can be small, for sure, but those things often are left unnoticed. Doing a great number of little things is "bringing the event to par". For example people won't notice or comment if their cutlery is perfectly aligned, but they will if it is not. This is an extra you have to take care of, but it's not the "pop" you need.
The extra that I'm talking about is something far more unique. If you're planning a guest lecture for cardiologists, hook up the presenter to a heart rate monitor, project the data, and see when they are nervous during their talk. Give everyone coming to a smaller networking event a key when they come in, and the lock in which it works is their seat. You get the drift.
Don't Sweat Too Hard Night Of
A short-coming of a good number of event planners is that they (myself included) care too much about what other people think. Their value as a human hinges on how the event goes over. Any deviation from the plan is an immense failure. Something I tell all planners that I have managed is that no one knows something didn't go by the plan unless you let them know. Think on your feet, roll with the punches, and even if things aren't 100% be sure to stay as calm as possible. Or at least appear that way.
http://kaparsons.blogspot.com/
The fact of the matter is, thinking "I did my wedding" or "My parties were always the best in high school," does not translate into success on a grander scale. This belief also causes those "casual-event-planners" to look down on those of us who have done larger ones. To lay it out there: As the numbers increase you don't just have to buy more chips and dip.
I have been involved in planning large fundraising efforts, conferences, banquets, and a number of other events and I wish that I could have documented all the steps necessary. Turns out, though, that it is impossible to record every little thing needed, since there is always something which can be done or improved. The constant need for innovation alone is enough to drive you crazy!
I'm not going to attempt to make a list/timeline of everything needed (probably impossible as things aren't linear), but I will go over a few very important points to consider during every event planning process...
Determine the Purpose
Everything happens for a reason. Events are no exception: None of them happen without a reason. It could be as simple of hosting a dinner for friends whom you haven't seen in a while, but there is still a purpose there. Even if you don't consciously think about the purpose, be assured that there always is one.
Addressing the larger scale purpose is vital. Are you raising awareness for a product? Addressing shareholders? Is it a fund raising effort? Without purpose (and a correct one at that) you will not be able to accomplish the goal(s) of your event, wasting lots of time and potentially lots of money.
A sub-heading of this would be managing expectations. You need to have a budget as well as ensure you are only making promises you can deliver.
Identify the Stakeholders
Like it or not every single event is a business venture, no matter what the size or timeline. Because of this the needs of all interested parties must be taken into consideration. This extends far beyond the attendees.
There could be corporate partners who have paid to be involved with the event and you better make sure that their goals are accomplished as well (this would also fall under setting realistic expectations). There is also the venue, any presenters at the event, etc.
Once they are identified take them into consideration for all decisions. I know it's been said that "You can't be everything to everyone," but as an event planner you must be.
Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate
I can't stress this enough. From the venue, to the marketing costs, to speakers, to centerpieces everything can be negotiated. Do this even if you have a huge budget! If you have lots of cash to work with and you still negotiate it just means you can do more, which is always good. This leads into...
Doing the Extra Things
This is the most vague and hardest part to master. Most every event wants to stick out in people's minds. In order to do that you have to focus on the extras that will make your event "pop". The main things should be done, regardless (having food at a gala dinner), but no one's going to take notice of all that. It's expected. It's everything after the job description which counts.
Notice that I don't say "the little things" like others may/do. They can be small, for sure, but those things often are left unnoticed. Doing a great number of little things is "bringing the event to par". For example people won't notice or comment if their cutlery is perfectly aligned, but they will if it is not. This is an extra you have to take care of, but it's not the "pop" you need.
The extra that I'm talking about is something far more unique. If you're planning a guest lecture for cardiologists, hook up the presenter to a heart rate monitor, project the data, and see when they are nervous during their talk. Give everyone coming to a smaller networking event a key when they come in, and the lock in which it works is their seat. You get the drift.
Don't Sweat Too Hard Night Of
A short-coming of a good number of event planners is that they (myself included) care too much about what other people think. Their value as a human hinges on how the event goes over. Any deviation from the plan is an immense failure. Something I tell all planners that I have managed is that no one knows something didn't go by the plan unless you let them know. Think on your feet, roll with the punches, and even if things aren't 100% be sure to stay as calm as possible. Or at least appear that way.
http://kaparsons.blogspot.com/
umWHAT can I do to change the world?
25,000 children die every day from the effects of poverty.
This is equal to the earthquake in Haiti occurring every 4 days; the 2006 Asian tsunami happening every 1.5 weeks, or reliving the death toll of 9/11 every 9 days. We concentrate on these individual tragedies because of their uncommon nature and profound impacts felt around the world, but what about the things we don’t hear about in the news? What about the massive death tolls that accumulate every day, but aren’t covered by any media outlets?
The truth is that child poverty is so rampant that it has ceased to be considered newsworthy. Something as simple as a case of diarrhea may cause infection that leads to death in many impoverished countries around the world. Due to unsanitary water sources, or a total lack of access to water, illnesses that we don’t give a second thought to in North America are ending lives at alarming rates in other parts of the globe.
Even before Haiti was hit with this horribly fatal natural disaster, it was a country already in ruins and stricken by tremendous national poverty. It is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, a mere 800 kilometres away from the Florida coast. “Misery is the entirety of the condition of the people,” says Herault Beauvais, a community leader featured in the documentary, The Road to Fondwa. They lack clean water, nourishment, access to education, and funds to finance their businesses and farms. The main roads in the capital Port-au-Prince are flooded and lined with businesses that rarely make a sale. Mud and waste up to the knees cover the ground. Vendors show up in an attempt to make a living, but “as long as there are no roads, there is no business.”
According to Haitians, because so many countries are trying to help them, they are stuck in a place with no particular direction. Different people are giving them various instructions on how to fix their problems, but these solutions don’t necessarily work for the Haitian people. There is a word in Creole that many Haitians in the countryside use; "konbit". A konbit is the gathering of a group of peasants who put their heads together to find solutions to their problems and then put their hands together to achieve it. This is how the Haitian people work to move forward and alleviate their poverty, in konbit.
This highlights a crucial concept in understanding how development and aid in impoverished countries should be focused. To instil change that is both tangible and sustainable, it must fit with the culture and the mentality of the people who live it. Manouche Douze, a student at the University of Fondwa, says that she appreciates the assistance of foreigners in Haiti, but asks that “rather than giving us a little something every time, show us how to do it ourselves.”
Another example of the Haitians' incredible desire to learn comes from a boy in his early teens. He walks for three hours to school and three hours back to his neighbouring community every day. “I leave my house at 4 a.m., because I should be in school. In school, I can learn something so that I can be of service tomorrow.”
It is this belief in education and growth that affirms the possibility for change. The people of Haiti, and other impoverished countries, don’t choose to live in their present conditions; they desperately seek growth and prosperity. Not only do they want to see change, but they want to be the change. According to Herault, “We hope that one day, we will truly live well.”
-Sarah Bockstael
--------------------
The University of Manitoba World Humanitarian Action Team (umWHAT) is a new student group dedicated to bringing about positive social change through education and action initiatives carried out locally. As an affiliate of Free The Children, our goal is to raise enough money to have a school built in a marginalized community overseas through Free The Children's Adopt-a-Village program, and also to support members in travelling overseas to help build the school. In addition, we aim to educate not only our members, but also the community at large, about the social issues that exist and ways to get involved - how we can "be the change" now, and into the future!
For more information, please don't hesitate to contact Matt Hlynsky at matt.hlynsky@gmail.com
This is equal to the earthquake in Haiti occurring every 4 days; the 2006 Asian tsunami happening every 1.5 weeks, or reliving the death toll of 9/11 every 9 days. We concentrate on these individual tragedies because of their uncommon nature and profound impacts felt around the world, but what about the things we don’t hear about in the news? What about the massive death tolls that accumulate every day, but aren’t covered by any media outlets?
The truth is that child poverty is so rampant that it has ceased to be considered newsworthy. Something as simple as a case of diarrhea may cause infection that leads to death in many impoverished countries around the world. Due to unsanitary water sources, or a total lack of access to water, illnesses that we don’t give a second thought to in North America are ending lives at alarming rates in other parts of the globe.
Even before Haiti was hit with this horribly fatal natural disaster, it was a country already in ruins and stricken by tremendous national poverty. It is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, a mere 800 kilometres away from the Florida coast. “Misery is the entirety of the condition of the people,” says Herault Beauvais, a community leader featured in the documentary, The Road to Fondwa. They lack clean water, nourishment, access to education, and funds to finance their businesses and farms. The main roads in the capital Port-au-Prince are flooded and lined with businesses that rarely make a sale. Mud and waste up to the knees cover the ground. Vendors show up in an attempt to make a living, but “as long as there are no roads, there is no business.”
According to Haitians, because so many countries are trying to help them, they are stuck in a place with no particular direction. Different people are giving them various instructions on how to fix their problems, but these solutions don’t necessarily work for the Haitian people. There is a word in Creole that many Haitians in the countryside use; "konbit". A konbit is the gathering of a group of peasants who put their heads together to find solutions to their problems and then put their hands together to achieve it. This is how the Haitian people work to move forward and alleviate their poverty, in konbit.
This highlights a crucial concept in understanding how development and aid in impoverished countries should be focused. To instil change that is both tangible and sustainable, it must fit with the culture and the mentality of the people who live it. Manouche Douze, a student at the University of Fondwa, says that she appreciates the assistance of foreigners in Haiti, but asks that “rather than giving us a little something every time, show us how to do it ourselves.”
Another example of the Haitians' incredible desire to learn comes from a boy in his early teens. He walks for three hours to school and three hours back to his neighbouring community every day. “I leave my house at 4 a.m., because I should be in school. In school, I can learn something so that I can be of service tomorrow.”
It is this belief in education and growth that affirms the possibility for change. The people of Haiti, and other impoverished countries, don’t choose to live in their present conditions; they desperately seek growth and prosperity. Not only do they want to see change, but they want to be the change. According to Herault, “We hope that one day, we will truly live well.”
-Sarah Bockstael
--------------------
The University of Manitoba World Humanitarian Action Team (umWHAT) is a new student group dedicated to bringing about positive social change through education and action initiatives carried out locally. As an affiliate of Free The Children, our goal is to raise enough money to have a school built in a marginalized community overseas through Free The Children's Adopt-a-Village program, and also to support members in travelling overseas to help build the school. In addition, we aim to educate not only our members, but also the community at large, about the social issues that exist and ways to get involved - how we can "be the change" now, and into the future!
For more information, please don't hesitate to contact Matt Hlynsky at matt.hlynsky@gmail.com
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