Ways you can initiate help for the victims
by Dr Brendan J. Gomez
Stage 1: Awareness
Make yourself aware of efforts in your community, and at the same time, help your community be aware of the magnitude of the disaster.
1. Contact key community organizations and ask about efforts they have started or interest in starting such efforts. Eg. The local Red Cross, United Way, local places of worship, organizations that you belong to or are affiliated with.
2. Contact key leaders in your community. Eg. Political, religious, business, organizational leaders
3. Contact local press
Stage 2: Brainstorm ways of Helping
1. Talk to as many people as possible and get various ideas of how you and others can be involved in helping out
2. Be open to ideas from others, and share ideas that you may have. List as many ideas first.
3. Let others know of your interest in helping
Stage 3: Set-up a small team
1. Form a small team of people who are interested in working together to help in small ways
2. From the various ideas talked about in Stage 2, determine which are most realistic and workable.
3. Work out how much time and effort each plan will take. Set a timeline for each effort.
4. Work out roles and responsibilities for each person on the team.
Stage 4: Connect your Community to International Efforts
1. Identify International Relief organizations that are in place in the affected regions (see link above)
2. Determine how best to channel funds and support to these relief organizations.
3. Determine the precise way you and your team will go about delivering information to your community.
Stage 5: Action
1. Be ready to follow thru with actions and responsibilities decided in Stage 3.
2. Remember to work closely and coordinate with others on the team.
3. Have an ongoing information system in place that will keep all team members aware of progress made.
Stage 6: Rolling Support
1. Make people aware of efforts you have begun to create a flow of support.
Stage 7: Termination
1. Determine as a team how you will all decide when to “close shop”. Would such a decision be based on whether concrete goals or objectives were achieved?
2. Determine what are final responsibilities that require attention before the team disbands.
3. Remember to recognize all within the team and others in the community who provided so much towards your efforts. Eg. A certificate of recognition, a handshake, an email thanking each one personally, a press release, etc.
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