THE INFLUENCE OF SMALL EVENTS ON CHARITY WORK AND VOLUNTEERISM (A CASE STUDY OF FAMINE IN SOMALIA AND KENYA)

THE INFLUENCE OF SMALL EVENTS ON CHARITY WORK AND VOLUNTEERISM (A case study of famine in Somalia and Kenya)

ESTATE MANAGEMENT PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS

ABSTRACT

This thesis is a written report on the events organised to raise awareness as well as fund raising to help the victims of Famine in Somalia and Kenya. It also aimed at using small events to make impacts, highlighting how events can be used as a form of educative means to encourage volunteerism among young adults. The project was named “Impact your world” due to the fact that different forms of events was used to achieve this goal.

The project was commissioned by HAAGA-HELIA and Red Cross Finland. It was written in the perspective of the author of this thesis who was the event manager, organizer and implementation officer at every stage of the project.

This thesis is divided into four parts, the introduction, giving an outline of the project and its broader frame of reference, the project description that explained the detail of the project at every stage, the project results, evaluation and analysis. It also includes the description of step by step implementation of the event through out the project timeline: the event venue, coordination of participants, weather condition as it influence the event, the activities in each event, catering, guest performers and speakers.

The author describes in detail event atmosphere as well as sponsorship sourcing processes. Meanwhile, the evaluation of the author`s performance, recommendations for future purposes as regards events and the evaluation of the project is clearly stated at the last part of this report.

1    1.Introduction

1.1     Thesis Overview

Over the years, the need for volunteerism has grown among people of all ages. Non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and the United Nation for instance have used volunteerism as tools of helping humanities. For example, the United Nations program such as the United Nations Volunteers program, an arm of the UN that supports peace and other relief development programs around the globe have been in frequent reli-ance on volunteerism. (United nations in the philippines,1). Another prominient organization that has frequently use volunteerism globally is the Redcross international. The Red Cross for instance has carried out relieves programs all year round especially in the countries where there are dire humanitarian need.

However, as a volunteer, the need to encourage others to participate and energize those doing already cannot be underestimated; as a result, the need to perform social and educational functions has been on the rise over the past decades.

According to the United Nations, the cooperation and commitment of the public sec-tor, civil society and private sector with the support of the world community at large is highly significant in other to achieve active participation in the course of help to hu-manity at large. (United nations in the philippines,1).

Meanwhile, volunteers are faced with the problem of trust and necessary support espe-cially when dealing with public, this emphasis the reason sensitization of the public in highly important.

Often times, most non-governmental organizations are tagged as corrupt which make it difficult on the issue of trust for on-coming young and energized individuals to par-ticipate in voluntary services and hence, most individuals who have the zeal and energy to serve, often hide under the umbrella of standardized institutions such as the Red Cross and the UN.

THE INFLUENCE OF SMALL EVENTS ON CHARITY WORK AND VOLUNTEERISM (A case study of famine in Somalia and Kenya)

ESTATE MANAGEMENT PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS