It’s hard to make a change all alone. Finding like-minded people will help you not only achieve much more but also have much more fun.
Change is always a long-term process, so it is essential to find people who stay by your side and support you along this journey. Don’t worry if you are shy; following this step will give you the chance to find people who have different, complementary temperaments that will make your group stronger and sounder. Look at who might be good at public speaking, planning, logistics, and so on, so that she/he will be responsible for a specific task according to their personal skills. The more different the members of the group are, the richer their contribution will be.
From now on, your two keywords will be trust and respect. Don’t forget that being part of a group means that you will face disagreements, but if you listen to each other and take advantage of your differences, you will learn how to “agree to disagree” and turn your divergences into a strength.
- Have you asked people who refused to join your group if there is something you could do better?
- Are there existing groups of people who care about the issue you chose you could join or collaborate with?
- Have you asked an NGO or association for a contact person?
- Is every person in the group deeply committed to the issue?
- Does everyone feel part of and welcomed by the group?
- Have you discussed and identified a shared vision?
1
Appoint a rotating group leader. She/he would be responsible for leading the group only for a limited time and will then be replaced by another group member.
2
Don’t think of your group “physically”. Group members don’t need to live in the same geographic area to cooperate and collaborate.
3
Split responsibilities, divide tasks, and support one another. That will make your group better organized and more dynamic.
Did you know? A conference organized by a few young changemakers in Cracow has led to the formation of Queer Amnesty, a group consisting of changemakers from the whole Poland committed to education and activism for LGBTI rights. They felt the urge to take action also in the name of people vulnerable to gender discrimination who do not have the chance to speak up.
Instruments
Are you experiencing trouble finding people who want to take action with you? Try to use the Apps you probably already have more efficiently:
Facebook – look for closed groups where people from your area or different places talk about the issue you chose.
Instagram – search some hashtags linked to your issue and send a message to those who usually share relevant content.
Eventbrite – take a look at the events organized in your city and online, attend one or more, and meet (physically or virtually) the other participants.
Is your group formed by members who live in different cities or countries? Give a try at these Apps:
Zoom – https://zoom.us
Google Meet – https://meet.google.com
Skype – https://www.skype.com
Slack – https://slack.com
Jitsi Meet – https://meet.jit.si
Lifesize – https://www.lifesize.com
Worksheet
We have prepared for you these schemes to help you achieve your goal:
Skills map
Now that you are a team, it is time to get to know you better. Does anyone know how to use graphics software? Or to develop software? Is there a computer whiz among you? Who is introverted? Who knows how to whistle? Don’t be afraid and try to share all your skills. They are going to be precious!
Roles & Tasks
It is essential to define everyone’s roles and tasks. Here is a template that will help you out
What do you need to move on?
If someone has not the time to take part in the group, he/she can help with your activities at a later time. Having a solid group is the requirement you need to fulfill to go to the next step.
Are you all ready to start? Go to step 3 and get into the heart and soul of the issue!
