Margaret Mead used to say: “Never doubt a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Now, the time has come for you to act. But remember, its important to plan any action in detail and make all necessary arrangements.
You’ll obviously want the widest possible audience to engage in your activity. To make this wish come true, you need to let people know you are going to perform an activity. Do you remember those you have met, talked to, or emailed during the previous steps, including NGOs and associations representatives, citizens affected by the issue, and experts you asked advice to? It is time to make a call and invite them to your activity!
Whether it is local, national, or international, invite a trustworthy press agency to your activity. It may be a good idea to give journalists all possible details about the activity being specific about the time and location – all they need to know are the timeless 5Ws (what, who, when, where, why). However, be prepared for potential opponents, as not everybody may like what you’re doing. What is essential is not to take it personally. They are just people who do not share your point of view and deserve the same respect you’d address to like-minded people. Be kind and convince them with facts.
One last thing to take into consideration is the legal aspect your activity might indirectly imply. Even if your action triggers a positive change, it doesn’t automatically mean it complies with municipal regulations and laws. That is why, depending on the type of activity you are planning, a call to the authorities, as well as asking for expert advice from a lawyer or the legal services some NGOs have at their disposal, may be fundamental.
- Are you planning to take photos and make videos you’ll share on social networks?
- Does your activity require you to set a budget?
- What is your plan B in case of unforeseen events?
- Have you contacted people affected by the issue you’re tackling to join your action?
- Will you perform your action in partnership with an NGO or association?
- Does your activity require special permission from local authorities?
1
In order to make your activity as organized as possible, make a to-do list with all the needed tasks and assign each of them to a different member of your group.
2
Remember that events and activities usually need 4-6 weeks to be advertised, especially if you want to engage a wide range of people.
3
If one activity element doesn’t work as planned, it doesn’t mean that the whole action is a failure. Never give up, adjust your plans, and move forward.
A group of changemakers who want to reduce their impact on the environment decided to organize a DIY workshop for the own production of shampoos, deodorants, and detergents with the slogan “Self manufacture instead of consuming.”
Instruments
Getting the right equipment may be tricky.
Take a look at these online services and Apps and find the one that is right for you.
Create graphics with Canva – https://www.canva.com
Give a try at OBS, a streaming and recording program – https://obsproject.com
Are you looking for a task management application? What about To do? – https://to-do.microsoft.com
Spreaker will help you start a podcast and distribute it – https://www.spreaker.com
Trello helps teams work – https://trello.com/en
Don’t you know how to deal with videos? Clipchamp can be the answer – https://clipchamp.com/en
SurveyMonkey will help you create questionnaires to get feedback from the participants in your activities – https://www.surveymonkey.com
Worksheet
We have prepared for you these schemes to help you achieve your goal:
GANTT chart
A Gantt chart shows what tasks need to be done to complete the project and when these tasks need to be done.
TO DO LIST and AGENDA
A good method to never lose track is to fill out a to-do list. Everyone should have his/her own, but sharing with the other group members is an excellent way to help each other during this phase.
Hunting
You may need to look for resources or objects to carry out your action. Here is a worksheet to keep track of everything you need to find.
What do you need to move on?
Before performing your activity, it is essential to be sure you have organized every aspect of your action. Schedule a meeting during which you’ll imagine the action in all its phases, tick off what you already have from a list, and write down what still needs to be improved. Repeat this process until everything has been ticked off. And now, the time has come – be brave and take action!
Did you do it? Congratulations! Go to step 7 and evaluate the outcome of your action.
