iPakistan is a new social media initiative set up by a group of Pakistani university students to change the global perception of Pakistan. Reaching out to others via the web, their aim is to re-brand Pakistan and break the stereotypes that often result in discrimination and prejudice towards its people.

Type out ‘Pakistan’ in the Google Images search bar and scroll down the first few pages: one would find pictures of maps,  the Pakistani flag and images that spell out a country torn between poverty and war. Although this may be the harsh reality in some parts of Pakistan, it is not the only reality of this South Asian country, as some are prone to believe.  With the kind of news surfacing daily regarding the conflicts, bomb blasts and political issues of not only the country, but also its neighbors’ it’s not hard to see why most people have a negative outlook on Pakistan. Rehman Ilyas aims to change this by replacing the post 9/11 images of terrorism, extremism and war zone to that of extremely talented youths, scenic landscapes and rich culture.

As a Lahori studying at the University of Hong Kong, Ilyas found himself subject to questions about Pakistan ranging from relatively normal ones such as “Do you have any malls there?” to more ridiculous ones like “Is there Taliban in your family?” He was always aware of the injustice done by the world media news in regards to their portrayal of his country but he was unaware of the severity of it until he arrived in Hong Kong.

“People only got to see that 1% of Pakistan in which the War on Terror is going on, in the media, and take that to be representative of the entire Pakistan,” he said.

Instead of merely complaining, he took action and decided to play his part in correcting the wrongly propagated image of his country. He started with doing his own online research on the subject and pitching the idea to his friends, followed by doing pilot tests on Facebook and a trial website. A survey was even conducted to realistically depict what the world thinks of Pakistan. Tackling the issues from there, what initially started out as a personal contribution to his country has now expanded to a website and a Facebook page with contents from over 80 team members, a diversified group of youths spread over 10 countries all intent on introducing the real Pakistan to the world.

Ilyas also intends to reach out to the world for a greater purpose that could help Pakistan in a myriad of other ways. According to him, “The 2011 floods in Pakistan were worse than the Asian Tsunami and the Haiti Earthquake combined, and an area the size of England was inundated in water. Despite all this, the media coverage and global aid intervention received wasn’t even close as compared to these other recent natural calamities, simply because people around the world were not interested in helping out a country which in their minds, harbors terrorist groups and is a base camp for terrorist activities around the world.”

Setting the global views straight, even one person at a time, could slowly prove to be beneficial for 180 million Pakistanis. With Pakistani businessman and traders at exhibitions around the world facing difficulties when questioned about bringing in supplies reliably to and from a war zone, Ilyas’ project could have a positive effect on his country economically as well.

Along with changing the way others perceive his country, Ilyas would also like to see a few changes within the nation itself. Speaking for a majority of the population, he said, “Most Pakistanis crave for a change of leadership. We are done with having the same corrupt leaders elected again and again, and this needs to end now. Pakistan is blessed with both vast natural resources and human capital, and given the right leadership we have the potential to develop into a regional superpower.”

Another sub-project that Ilyas has been working on is ‘Romancing the Border’ and is aimed at another issue spread across the nation: the social gap between Indians and Pakistanis. With most youths having been raised with a mindset bearing hatred for the other side, the stereotypical views separate the youths despite the fact both sides may be similar to each other in a lot of aspects. Backed by Stanford University’s Peace Innovation Lab, this cross-border initiative provides an online platform for youth from both sides of the border to interact with each other and to encourage pro-social behaviors between Pakistanis and Indians.

Having received positive responses so far regarding iPakistan from both Pakistanis and foreigners, Ilyas hopes to reach out to the masses and in the foreseeable future, instead of us receiving war torn images of Pakistan as soon as we Google the word, iPakistan will appear on the top search results and bring about a positive first impression of the country.

Perhaps it is a sign of change in the world when youths stand up to defend their country, and not in the traditional means of violence or crude words, but by showing the rest of us what their nation is capable of, what makes it beautiful, and most importantly, what makes it their home and source of pride. With that, Ilyas leaves us with one last statement on his beloved homeland, “We are not a country supporting terrorism. In fact, we are the country which has sacrificed the most in the war against terrorism.”

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

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Hospice of the Western Reserve is kicking off a program to recognize “Hospice Heroes,” a community of individuals, families, and school, church or service groups across Northern Ohio who host fundraising activities that help the non-profit agency provide care to all who need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

Last year, the hospice covered unreimbursed expenses and charity care valued at nearly $5 million in the Northern Ohio region. According to Bill Sluzewski, development officer, fundraising events range from simple activities like selling candy bars, to larger events, like craft shows, benefit concerts and golf outings. “The organizers are often family members or friends of a patient who had been in our care,” he explained.

“Whether it’s a one-time activity or an annual event, it’s a legacy of love that honors their loved one and keeps their memory alive by giving back to other patients and families.” Such is the case for “Misty’s Wish,” created in 2010 by Sherri Viccarone, a resident of Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood, in loving memory of Misty, her teenaged daughter.

Misty, who was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor, was cared for by Hospice of the Western Reserve during the final stage of her life.  The non-profit agency serving Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Summit Counties, offers one of the few pediatric hospice and palliative programs in the country.

Hospice helped with Misty’s medical supplies, medicine, physical and psychological therapies, and also supported Sherri and the extended family by guiding them the complex healthcare maze and providing emotional and spiritual support throughout the illness.  They also gave Misty an unexpected gift.

One day, a hospice team member asked Misty if there was one wish she would like to have granted before she died. Her response was a surprise to everyone: “I want my Dad to adopt me.” (Her stepfather was the only father she had known as she was growing up.) Within just ten days, Hospice of the Western Reserve’s legal team worked with a Cleveland judge to grant Misty’s wish to be legally adopted.

When Misty died, her mother, Sherri, was determined to tell her story to help other families coping with their children’s terminal illnesses, and to keep her daughter’s memory alive.  She started out by organizing an event called the “Misty Viccarone Christmas Memorium,” which involved collecting teddy bears and donating them to the Cleveland Clinic’s Oncology Department for children undergoing cancer treatment.

In 2010, Mrs. Viccarone and a dedicated group of volunteers expanded upon initial efforts by hosting a commemorative fundraiser with bowling, raffles and prizes. They called the event “Misty’s Wish,” a reference to the final wish Hospice of the Western Reserve helped to fulfill.

The event raised more than$5,000 for the non-profit agency’s pediatric palliative care patients. It was so successful that the group decided to make it an annual event.  Last year’s event, held at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Hts., generated an incredible $8,600. Mrs. Viccarone acknowledges that having a child diagnosed with a terminal illness is something no parent can ever anticipate or be equipped to deal with emotionally or psychologically.

However, she is determined to create something positive from the tragic circumstances.  An important part of her mission is helping other parents and caregivers by expanding awareness of pediatric palliative care.

“When I first tell people about the mission of Misty’s Wish, they’re sometimes shocked and surprised,” she said. “There’s a misconception that hospice care is only for the elderly.  In fact, a co-worker who even knew Misty had died of a brain tumor asked me why there was a need for a pediatric hospice team.

My answer was simple: `Because children die.’” Misty died on July 27, 1996, but thanks to the love and dedication of her family and friends, her memory lives on to help others through Misty’s Wish.

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From Saturday, September 24, 2011, eastern Europe should consider itself cleaner as a result of one of the largest voluntary movements in Romania. “Let’s Do It Romania!” or what should become “The National Cleaning-up Day,” motivated 250,000 people to become actively involved in cleaning up their country.

Launched as a response to a successful Estonian idea, “Let’s Do It 2008!”, “Let’s Do It, Romania!” had its first event last year, when 200,000 people participated. The aim was to collect as much garbage from natural areas as possible in only one day with the help of volunteers.

Long before the chosen date, a whole organizational system was build from central, regional, and departmental teams to the involvement of shareholders, the mapping of garbage and the establishment of communication networks.

In addition to the clean-up effort, “Let’s Bike It, Romania!,” an event from earlier this year, people took their bikes and went for a bit of adventure and pleasure while mapping garbage spots on GPS references system. The 250,000 volunteers marked their presence on Saturday.

Early in the morning, the teams went to their assigned spots, supplied with gloves and bags. Until 3 p.m., forests, barbecue places, and valleys – all were cleaned-up.  The national campaign resulted in 350,000 garbage bags at a first count with final statistics to be given this week.

In the year of volunteering, “Let’s Do It, Romania!” brought together individuals, students and professors, employers and employees, non-profit organizations and private companies, under the same message: “Ff there’s something that bothers you, take action, be the change you want to see around!” as stated on the official web-site “Let’s Do It, Romania!”

“They explained that it is extremely difficult to mobilize Romanians. That they are not like Estonians. That the country is huge. That Romanians don’t like volunteer work. That the Romanian team has had many meetings, but results are not much. That they are kind of stuck. That was an honest discussion.

Frankly, I could see it was not easy for them. They had worked hard for a dream. We tried to figure what to do. I urged them to go mapping at least few spots and go from there. To keep trying,” remembers Rainer Nõlvak, one of the organizers of “Let’s Do It, 2008!” on the Let’s Do It, World! website, about one of the first meeting with the Romanian initiators.

Hanks to their determination, a quarter of million people at the second country clean-up proved their active support and registered another success of the campaign, nationally. The project is already catching on in different countries farther than Romania and Europe.

In 2008, different countries subscribed to the “Let’s Do It, World!” campaign:

Estonia (2008 – 50,000 volunteers),
Latvia (2008- 50,000; 2009- 110,000; 2010- 150,000),
Lithuania (2008 – 6,000; 2009 – 100,000; 2010 – 200,000),
Portugal (2010 – 110,000),
Slovenia (2010 – 275,000),
New Delhi, India (2010 – 50,000),
Kerala, India (2010 – 4,100),
Moldova (2011 – 113,000).

Further action is expected for Bangladesh, Ukraine, Brazil, Finland, Netherlands, France, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Russia, Thailand, Austria, Italy, and California. “Let’s Do It, World!” could become one of the greatest citizens’ initiatives in the world, where each of us could have a say in the cleaning-up of our environment.

However, strongly recommended would be a secondary project of “Let’s Keep it Clean!” which would very probably add sustainability to the project and double the results. Until then, let’s just hope the goal of this civic movement will be soon achieved: a world free of waste!

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/d-i-a/

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Mobile campaigns can be divided into two types – pull or push campaigns. A pull campaign works as part of a larger media campaign since the campaign has to be advertised using other means. The organization might use email, television, the Internet, or billboards to advertise a mobile marketing campaign.

The user responds to a call to action by texting a certain keyword or message to a common short code. On the other hand, a push campaign requires an initial opt-in database of mobile numbers, although organizations should be aware that the Mobile Marketing Association’s Code of Conduct stipulates that users must opt in to a campaign in order to contact.

Since push campaign do not require additional marketing in other media forms, they are easier for an organization to set up and manage if the organization already has a database of constituents.

However, in order to reach a successful mobile campaign, a non-profit organization needs to take many strategic steps into consideration. Jenifer Snyder, Executive Director of The mGive Foundation, an organization that solicits contributions in all states working to enhance the mobile giving ecosystem, came up with some essential tips for non-profits hoping to start their own text-based initiatives.

Know The Rules
In order to launch a mobile campaign, organizations must have 501©(3) non-profit status, file a form 990 demonstrating an annual budget of at least $500,000, have been in operation for at least a year and report all of its expenses to the public.

“However, with non-profit organizations that can’t have a half a million dollar annual budget, MobiPledge and Momares are one of appropriate solutions designed specifically for small non-profits with shorter histories” said Jenifer Snyder.

Build Your Foundation
It’s a fact that a mobile campaign can do much more than just ask for money. Before your organization thinks about a fundraising campaign, you need phone numbers. Consult with your provider or with other organizations that have used mobile campaigning to determine the number of people you can expect to participate in your campaign.

A strong database is one of the most important aspects to consider before launching a mobile campaign. Once you have collected a large group of phone numbers and organized the lists, it’s time for your organization to kick off the campaign.

Engage
Your key task is to turn your campaign goals into reality by figuring out how to reach your audiences and get them to participate. Do not send an immediate request for money without making a good first impression of your organization and your mission.

Remember that with your marketing effort, you can appeal to your subscribers’ emotions and then lead them join your mobile campaign.

Think Big
“Big events with big audiences are the best opportunity to solicit text message donations. Because text campaign seek micro-donations, the moment your non-profit has its largest captive audience is best to launch a campaign” Jenifer Snyder emphasized.

Think Outside the Box
Mobile messaging is about interaction, not just a one-way pitch. This offers your organization a unique opportunity to find volunteers for specific events or inform people about rally. Your organization should concise that mobile campaign is not only to solicit donations but to do much more.

Don’t Oversaturate
Snyder claims that 85% of text messages are read within 15 minutes of being received. This mean that there is a higher chance your audience will read text messages sooner than email in their inbox.

Text messages generally have better conversion rate. Nevertheless, your organization should be aware that the messages can become overwhelming and unwanted .

Try to limit donation inquiries to once a month, followed by a message of appreciation to those who donated. Encouraging ongoing engagement is an effective way to retain your participators.

Know the Limitations
Even though itis likely that a mobile campaign’s advantages outweigh its disadvantages, the non-profit campaigns still need to be aware of their limitations. For example, while this sets a minimum (usually $5 or $10) for donation, it also limits larger donations, unless users want to text 100 times.

With the widespread of mobile technology, a mobile campaign today is a good tool for non-profit organizations.

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When sex slavery comes to mind, most people think they cannot relate. What you should relate to is that it is happening a lot closer than you think. Sex slavery is one of the biggest and less noticed issues in the United States; even though it’s a billion a year enterprise and composed of mostly teen girls. Known for occurring overseas, sex trafficking is a commercial form of slavery a person under the age of eighteen is forced into. It is led by fraud and force. Thriving each and every minute, sex slavery is becoming more and more common in the United States, which has grew into over a twenty-eight billion dollar enterprise. Even though the sex industry is one of Americas booming industries, the consequences and downfalls of the industry are ignored. There are over one million slaves worldwide and about 17,000 end up working in the United States. Trapped with no way out, sex slaves have little hope, but is there hope? Celebrities and founders are known for helping charities, organizations, and finally there is someone who took on the war against sex slavery.

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher launched their own non profit foundation against child sex slavery in 2007. DNA’s, the Demi and Ashton foundation, purpose is to hopefully abolish sex slavery by raising awareness through award shows, events, and communication with sex slave survivors. Phrases such as “Freedom.. its in our DNA” and “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls” are raising attention to not only the government, but celebrities. Bradley Cooper well known from the Hangover, just recently joined the Real Men Don’t Buy Girls campaign by creating a video on what real men do. Music Superstar Drake, Justin Timberlake, and even Eva Longoria have joined the fight against sex slavery. Sex Predators use social media and the internet on about 77% of deals made within sex trafficking. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher hope to use that against them by using Social Media to raise awareness and hopefully prevent it from happening. Getting to the “heart” of sex transactions is where DNA will try to take a stand.

Appearing on Regis and Kelly, CNN, and the Pepsi Research Project, Demi and Ashton’s goal was to reach out to as many people as possible. With Facebook and Twitter created for the organization, DNA hopes to use social media as a backfire to all sex traffickers. They are working and combining forces with other sex slavery projects, such as the Polaris Project in Washington D.C., to help Americans understand the issue of sex slavery and how it can happen to anyone, no matter your location or gender.

Most Sex Slaves are enticed by fake ads and job opportunities, such as housekeeping and dressmakers in papers in countries like Ukraine. Once arriving at there fake job, women are enslaved and forced to have sexual encounters with over twenty men a day. Most of this happens in rural areas where there is nowhere to escape. Most sex slaves are women, but the scary part is most of them are under the age of 18, with the average age for a sex slave in the United States being thirteen years old.

Every ten minutes another sex slave is trafficked into the United States, so what can you do about it? Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher provided a three step process for people to help take a stand against sex slavery on demiandashton.org. First, join the “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls” campaign by creating a video on what real men do instead. Justin Timberlake showed the men shave instead of buying girls on his video. The Real Men videos can be viewed on the website. Next, reporting any sex slavery seen on the internet or suspicions can help end sex trafficking online. This can be done by reporting to Craigslist, Facebook, and cybertipline.com. Finally, you can help raise money and awareness by doing it in style. The DNA t-shirt can be found online at stevenalan.com and all funds go to the DNA foundation. All of these actions can finally help put an end to sex slavery in the United States. Raising awareness is the first step to stopping the traffickers. So, go out and help put an end to sex slavery by showing that Real Men Don’t Buy Girls.

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