New Year’s resolutions are a commitment to change with the end goal to do more and to do better; not only for yourself but for others too.
So, even though we are already a couple of days into 2019 already… we have some great ideas for “new” New Year’s resolutions to create change and do good things!
Year after year, it seems, we tend to set the same New Year’s resolutions and ultimately end up failing, right? Things like getting in shape, eating healthy, saving more money, and quitting smoking are some of the more obvious ones that make it onto our lists.
How often have you set a goal to volunteer a few hours of your time each month to a good cause, or to donate a sizeable but affordable amount to your charity of choice so that they can continue with all the good they’re doing in the world? So, come 31 December 2018, why not take a different approach to setting a New Year’s resolution and make 2019 the year to focus on creating positive change in the lives of others and thereby enrich yourself?
The Wishing Well International Foundation
According to the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) there are about 2.1 billion people in the world that lack access to safely managed drinking water services, largely affecting the youngest and eldest of rural communities in South Africa and the African continent in general.
The Wishing Well International Foundation (WWIF) is a non-profit organisation looking to change this. Their mission is to make sure that every single person on the planet, young and old alike, has access to clean drinking water; and in Southern Africa, the Wishing Well International Foundation South Africa (WWIF SA) focuses on rural communities where this issue is more prevalent.
WWIF SA has strategically partnered with H2O International SA. The water purifiers that H2O International SA install cost R1,500 each and can be used by at least ten people for up to ten years. However, while a donation of R1,500 can help ten people for ten years and R150 can provide for one person for ten years, every little bit helps!
Water is life and access to safe, clean water is essential. It’s one of our most basic human rights. Let’s do better together and make a real difference where it counts.
Forgood
Forgood is an online platform that connects people who want to make a difference to Causes that need their help. They create Social Citizens! On forgood, you can explore the database of verified Non Profit Organisations (Causes), volunteer your time and skills, donate goods or give back on your own terms by creating an Offer to Causes in your area.
More importantly, forgood strives to create meaningful and impactful connections between people and Causes. All Causes on forgood capture EXACTLY what they need on their profiles. This creates better matches – allowing you to find something you’re passionate about that a Cause also really needs.
GEM Project
GEM (or Going the Extra Mile) is an awesome way for you to create social change in your community – and then be rewarded for it! Think of it as a loyalty programme for community service. Just download the app, find a cause that suits you, attend one of the events, and earn GEMs (redeemable points) for your good work.
GEM offers a mobile payment platform to reward social action in RSA.
- Users earn GEMs by volunteering their time and efforts to helping improve their community.
- Users spend GEMs on digital rewards incl. airtime, electricity, data, movie tickets and grocery vouchers.
- R1 = 1 GEM
Opening a GEM account is quick, easy and FREE. You can sign-up straight from your mobile and start earning GEMs – wherever you go. Good Deeds, Great Rewards.
BackaBuddy
BackaBuddy is an online fundraising platform that is designed to help individuals raise funds for causes they are passionate about. These causes can range from registered nonprofit organisations to individuals who need funds for a variety of reasons including medical expenses, studies etc.
BackaBuddy believes in the power of individual philanthropy and peer to peer giving through technology.
Better SA
Described by South Africa’s media as ‘the Uber of volunteering’, Better SA offers Saturday morning excursions from designated bus hubs around Johannesburg to NPOs in need of volunteer skills and sweat equity. For those wanting to give back but not knowing where to start, Better SA takes all the hassle out of volunteering.
All the volunteer has to do is book their spot on one of the busses and arrive at the bus hub. The service is free of charge and co-ordinated from start to finish so that volunteers can make the most impact in the time they have available.