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VOLUNTEER TASK OPPORTUNITIES

Board of Advisors

Do you have a passion for Africa and helping less fortunate people there?

We need experienced professionals in any field to become actively involved in helping us build our organization and plan our future. Our volunteers include an attorney, a professional fundraiser, a photographer, a nonprofit manager, a public relations professional, social entrepreneurs, a branding expert and a former television producer. Whatever your professional experience, you may have a desire to be involved in extending our network to include skilled influential supporters.

  • Spread the word on the Web
    We need web savvy people to help make us famous on the World Wide Web and attract donors. Set up a blog or fundraising page on social networking web sites. Ask friends to celebrate your birthday or anniversary or raise funds through your participation in a sporting event or other activity.

    Grant proposal writers
    Experienced grant writers are needed to research foundations and write letters of inquiry and proposals for funding. Find out the foundation’s focus and write compelling communications based on guidelines furnished by the foundation.

    Help us seek corporate funding
    If you’re familiar with the business world, you can help us identify corporate foundations offering funds for projects in African countries. Experienced fund raisers on our volunteer staff are available to serve as mentors as you contact and prepare letters to corporate officers and foundation directors.

    Represent Eco Africa Social Ventures at sales events
    Churches, synagogues, schools, scout groups and other nonprofit organizations feature the handmade paper-craft gifts created by our Zimbabwean artists and artisans at seasonal fairs, coffee hours and other venues where people regularly gather. Invite your organization to hold an Eco Africa event. Your organization will earn a percentage of the proceeds and so will EASV.

  • Plan your own party
    Invite a group of your friends and relatives to see the beautiful paper gift products and order from among dozens of handmade items. They include high quality photo albums, note books, picture frames, African paper dolls and other unique gift items that make excellent Christmas, birthday and anniversary gifts. We will help you organize it. You take orders and Eco Africa Social Ventures benefits from the sale. It can be at your home and create a chance for you to enjoy your friends. (even a small space can work)

    Sell Eco Africa Crafts on eBay
    Our Zimbabwean crafters make a very saleable assortment of over 50 handmade paper gift items. For instance, handsome photo albums include pink or blue albums for babies, and all-occasion albums featuring textural handmade paper pages. Picture frames are decorated with handmade paper and trimmed with faux porcupine quills that spare the lives of real porcupines. Make some money for Eco Africa by selling products on eBay.

    Help us plan a fundraising event
    Experienced events planners and assistants are needed to help us plan and implement fundraising events. We are planning events both large and small. Contribute ideas for a location (your company’s boardroom perhaps, or an interesting restaurant) and help us put together a mailing list, send invitations, and enlist your friends and supporters to attend the event.

Public Relations
Develop an idea for your favorite magazine, newspaper, web or blog site.

There are many stories that Eco Africa can tell, from how its founder discovered Zimbabwe’s beautiful handmade paper while visiting Victoria Falls to the artisans’ own stories of hope and survival. Under the guidance of our public relations director, you’ll contact appropriate members of the media to set up interviews and develop stories about Eco Africa’s crafting and fundraising programs. Help to make us a Cause Celebré!

  • Attract famous people to our cause
    Famous people can spread the word far more easily than non famous people. Find a famous person you admire (or know), and think of ways to appeal to their sense of compassion and desire to help others. A dancer, a band or singer might perform at a benefit and promote the benefit to their friends. A famous designer might come up with a special Eco Africa signature product design, then create publicity for the cause through an auction at an event, first making an announcement on TV. Find a way to present our cause to Oprah. She would love what we are doing.

  • Write press materials
    From pitch letters to pique the media’s interest to news releases and background information that form the basis for an article or news item, press materials help gain awareness for Eco Africa Social Ventures and its vital cause. We are always on the lookout for people who have a winning way with words.

    Add to and maintain media lists
    You can help us increase our media reach by researching and adding to our lists of editors, reporters and program hosts and producers at magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations, special interest publications and web sites. Call them up and try to establish relationships.

Film-Making: YouTube Projects

Create a documentary.

We have great footage and a library of still images. We need volunteers to create a documentary as well as short clips for use as videos for our website and posting on blogs on the web. Professionals or interns experienced in either Final Cut Pro or iMovie as well as other film making tools will be welcome. Credits can be acquired for successful outcomes.

Web Management

Help maintain our website.

Both professionals and interns will be welcomed to make creative Web 2.0 additions to our website.

Mentor younger volunteers

Young volunteers often need and value encouragement and inspiration through working with more experienced volunteers. Provide motivation and self confidence in one or more young enthusiastic volunteers. Mentoring young members of our volunteer staff can be an enjoyable and rewarding way to volunteer.

Our long-term goals include setting up volunteer programs and facilities in Zimbabwe. We intend to arrange programs whereby volunteers will be able to participate to help with training and crafting in Zimbabwe. We will need to set up and facilities and programs for incoming volunteers. A designers annual workshop to develop new products for the artisans is one cherished idea that needs to be developed by an enthusiastic participant.