Let's face it, most people who volunteer are passionate about helping people - but for some influencing social change is also important. Volunteering for a campaigning organisation allows volunteers to help make things happen for large charities. Find out what the grass roots activists get up to here.

All | Isabel | Helen | Rachael | Carolynn | Moira

« A bit of glitz and... | Main | media scoops and... »

Thursday Jun 01, 2006

African vibes

Richard Ashcroft varies in lots of ways to African Music, for a start ones pretty depressing and somber while the other  is sure of making you feel good happy vibes and tap your feet. The type of people attracted to these  sorts of music also varies quite a bit!

Campaigning for Oxfam at the African Music Festival (http://www.joyfulnoise.co.uk/lamf/index.htm)  on Sunday 21st May  was a bit of challenge, as we competed with Zongo, a ground-breaking fusion of Afrobeat, Hi Life and Rock from Ghana, for peoples attention. Normally we would find ourselves approaching people as they waited to go into a music venue, this time we found ourselves in a very full and energetic venue competing with  the noise - while they were playing we ended up dancing witrh our clip boards to show people that Oxfam campaigners also know how to party! 

During the few quiet times when we were able to talk to people about the Control Arms campaign we were bombarded with interested people. with such a flood of interest around our table and not enough cameras to assist with taking photos of all of those  wanting to get involved. i again stuck to getting people to draw faces of themselves,  approaching people who were sitting around tables and enjoying the atmosphere. This  approach does take a bit  longer but has the added bonus of getting to chat with people at the same time, i had the fun challenge of trying to expalin to some Italians, with limited English, what the campaign was all about! 

 

Posted by Helen Bryant ( 11:23 AM )
Link to this post Comments[0]