Working with Guria was a lasting experience. In the Indian judiciary system the small organization persists to be a thorn of justice in the eyes of corrupt policemen, corrupt politicians and human traffickers. Guria investigated and eventually closed down a brothel that was operated right next to a children center. As soon as the doors of the Bombardier machine opened, the temperature in the cabin rose. Having spent [...]
We thought we can reach tens of thousands of people on social media. We thought we can engage them emotionally, so they will donate online. And we thought a man would fish, if you give him a fishing rod. How foolish was that? Being on the road for more than 4 months, taking a step back and reflecting our work is overdue. Having cooperated with four NGOs which operate [...]
In a country with a literacy rate below 75%, there is a large percentage of people who cannot claim their rights if they become victims of a crime. But the challenges faced in a developing country with an inefficient judicial system are not imaginable for us growing up with more efficient systems. Many victims cannot afford to pay a lawyer and corruption often stands in the way of a fair [...]
Every child deserves a a perspective in life. In many families in India the circumstances do not allow children to fullfil their full potential. Children are forced to earn money to support the household. Giving Hope Extra-curricular activities are an important part of the concept. The children need hope for a better future. Something they believe in and they can strive for to achieve. But it also needs [...]
Many organisations working in the non-profit sector have the reputation to be old fashioned and slow to catch up with technology. Often run by older people, the directors of the organisations stick to what they know, sending letters, distributing leaflets and maybe the one or the other E-mail. On the search for partner organisations we explored different channels to find organisations that were ready to take the next step. The [...]
After our first two stops in the capitals of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, our next partner organisation has taken us to the quiet, calm and picturesque mountains of northern India. In-between the big houses built during colonial time, poverty is difficult to spot. Just looking at the houses built into the stunning mountains, one could be somewhere in Europe looking at the Alps. Big houses, tidy roads and the cool [...]
We have been featured in one of Germany's most popular newsletter on fundraising. The 'Filantro Fundraising Echo' informs over 5000 subscribers about the recent developments in the fundraising world. Roland reached out to us and interviewed us via Skype. We had an interesting conversation, sharing our story and exchanging ideas about online fundraising. Unfortunately for all our english-speaking followers the article is only available in German. Click here
Empowerment. A term often used in the context of development. But how does empowerment help people that do not have enough money to feed their family? SERVE’s work is a prime example how empowerment can have a lasting impact on the lives of entire communities. Finding suitable partner organisations has been one of the biggest challenges we faced in the planning process of our trip. Communication was often limited and [...]
Are volunteers of any support to an organisation? This question is often raised when talking about volunteering in third world countries. But it’s all a question of perspective and locating opportunities. Sanjeeva, the founder of SERVE, shared his view on volunteers on our first day in Sri Lanka. Volunteers can give an organisation new perspectives on projects and related problems. Every volunteer has a different background and qualifications providing a [...]
We had carefully planned our work before coming to Sri Lanka. Analysing potential problems and opportunities from a distance is difficult but can help get a first impression. But as with our first organisation most of our plans had to be reworked. Talking to the people face to face and developing a feeling for where an organisation might need some support is a core part of our concept. We want [...]
