5 minute read
Editor's Note
EDITOR’S NOTE
WELCOME TO OUR 15TH EDITION OF EYS MAGAZINE!!
Advertisement
We are back after a very encombosome and productive year at eYs Headquarters. We are excited to announce that we have expanded our company structure and delighted to launch, eYs Global - the parent consortium of eYs Magazine, eYs SDGs World Council and eYs Global Alliance!
At eYs GLOBAL our aspirations, concerns, needs and values of citizens and communities are incorporated at all levels and in all sectors in policy development, planning, decision-making, service delivery and assessment; and governments, business and civil society organizations involving the citizens, our clients, communities and other stakeholders are our priority in the process.
We take pride and a strategic approach to the relationships, communication, and interactions between the community members and an organization to influence outcomes for both.
eYs Global Team
A huge part of our community engagement involves talking to people. But it’s not a one-way thing – it means having a conversation talking to the community and listening to what they’re saying. Communication is often harder to facilitate and we aim to break down the communication barriers and look for ways to make us more reachable and accessible, offering a range of communication platforms and formats. Communicating with our stakeholders is always worth it. It means we get more diverse perspectives and gather more information to better inform our decisions. Plus, share information that will better inform our community, so there’s a better understanding on both sides.
Engaged people feel heard, understood, and connected with any organization and brand. So the connection is a natural side effect of successful community engagement.
There are lots of reasons why connection matters. Connection and trust help communities become more open and receptive to discussing and understanding issues that, initially, they might feel opposed to. For example, your community might be against a development that’s needed for long-term sustainability, like a wider road or zoning changes to allow for more residential buildings. But if your community feels connected to your organization, they’ll listen to your reasons behind the development and maybe even change their position.
It all begins with a community engagement plan that helps you hone in on the stakeholders you need to communicate with, connect with, and get involved. Plus, the outcomes you want and the strategies and practices that will help you achieve them.
Involvement is a powerful part of community engagement. It empowers the community and helps them feel like partners, not bystanders. As a result, they’ll be more engaged, more understanding and much more likely to be on board with your vision. So, how do we encourage community involvement?
We show that we genuinely want their input. Create opportunities for the community to actively participate in what we do, whether it’s an event, workshop, forum or something else. Demonstrate the benefits to everyone when we all work together.
In this edition we bring you exciting and inspiring stories of hope, faith and determination after the two year turmoil we experienced globally. The team have once again shined in this issue and created an informative publication for our readers to enjoy.
On the cover is our very own eYs Youth Ambassador Kristina Apostoloska who shares the pain and suffering that she endured during a very difficult time in her life aligned with the atrocities of the war in Ukraine. For all the aspiring writers our best selling author, entrepreneur and Podcast Host Marsha Casper Cooks shares some fantastic tips how to publish the right way. Clare Erasmus takes us deep into the foundation for emotional intelligence and you will have the ooprtunity to meet Elisabeth Eyl a talented and respected artist who introduces us to her passion and her love for art.
We wish all our readers a great season filled with kindness and opprtunity for all.
The theme for National Volunteer Week 2022 is we are better together.
Volunteering brings people together; it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone. National Volunteer Week is a chance for all of us to celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers and to say thank you.
- Celebrate and thank volunteers for the vital role they play in our lives.
- Acknowledgewhat is important by giving our time to help others and ourselves.
- We are better together in how we support our volunteers and the communities they help.
eYs Global thank each of our volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We appreciate the dedication of all our volunteers and the wonderful, caring way in which they generously provide their time.
“Happy National Volunteer Week to all eYs volunteers. The Foundation would not be possible without the help of this amazing team of people.”
Jasmina Siderovaki
CEO at eYs Global
Jasmina Siderovski
CEO and Editor-in-Chief eYs Magazine
5 | eYs Magazine, Winter 2022
