FUNDRAISING
CAMPAIGN MANUAL VOLUNTEERS, FORMER VOLUNTEERS AND FRIENDS OF PBI
HELP MAKE SPACE FOR
PEACE IN COLOMBIA
Fotos: Charlotte Kesl
PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL
Dare to make space for peace in Colombia
F
undraising campaigns do work. Here in Colombia, we can support the noble cause of human rights, do our part so human rights defenders can carry out their work, fight against impunity and fulfill their dream for a Colombia with social justice. Dare to join with Peace Brigades International to accompany human rights organizations in Colombia.
How can you support us?
It’s easy From wherever you are, whether in a small town in southern Germany or a metropolitan city in Britain, you can launch a campaign and raise funds for Peace Brigades International’s Colombia Project, using your circle of friends, your family and your social network on Facebook. Tell them about your experience volunteering with PBI. Tell them about the situation of human rights in Colombia. Tell them about the struggles and dreams of the defenders, advocates, leaders, and campesinos whoh inspired you when you walked with them. Tell them how, despite the threats that they and their families receive, and after years and years in exile, they continue their tireless work for the noble cause of human rights. Peace Brigades International needs your support, however small, to continue making space for peace in Colombia. Father Albert Franco of the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission for stresses that PBI’s “support has enabled the resistance and the affirmation of rights of the campesino, indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.” He continues, “PBI’s support is critical because international presence becomes a deterrent and this has meant saving lives.” Dare to help us save lives. Start a campaign for Colombia.
Step
1 Develop an idea of how you want to raise funds What kind of campaign could you launch to raise funds? Take into account and take advantage of your knowledge, skills and talents when you think of an activity. You know how to sing, how to play an instrument, you’re an athlete, you write poems, you cook delicious pies, you’re a photographer, you are an event organizer? Take advantage of your talent. And think of whether you have friends or relatives who want to support your campaign. Here are some small examples and ideas of how you could launch a campaign. Remember, everything is possible.
You could, for example: • Organize and give talks in your town or city about Colombia and human rights, in which you could ask the audience to become a partner of PBI and donate money to our cause. • Invite your friends and family to your home for dinner and watch a video about Colombia and ask them for a donation. • Host a party or an event of solidarity in your own or city; find a free bar; play music - maybe even some salsa, merengue, or reggaeton; show photos or videos of the work of PBI Colombia, and in that way raise money for PBI Colombia. • Ask for prizes from businesses or local shops in solidarity with the cause of human rights and with these prizes arrange a raffle and donate the proceeds to PBI Colombia. • Organize music concerts with groups in your city or town and donate a percentage of the revenue to PBI Colombia. •
Organize a garage sale or sell things you no longer need at a flea market.
• Participate in a marathon and run for the defense of human rights in Colombia, asking for financial support from your friends on Facebook.
You may have better ideas; these are only examples.
Step
2 Contact your local PBI Country Group
Contact the PBI Country Group in the country where you are and from where you want to launch the campaign. Let them you want to support the project in Colombia. Tell them about your idea. If there is no national group in your country, please contact PBI Colombia directly and we will find a way to support you.
Step
3 Publicize your campaign We can provde publicity materials for your campaign (write to publicaciones@pbicolombia.net to get materials in English) If you need something different, you can always get in touch with your National Group or with PBI Colombia (see page 11 for contact information). We have prepared posters, postcards and much more that you can download and print. Of course, if you prefer, you can develop your own campaign material. You can also use the publicity materials to report about your campaign electronically, either on Facebook or on your own web page. Or you can launch your campaign online using the PBI Colombia’s online fundraising platform. Click on “Fundraise for this cause - Get started” (bottom right) and type the name of the organization (Peace Brigades International) and the name of your campaign.
Step
4 Donate funds to PBI Most national groups have information on their website about their local bank account for donations. If you have questions, contact them. Or you can donate online through PBI Colombia’s fundraising platform if is no national group in your country.
Remember that your support is very valuable for us to continue accompanying human rights organizations in Colombia. • With 10 dollars, we can accompany members of the Cimitarra River Valley Campesion Association in travels throughout the Magdalena Medio region, where they accompany campesino communities. • With 25 dollars, we publish an Action Alert, our electronic mailing that calls attention to high-risk situations affecting individuals, organizations and communities that we accompany. • With 50 dollars, we provide the international community with information about the human rights situation of an organization that currently faces threats. • With 200 dollars, we support a volunteer accompanying members of social organizations or communities threatened due to their human rights work. • Any donation is invaluable to allow us to continue accompanying human rights organizations in Colombia.
Some practical suggestions Find support and allies who motivate you, and involve friends, family and colleagues. Plan ahead: make a plan of campaign objectives, activities, schedule, budget, responsibilities and campaign materials required. If necessary, get permission from the local authorities and register the event or activity. Think about your audience, your target group: Who is the target of the activity? How many people will be involved in the event? Choose an appropriate time, taking advantage of special occasions (for example, Christmas, International Human Rights Day, etc.) Set a goal: What amount are you hoping to raise? Assess what is the incentive for people to participate in the campaign.
Your notes
Some practical suggestions Find a local sponsor for the event. Promote your event, your campaign, your activity on social networks (e.g. Facebook), with friends and in local newspapers. In the information posted, remember to include who is leading the campaign, the goal, and the time and place of the event. Contact local media (radio, TV, newspaper) and tell them about the campaign for human rights in Colombia. Distribute the brochure describing PBI Colombia and other campaign materials that we have available. Send information about the campaign to your National Group and PBI Colombia (publicaciones@pbicolombia.net). Be flexible. Have fun fundraising!
Your notes
An example of a campaign
Marching in support of PBI After volunteering in PBI, the musician Flakito travels the 750 kilometers of Camino de Santiago (Spain) to raise funds and draw attention to the human rights situation in Colombia. By: Flakito, former volunteer from Great Britain
“
Walking is the most basic means of transport, it is not very fast but it has become in my preferred mode of transportation. In my first year as a PBI volunteer, I was in Barrancabermeja, walking beside courageous people, ile the members of Grassroots Women’s Organization (OFP) and the Regional Corporation for the Defense of Human Rights (CREDHOS). While accompanying them in their work and in their travels throughout the Magdalena Medio region, I walked several times in marches organized by social organizations of Barrancabermeja. In my second year, I was in Urabá, in more remote areas, accompanying communities who completely support nonviolence and who do not want be involved in the war.
Before going to Colombia with PBI, I made my living with music, playing with a band or solo. I traveled a lot in my truck around the UK and Europe. Nowadays, I play music, but I do not have a vehicle. After returning from Colombia, I decided to walk part of Spain, traveling the Camino de Santiago, a route that pilgrims have followed over a thousand years and that has a whole infrastructure of shelters for hikers from around the world. Previously, I had recorded a CD entitled “On the Road” with several friends who were musicians, and I sold CDs along the route and donated all proceeds to PBI Colombia. It reminded me of walking through endless mud in the mountains when we climbed to Arenas Altas, in the ‘Universidad Campesina.’ These were three months I enjoyed a lot, although they were hard because of the distance (750 km from the border with France) and the weight of the backpack. I took my accordion, flute, percussion, instruments, amplifier and small microphones, Amnesty International brochures, CDs to sell to support PBI; in other words, I was all in an “all-terrain vehicle” on two feet. Along the road, touring several cities, we organized a system of presentations and media interviews: first, I answered questions about Camino de Santiago, telling about volunteering with PBI in Colombia and the CD we recorded, then Paul elaborated on the situation of human rights defenders and human rights in Colombia. Camino de Santiago has the reputation of being a sacred route, according to traditional beliefs. For me, the experience does not depend on beliefs, but rather on the fact of walking, immersing myself in nature and in the human world, seeing the landscapes reveal themselves as you approach them and then leaving them behind. Mountains, forests, valleys, rivers, monuments, churches, cities. It is very different from how it feels riding a train or a vehicle. Likewise, the opportunity to talk freely and profoundly with other walkers, either speaking about human rights, the achievements of civilization and what we have lost in the rush and under pressure, or just sharing life experiences. The trust, created amongst people who do not know each other is something sacred.”
Remember that your National Group and PBI Colombia are at your disposal to provide advice, send outreach materials and support you in organizing your campaign. Country
Contact
National Groups Astrid Hake Coordination
astrid.hake@pbi-deutschland.de
Sabine Guenther Fundraising
sabine.guenther@pbi-deutschland.de
Johanna Weller Fundraising
johanna.weller@pbi-deutschland.de
Melissa Slattery Treasure
finance@pbi-australia.org
Rachel Athaide Coordination and Fundraising
Rach_27_@hotmail.com
Michel Vasic
pbibelgium@scarlet.be
Information
info@pbicanada.org
Christine Jones Coordination
cjones@pbicanada.org
Spain
Susana Fernรกndez Ramos Coordination
admin@pbi-ee.org
USA
Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh Director
katherine@pbiusa.org
Martin Willaume Coordination
pbi.france@free.fr
Georges Leperchey Finance
tresorier@pbi-france.org
Susi Bascon Director and capacity building
susibascon@peacebrigades.org.uk
Pam Feldman Fundraising
pam@peacebrigades.org.uk
Anja Van Balen Coordination
secretariaat@peacebrigades.nl
Esther Langen Fundraising
estherlangen@peacebrigades.nl
Patrizia Vavassori International contact
pbi.vavassori@gmail.com
Toni Ruggiero Finance
tonirug@gmail.com
Luxemburg
Alain Donetti International contact
alain.donetti@europarl.europa.eu
Norway
Halvard Hjermundrud Coordination
halvard@pbi.no
Jean-David Rochat Coordination
jean-david.rochat@peacebrigades.ch
Tanja Vultier Fundraising
Tanja.vultier@peacebrigades.ch
Argentina
Bettina Priotti
pbinargentina@yahoo.com.ar
Sweden
Anders Malmsten
anders.malmsten@naturskyddsforeningen.se internationalcontact@pbi.nu
Lars Helmersson
lars.helmersson@telia.com
Communications Area
publicaciones@pbicolombia.net
Germany
Australia Belgium Canada
France
Great Britain
The Netherlands
Italy
Switzerland
Grupos Asociados
PBI Colombia Colombia
Please help us make space for peace in Colombia. Your support is very important so that we can continue to accompany human rights organisations in Colombia.
Thank you! PBI would like to express our gratitude for you generosity. Your donation will benefit human rights defenders facing threats for their defending human rights. Be assured that your contribution is utilized to make space for peace. Sincerely, PBI Colombia
Contact: Communications Area PBI Colombia publicaciones@pbicolombia.net