The Help-in Story
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The document details the author's travels from 2012-2014 where they encountered difficulties finding affordable and direct volunteer opportunities. This inspired the idea for Help-In, a platform to connect volunteers directly with grassroots organizations. The author developed a prototype with an Indian company in 2014 and is now preparing a crowdfunding campaign, building a website and content, and assembling a team of trustees to launch Help-In. The document outlines the author's journey from the initial idea to the present day work to create an online platform to make volunteering more accessible worldwide.
The Help-in Story
- 1. The Story It all started with what should have been a years travels, to find out what it is I should be doing with my life
- 2. California Aug – Sept 2012 • An epic climb up the Half Dome at Yosemite • An amazing road trip down Route 1 • The space ship discovery flew overhead in Big Sur on a 747 • Monterey, Santa Cruz, amazing Redwoods and LA • Burning Man Music and Arts Festival • Where everyone participates and has something to contribute • Everyone has strengths and weaknesses • Everyone can help with their own uniqueness
- 3. Nov 2012 - Feb 2013 • Bought my Beetle Bug Mira in Mexico and drove all over Mexico and onto Guatemala • Volunteered for Rising Minds in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala • Excellent charity helping in Sustainable Building, Gardening, Nutrition, Education, Community Enrichment and Health Training • This was the inspiration for wanting to volunteer more as part of my travels • Their focus on “Hand Ups” as opposed to “Hand Outs” was a really powerful message www.risingminds.org My Beautiful Beetle Bug Mira bought in Mexico City The stunning Scenery of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala The stunning Scenery of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala The stunning Scenery of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala
- 4. Why Help-In is needed I wanted to volunteer as part of my travelling experience I found it really difficult to find opportunities that didn’t cost the Earth Met countless people who shared my frustrations and paid a lot of money via middle men organisations Stories of £2,000 for 2 weeks and on arrival the grass root organisation said it would have been £400 if they’d have gone direct So where did the other £1,600 go?......to line the pockets of profiteering middle men rather than the organisation they wanted to help? Many of these organisations did have their own websites but were very difficult to find due to poor Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Their web presence just wasn’t strong enough. No hits or traffic meaning they were practically unsearchable on google unless you knew their exact address
- 5. May 2013 • My 33rd Birthday was an awakening to channel my energy into doing something about it • I decided to stop travelling and pitch up in a hostel La Tortuga Booluda in Leon, Nicaragua • Because my laptop and all my belongings were stolen in Guatemala, I stayed up late into the morning every night using the hostels computer to do my work • It was a shared computer open for all to use and this was the only time it was free • I got the basic principle of my idea down on paper and began to map out how it needed to be laid out and work Mira at the Tortuga Booluda, Leon, Nicaragua The computer where the Help-In idea was written My friend Santos at the Tortuga Booluda The Hammock where the Help-In idea was drafted
- 6. June 2013 • I worked tirelessly every night/morning to get all of my work done • The hostel staff became my Nicaraguan family • I had met so many people on my travels who shared my frustrations about a lack of web presence for volunteering and connecting with organisations online • I decided I needed to do a survey to capture those results • I met some amazing people while in Nicaragua working on my project who completed my survey and offered support My friend Carlos (Rubbish at Pool ) My dear friend Carolina who I gifted my car Mira to The hilarious Maria Elena….The best cleaner in the world The night porter who’s snoring was a challenge as I was working away on the computer
- 7. July 2013 • July 17th 2013 saw the start of my first Vipassana 10 day silent meditation retreat in Costa Rica • Being the only person working on the Help-In idea meant I had a very busy mind and I had become a bit overwhelmed • Meditation was well needed to clear my mind and prepare for the road ahead • Vipassana was a life changing experience that helped me focus on my objectives with a fresh strong will and determination Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin Global Vipassana Pagoda, Mumbai at Maharashtra
- 8. August 2013 • The time had come to take my project to the next level, the foundations had been laid in Nicaragua • I decided to fly to the tech capital of the world San Francisco • This meant I had to say goodbye to my beautiful Mira Beetle Bug • Carolina had become a good friend and her family were amazing • I decided to gift my car to her and her family One of my favourite shots of Mira at Lake Atitlan Mira at the Tortuga Booluda, Leon Nicaragua A very happy Carolina when I gifted her Mira Carolina’s beautiful daughter with Mira
- 9. Sept - Dec 2013 • Arrived back in San Francisco, California the tech capital of the world to get support for my idea • After 3 months of trying in this ultra-competitive tech start up environment all I found were people who were more driven by the next big money making start up or app • This experience cost me a lot of money, time and energy but also gave me some valuable lessons • I needed a prototype as well as an idea to get in front of the right people View from twin peaks of San Fransisco Women's refuge, San Francisco Union Square The Palace of Fine arts
- 10. Dec - Feb 2014 • After researching the tech hotspots of the world being Malaysia, Taiwan and India. I decided to go to India as it was the best fit and English speaking • I lived in the silicon valley of India Bangalore with my Indian family the Mohans • The experience of San Francisco was quite soul destroying and I needed to clear my mind again • Thankfully modern Vipassana originates in India. I sat another 10 day meditation retreat on the outskirts of Bangalore • This was exactly what I needed and meant I was again fully motivated with a strong will and determination to continue My amazing Indian family the Mohans Full sized meditation Pyramid at Pyramid Valley Harohalli near Bangalore (my sanctuary) The amazing Art of Living Ashram near Bangalore another sanctuary from the city The colours of India at the flower market in Bangalore
- 11. Mar - May 2014 • I went out and held meetings with Indian tech companies and put my project out to tender to get an idea of costs • I disguised it as a job searching platform to protect the idea as much as possible • I formulated my marketing plan and figured out how I was going to gain funding • I decided that this is a platform for the masses for the benefit of humanity and felt the best way was to go for crowdfunding • I needed to figure out a strong way to get the crowdfunding campaign in front of as many people as possible One of the many temples of India Another sanctuary in Bangalore the beautiful Botanical gardens Scenic views of India Thali…oh how I miss Thali
- 12. June - Aug 2014 • I had a chance meeting with the Global head of the World Pranic Healing Foundation • Following that meeting they agreed to help to develop my idea as a prototype for their internal volunteering system • We signed non disclosure agreements and drafted a contract • Unfortunately the whole process took too long and I needed to go home • Time to develop my crowdfunding plan and get it built World Pranic Healing Ashram in Pune, Maharashta, India World Pranic Healing Ashram in Pune, Maharashta, India Signed Non Disclosure agreements and contract Master Choa Kok Sui
- 13. Aug 2014 – Present Day • Content, Content, Content • Videos • Prototype Website • Charity Application process • Logo and Marketing Plan • Landing Page creation • Crowdfunding campaign plan SlideShare Content
- 14. Carla Buzasi My Mentor Global Chief Content Officer, WGSN Nina Solomon Design Guru Art Director, WGSN Kim Schaefer Design Guru Head of Creative Services, WGSN First Helpers A special thanks to my incredible mentor Carla. You have been a massive help every step of the way. You have offered advice regularly on all of my ideas to make the crowd funding campaign and the content as good as it can be ready for the launch. You have taken time out of your very busy schedule and given me exceptional feedback along the way, heartfelt thanks. Thanks also to Kim and Nina for being instrumental in the design of the logo They have also been extremely valuable in offering advice in the general design of the site and landing page ready for launch Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedules to assist where you have, it’s very much appreciated
- 15. First Helpers Radney Wood Legal Help Senior Associate at Vela Keller Olly Jones Computing Help Front End Architect at Sony GWT Graham Boyce Constant Belief Project Manager I met Radney at the Tortuda Booluda in Nicaragua. I shared my dream with him and he told me he was a lawyer Later on my journey I asked for his advice on contracts and Non Disclosure Agreements Without me having to ask he offered to do them for me when I was in India. Thanks Rad!!! You’re a legend An old friend of mine now in San Francisco so I caught up with him whenever I was there. Thanks Olly for your unwavering belief in me! He offered me advice constantly whenever I asked. Always there when I needed him He linked me up with his cousin who advised on medical questions after her volunteering experiences with front line organisations A constant source of support wherever I was in the world. Whenever I questioned what it was I was doing he would pick me up He was always willing to look over and advise on pieces of work I had put together A source of inspiration in the down times. Help-In wouldn’t be where it is today without your support. Thanks G
- 16. First Helpers Many people offered experiences and support along the way and resonated with what I was setting out to achieve. Most, but not all are below Alison Snyder (Medical Advisor) Grecia IIiana Alvarado Photos and Experiences Karry Meyrick Ain Txane Hagop Waza Agi Kolletas Michelle Van De Beurcht Courtney Boudreau Emma Syrat Rikke Lizette Christensen Caleb Gordon Vera Neidl
- 17. Present Day Becca Somers Trustee Graham Boyce Trustee Jo Deeks Trustee Richard Hawkesford CEO This is my story…You can achieve anything you set your mind to
- 18. My travels made me realise what it is that truly makes me happy “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” Mahatma Gandhi Subscribe ready to support our crowdfunding campaign at www.help-in.org