Once you go back home: Follow-On Activities
The deadline for requests is December 15, 2011.
BFTF is not just a visit to the United States. Once you return home, we encourage you to make your mark on your own town or region. Of course, you don’t need to do this now, but it is not too early to start thinking about it. Here is a step-by-step guide to realizing your ideas once you return home.
1. Come up with an idea. An activist project does not need to be some large scale project in order to address a need or opportunity. They may be very commonplace and simple, but still desperately needed. . Ideas should be
- Practical and achievable
- Directly addressed to and involving the local community
- Low cost or no cost
2. Do a preliminary investigation. Try to develop and answer as many questions as possible about your proposal. Likely questions are
- Who will I be working with? (e.g., teachers & mentors, reliable colleagues, etc.)
- What challenges and barriers will I face? How will I overcome them?
- What are the necessary the steps to getting the project done?
- How much, if anything, will it cost? Where will I get the money?
3. Make a short proposal. In a couple of pages, provide a brief description of your idea. Be sure to answer the questions you identified above, as well as answer the common questions who, what, when, where, why, and how.
4. If you require funding, petition relevant organizations. Use the document that you have created answering all of the important questions to convince organizations that you are committed and serious. If they see that, then they will be much more likely to support your endeavors.
5. Don’t be upset by rejection. You will inevitably be turned down by a few organizations that you approach for support. Don’t lose your focus. It is difficult to get a project up and running, especially one that requires funding, and figuring out why you were turned down by one place will make your presentation to the next organization that much more compelling.
6. Receive word of the project acceptance. Celebrate.
7. Do your project, make your mark. Follow your plan. Make the lives of your neighbors better.
