Taking their vision of social change and making it into a reality - By Kristin Scales

Be The Change is a week long course designed to train individuals how to become changemakers in communities around the world. Led by founder of Global Volunteer Network and social entrepreneur Colin Salisbury, Be The Change gives individuals the courage and belief to proceed with their dream of becoming a social entrepreneur and creating social change in their local communities and globally.

Some people come to the program with a really clear idea of a project they want to start, some are looking for a change in career, others just want to learn a bit more about NGOs – but all leave the program inspired and instilled with confidence that they can do something! Jan Reid and Rafe Steinhauer are past participants of Be The Change who have become social entrepreneurs in their own right – taking their vision of social change and making it into a reality.

Rafe Steinhauer joined Be The Change in November of 2007. While on the program Rafe developed an idea for a social enterprise and founded 'Benefeast' http://benefeast.com Benefeast’s mission is to raise money for non-profit organizations by hosting group dinners. Fifty percent of the profits raised by the dinner are then donated to the charity of the hosts’ choice. Benefeast dinners provide an event for like-minded socially conscious people to meet in a fun and relaxed setting all for a good cause. Rafe says “Throughout University, I looked and hoped for jobs that would satisfy two of the following three criteria: be enjoyable, be profitable, and be ethical. [Be The Change] taught me that I could have all three!"

After participating in Be The Change in July 2008 Jan Reid founded the organization ‘A Helper’s Hope’ which connects childhood professionals (teachers, physical therapists, speech therapists etc.) with children in orphanages in the developing world who could benefit from their skills. A Helper’s Hope makes a positive impact on the lives of those in need while promoting cultural awareness, teamwork and international volunteering. Jan is leading her first expedition of childhood professionals to an orphanage in Peru in July of 2009.

If you, like Rafe and Jan, would like to start or work with a non-profit/charity organization, work with the United Nations or learn more about the field of Social Entrepreneurship and International Development check out Be The Change! at http://www.volunteer.org.nz/be_the_change

The Be The Change program is available from:

• November 22-29, 2009 – Taupo, New Zealand (2 spots left)
• March 14-21, 2010 – Runaway Bay, Jamaica
• May 21-28, 2010 – Tuscany, Italy
• November 21-28, 2010 – Taupo, New Zealand