SoChange

SoChange is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, founded in 2008 with the stated intention of inspiring individuals and organizations to work towards tangible quality of life improvements for those who are currently disenfranchised.[1] SoChange provides its services to other NGOs in order to make their operations more efficient. SoChange views itself as occupying a unique niche within the international and human development sectors.[2]

History

SoChange was founded in 2008 by David Peck, an entertainer, public speaker, and social justice advocate originally from Toronto, Ontario. As someone with extensive experience in the implementation of international development projects such as the Mosquitoes Suck Tour, Peck believed that the actors within the NGO sector were in dire need of third-party actors who could assist them with challenging logistical tasks, such as fundraising. SoChange formed as a result of these convictions, and has started partnering with individuals and organizations with the goal of eliciting more effective engagement in social justice issues.[3]

Underlying philosophy

The mission statement of SoChange is reflected in its core values statement, which emphasizes support for central ideals such as universal human rights, multilateral cooperation, and gender equality.[4] Although SoChange's involvement with policy-advocate groups such as Make Poverty History suggests that it doesn’t discount the importance of governmental bodies in inciting positive change in these areas, its activities primarily centre on empowering individuals and civil society groups are key actors in bringing about sustainable social change.[5]

Activities

Since being founded in 2008, SoChange has embarked on a number of projects aimed at helping it achieve its vision. To date, event planning has constituted a large share of the organization’s activity base: this aspect was recently highlighted by "Why Everything Must Change",[6] a social justice-oriented awareness and fundraising event that took place in the fall of 2008. According to its website, SoChange aspires for this to be an annual conference in years to come, and is planning a similar event for fall 2009.[7]

In addition, the organization recently participated in the "Spread the Net" campaign by piloting a third-party fundraising event, entitled the "Mosquitoes Suck: The Tour,"[8] at a high school in Guelph, Ontario. SoChange has also entered into a number of capacity building partnerships with organizations such as Asian Outreach Cambodia, Make Poverty History, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, and UNICEF.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Vision statement of SoChange. Retrieved on 2009-06-04.
  2. ↑ Activities of SoChange. Retrieved on 2009-06-04.
  3. ↑ Peck, David. "Planting Seeds", The Atkinson Beat, Vol. 4, Iss. 4 (Winter 2009). Retrieved on 2009-06-04.
  4. ↑ Vision statement of SoChange; Core values of SoChange. Both retrieved on 2009-06-04.
  5. ↑ SoChange news; Ford, Victoria. "Change Now", Hamilton Magazine. Both retrieved on 2009-06-04.
  6. ↑ Why Everything Must Change: About the conference. Retrieved on 2009-06-04.
  7. ↑ Why Everything Must Change: About the conference. Retrieved on 2009-06-04.
  8. ↑ Mosquitoes Suck: The Tour announcement on Student Reach International website. Retrieved on 2009-06-04.
  9. ↑ SoChange client list. Retrieved on 2009-06-04.

External links