Adopt a Minefield

10 Easy Steps to Adopt a Minefield:

1. Start by getting a group together.
2. Try establishing a board made up of respected members of your community.
3. Choose a country to benefit from your fundraising: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Mozambique or Vietnam.
4. Set a target. You can visit www.landmines.org and check out their lists and survivor assistance programs to get an idea of your fundraising target.
5. Once your group is ready to begin its campaign, e-mail info@landmines.org or call them on +1-212-907-1305 for brainstorming sessions, ideas and materials. They will help you.
6. Generate buzz and awareness. Distribute fliers, brochures, donation cards, etc. Also, pursue local media outlets to publicize the work and progress of your group. For more ideas you could visit "The Campaign" section at www.landmines.org.
7. Plan a series of events to publicize your campaign and raise funds for your minefield or survivor assistance program. Events can range from concerts to lectures, dinners and galas.
8. Check in with the Adopt-A-Minefield office to update them on the progress of your campaign and for more materials and resources.
9. Once your campaign has gained momentum and your group feels confident that your fundraising will be completed within the next two months, e-mail or call Adopt-A-Minefield about selecting a specific minefield or survivor assistance project. This will increase your publicity potential and get people excited about the community you are about to help rebuild.
10. Once fundraising has been completed, send a single check with the total amount raised to the Adopt-A-Minefield office. You will receive an acknowledgement letter and tax receipt immediately, and once your money is transferred to the field, you will receive an official report and an Adopt-A-Minefield certificate.

As you can see it is not that difficult to adopt a minefield. The organization would supply you with all the material and resources you would need to spread awareness. All you would have to do is plan events and raise money. I know for a fact that you bloggers are capable of this. Two years ago two amazing Kuwaiti girls started a campaign and managed to spread awareness within our community. Before their campaign I honestly did not know anything about the landmines crisis. Those two girls, tried setting up a Night of a Thousand Dinners in Kuwait and unfortunately after organising the entire event on their own, something happened I’m not sure what though, but they weren’t able to host the dinner. That unfortunate incident did not stop them. When they realized that there was not much they could do on their own they decided to spread awareness. They went to several schools around Kuwait, met with students and teachers and, managed to spread awareness.

If two young brave girls managed to spread awareness think of what you bloggers could do.

I would also like to congratulate and thank them for without them I would not be blogging about this right now.