#CreateWelcome Campaign

 

 

just wanted to give you some information about MDA’s new #CreateWelcome campaign. 

 

 

I have attached some photos of our social booth and photos that been taken during the campaign.

We would love to come out to schools and offices with our Social Booth (image attached) and take some photos for the billboards with your students and staff.  Alternatively we can send you out a heap of Welcome Kits so that people who wish to participate can do so privately.  Please let me know if you and how you would like to be involved.

Who else is involved in the #CreateWelcome campaign?

MDA and major digital billboard company goa have entered into a community partnership for the duration of the #CreateWelcome campaign. Messages created by individuals, companies and organisations will reach upwards of 350,000 people per day on the goa digital network, which equates to a weekly audience of well over two million people. Also providing significant support and campaign funding are The English Family Foundation.

So what is the #CreateWelcome campaign?

#CreateWelcome is a social movement inspiring the public to create messages of welcome and belonging for refugees and people seeking asylum. Through Instagram using the hashtag #CreateWelcome, thousands of people will create and share welcome messages which will be pushed to digital billboards in the goa network. The campaign will run from 1 April - 30 June 2016.

Who is supporting the campaign?

Actress Jess Tovey, writer Benjamin Law, Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young, comedian Tom Ballard and a host of celebrities from sport, music, stage and screen are supporting #CreateWelcome by posting messages and adding their voice to the movement.

Why are you doing it?

Refugees and people seeking asylum are among Australia’s most vulnerable new arrivals. Messages of inclusion, friendship and generosity will tackle negative rhetoric and represent our shared promise to people seeking a safer life in Australia. Since federation, Australia has welcomed three-quarters of a million refugees - it’s who we are.

What do you hope to achieve?

Research in 2015 on current messaging around refugees and people seeking asylum found divisive language to be a major barrier. It’s up to the community to shift the narrative, so we aim to provide people with opportunities and the confidence to take constructive action themselves.

How does it work?
There are two main avenues for people to participate – at the #CreateWelcome Social Booth, or at home with one of our WelcomeKits.

Can I book the Social Booth for my event, workplace or school?

Absolutely! Simply call us on (07) 3198 2525, email info@createwelcome.com or visit createwelcome.com for more details.

The WelcomeKits

The WelcomeKit uses peel-off adhesive words and can be sent anywhere in Australia. Posting a message takes less than 5 minutes.

1. SAY IT: Users peel off the words they need and stick them down on the message space.

2. SNAP IT: Using their phone, users have someone take a photo of them and their message (or take a selfie).

3. TAG IT: Users post the image to their Instagram account using the hashtag #CreateWelcome.

4. SEE IT: Photos are uploaded to our Welcome Wall. The best images will be displayed on goa’s digital billboards.

How do I get some WelcomeKits?

It’s easy, simply call us on call us on (07) 3198 2525, email info@createwelcome.com and tell us how you plan to use them.

What if I don’t have an Instagram account?

If you’re at the #CreateWelcome Social Booth then MDA staff will take the photo and use our Instagram account. If you’re at home using a WelcomeKit, you will need a friend with an Instagram account or you can email the photo to us to upload later.

Does my Instagram account have to be set to public?

Yes, if you want your message to appear on the goa billboards and our Welcome Wall. You can return the setting to private within a few minutes.

How do I make my Instagram account public?

On your Instagram homepage, tap the settings icon. Under ‘ACCOUNT’ go to ‘Private Account’ and ensure the slider button is sitting to the left. To return your account to private, simply slide the button back to the right.

Isn’t just another social media ‘click like and I’m done’ campaign?

#CreateWelcome is not just about sharing a message on social media. We want people to ‘feel, think, do’ and follow up by playing a more active role on a day-to-day basis. It takes collective effort to create an inclusive, welcoming community, but we can do it, if we all play our part and work together.

How will you know if it’s worked or not?

We are measuring the campaign in a number of ways, including;

• Community engagement at the #CreateWelcome Social Booth.
• Engagement levels on Instagram and other social media channels.
• Volunteer or newsletter registrations at createwelcome.com.
• An increase in our volunteer numbers around Brisbane.
• Businesses registering to become #CreateWelcome workplaces.
• Sponsored work placements for refugees through our Work & Welcome™ program.

How can I get involved?

• Check the calendar at createwelcome.com, visit the Social Booth and post your welcome message to Instagram.
• Book the #CreateWelcome Social Booth for your event, workplace or school.
• Contact us to order WelcomeKits.
• Encourage your co-workers, friends, family and followers to get involved.
• Visit createwelcome.com and see how you can actively welcome new arrivals to Australia.

What are #CreateWelcome workplaces?

These are workplaces who:

• Commit to a set of values and support their staff with cultural awareness training and education.
• Play an integral role in supporting new arrivals through workforce diversity strategies.
• Provide work placements through MDA’s Work & Welcome program.

Kind Regards

Mohsen Karimi

Campaign Organiser

MDA Ltd

Mobile: 0451 115 198

5/2 Jenner Street, Nundah QLD 4012

MohsenK@mdaltd.org.au  | www.mdaltd.org.au

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Twitter: @mda_qld

Dear Jonathan: Social Action as a Youth Group

Even better than a Dear John letter is a Dear Jon/Jonathan letter, and I was asked recently for some ideas on getting a youth group involved in social action projects, perhaps starting with a simulation game.  Here's how I replied:

Simulation games are almost always good. You probably know that Stephen Hooper specialises in these things? He ran a big one on the Anglican Schools Students Network conference last year, but it needed more time. Doing a 3-4 hour (or even overnight) epic would be pretty memorable for all involved, I would think.

On my shelf is a book called "Ideas for Social Action" by Tony Campolo.  It's quite old (1983!) but many of the ideas inside are still completely applicable. For example, at St Lucia we use the idea called "Supermarket Stakeout" a couple of times a year - you get the group to stand outside a supermarket, and when people approach, you give them a slip of paper asking them to buy an extra item for the Inala pantry. If they bring back an item to you, you give them a thank-you card with your church details inside etc. (You've got permission from the supermarket manager, and of course you don't hassle the customers - not everyone will have the money or desire to buy something extra. But it's an exercise where everyone wins. The book has lots of other ideas too.

 

The Roscoe Library has several books on teens and/or parishes and social action - free to borrow, as you know.

 

I'd maybe start by asking the group (or a few of them) to name a cause they'd like to raise funds for. Then just try doing something straightforward to get them into the hang of it e.g. a carwash (if it's warm enough).  If you want to get some attention, you could have a continuous reading relay of the Bible all the way through. Reading aloud at a normal speed normally takes from Friday night to Sunday morning, just in time for church. Would people in the congregation sponsor the group to do that, so the money then goes to your cause?

 

If your group is interested in the asylum seeker debate, they could contact Anglicare SQ about the BRASS program (see attachment). Could be controversial!

 

My old youth group once doorknocked virtually our whole suburb for Freedom From Hunger: we raised over $1000 in a day (this was a long time ago) and got a framed certificate from FFH for being the biggest fundraising group in Brisbane. So if there's a doorknock coming up soon, you could do that, though many schools seem to do it too.

 

When I speak to parishes and groups on this kind of topic, often I mention the following (taken from a PPT slide):

 

What makes service projects empowering for children and youth?

 

Do the actual work and don't just observe.

 

Work with accepting adults who don't criticize their efforts.

 

Have important responsibilities.

 

Have a sense that they can make a contribution.

 

Have the freedom to explore their own interests and develop their own ideas.

Have opportunities to reflect upon the meaning of the activities.

So my point here is that even if the project isn't itself headline-grabbing (e.g. a world record attempt), if it fulfils most or all of these criteria, it will have served a very useful purpose and will probably also motivate the group to fire up for its next project.

There is a little group of us meeting up in the next fortnight to discuss how youth / Anglicare / ABM may be able to work better together. If something good eventuates out of that, I'll let you know.  I suspect it will become a topic at the next Bring It! meeting in late August!

Don't hesitate to get back in touch as often as necessary, and feel free to forward this on to others.  Thanks for the fantastic work you're doing - and this is just the beginning!

Peace in Christ,

Jonathan Kemp