What Can I Do?
Organizing Awareness Events
There are many different types and scales of events that you can organize
to promote the organization and our cause including our “Dollar per student
for Darfur” Campaign. This include the following:
Contact the Media: Prepare op-ed pieces and letters to the editor for school
and community newspapers. Click
here to find student newspapers. Click
here to contact campus radio station.
Communicate with the Government: Collect petition signatures to send to the
Prime Minister and your local MP. You can find your local MPs'/Prime Minister's information
here.
Host Fundraisers for our National Fund
Money can be raised through various types of fundraisers ranging from taking donations around
campus to hosting pub nights off campus.
Host a Dance for Darfur: Whether at your local pub or a nightclub in the city,
most venues are happy to work with student groups and work out a split in profits from the night.
This usually involves the group selling tickets to the venue for a particular night.
Car wash: This is a quick and easy way to make money. Most times all you have
to do is contact a local car wash or gas station and work out a time that you can host your event.
All the group needs are a few rags, soap, and volunteers.
Concert with local bands: Hold a concert on campus to promote peace and raise
money for the humanitarian crisis. Feature a student bands or other groups and ask for a $5
donation at the door for humanitarian relief funds.
Set up at a sporting event: Sporting Events tend to be huge on University
campuses. Contact your athletic department and ask them if they are willing to let you set up a
table, hand out information, and have a fifty-fifty draw.
Set up a table in the student union: Pass out information, collect donations,
hold a raffle, sell bracelets etc.
Show a Documentary: There are several great documentaries on Sudan and
particularly Darfur. Book a room on campus for a screening and charge a minimum donation for
those viewing. For an idea of potential films please contact tsangha@csfdarfur.net This is not
only a great way to raise money but a great tool to raise awareness.
Hold a Fast for Darfur: Ask students to give up a luxury item or meal for
a day and donate the money to aid in humanitarian assistance in Darfur.
Charity Dinner: This is a great way to not only raise funds but to
celebrate the culture of the Sudanese by holding a charity dinner with Sudanese food. Work
with other groups on campus to organize and sell tickets. A great way to attract a large
number of people is to also have performances by members of Sudanese community on your
campus.
Working With The Media
Exposure through media is the best way to help make your events and Chapter successful.
Once you have established a place on campus and have begun your work, it is critical to
let the public know about your campus’s actions. Use all forms of the media—newspapers,
radio, TV, Internet—to get the word out that your school is making a difference for Sudan.
Some suggestions when dealing with the press:
- Contact your school and local community newspapers, radio
stations, and TV stations.
- If you are working with the local community, emphasize that to
reporters.
- Be familiar with the news outlets you contact and know which
reporters cover education stories. Your college’s public relations
office may be able to help with this.
- Find out exactly to whom to send the press release and the reporter’s
preferred method of receiving the release (e-mail, fax, mail).
- After you send the press release, do not be afraid to call and
follow up—especially the day before the event.
- Do not send out the release too far in advance or too close to the
event. One week to 10 days before is usually the best time.
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