betterplace connects.
People, in need of support, meet others, who want to help. One to one. Direct. Worldwide.
You want to help?
You want to help and are looking for suitable projects to support?
On betterplace.org you find social projects from around the world or in your own neighbourhood. Projects you can directly support: by offering donations in money, kind, know-how, or time – as an individual or a company. On betterplace you can experience directly, in text and image, the concrete difference your contribution is making.You need support?
You want to initiate a project or are already engaged in one and need support?
Present yourself, the project and the people who benefit from it on betterplace.org – whether as an individual or an organisation. Specify what exactly you need. Find supporters. And report regularly on the project’s progress.
The Web of Trust
People who offer help should be able to trust. That’s why we have the “web of trust”. The “web of trust” surrounds each presented project and consists of different users who give an account of their experiences with the person responsible for the project and the project itself. Thus, over time, there develops a differentiated evaluation system for projects, which prevents fraud, increases project efficiency and enables supporters to choose projects according to their own criteria.
There are various ways for you to contribute to the “web of trust” of a specific project:
Experience the difference your donations can make:
Find the exact project you consider valuable. Support it with money, donations in kind or your time. This makes you a “Project Supporter”. Participate in the project process, write about your experiences with the person responsible for the project: create trust for other potential supporters.
Visit a project:
Visit a project on the ground! Observe what is happening and talk to the person responsible for the project. Afterwards you report on betterplace: write down your experiences, present your photos and videos. Because nothing is more trustworthy than a “Project Visitor”, who has looked at a project with his own eyes.Vouch for a person or project:
You are convinced that the person responsible for a project is reliable? That makes you the perfect “Advocate”. On betterplace, advocates are people who vouch for a specific project on the basis of personal experiences, specific expertise or direct relations to the project. You explain why a project and your opinion are trustworthy.Describe the work your organisation is doing:
Apart from individuals, there are also local and international aid organisations that present their projects on betterplace. On the platform we call them “Project Carriers”. Whether they are an Indian slum-dweller NGO or Oxfam – they deserve to be trusted because of their expertise and everyday experience in running a project.Let people know that you are doing good:
In addition to individuals, companies can also support projects on betterplace. As a company who sponsors a project, fully or in parts, you are a “Project Sponsor”. Demonstrate your commitment to a project; amongst others by reporting continuously about your experiences with the people behind the project locally.
The Web of Trust illustrated:
You can see how closely you are connected to a project’s “web of trust” - or the person responsible for the project. A feature to that effect will be implemented soon.
Examples
Below are a number of example projects that describe how betterplace connects needs with opportunities. Please click on each title to read more.
Mombasa orphanage
An orphanage for HIV positive children in Mombasa, Kenya, wants to build two latrines. It needs 850 euro.
The person responsible for the project:
The daughter of the principal of the orphanage, as she knows the project well and is the only one with internet access.
The project advocate:
A Japanese teacher at an International School in Nairobi knows the orphanage and decides to become an advocate for the project.
The project visitors:
A German TV-journalist travels through Mombasa and writes on betterplace.org about her visit to the project.
A Kenyan student in Germany takes a look at the orphanage during a visit back home. Later he posts his report and photos on betterplace.
The project supporters:
A French medical doctor is eager to support the fight against cholera and knows good sanitary installations are a prerequisite for the prevention of epidemics. He donates 500 euro. A Canadian housewife, after having been reassured by email that the water supply is guaranteed, agrees to contribute 50 euro. The missing 300 euro are collected by members of a volleyball team who spotted the project on betterplace.org.
Bhutan traditional art school
A traditional art school in Bhutan wants to expand in order to enable more impoverished children an education. They need money for the building materials and construction of a boarding house, books for the library and 20 scholarships for girls (450 euro per person) for a three year training course, including full board.
The person responsible for the project:
The principal of the school.
The project advocate:
A local trader, who has known the principal for many years ago and is convinced of her integrity.
The project visitor:
A Dutch tourist visits the school during a trekking trip in the Himalayans and posts his enthusiastic report on betterplace.
The project sponsor:
A German corporation presents itself as a sponsor of the school. Over the past five years they have enabled 60 boys to become well-trained artisans.
The project supporters:
A German company finances the construction of the boarding house. Its employees get the chance to donate the books for the library as well as the art materials. Spouses of employees living in the country form a volunteer network to help out in the school themselves. Donors from Switzerland, the United States and Hong Kong decide to cover the costs of the 20 scholarships.
Café for homeless in Düsseldorf
A café for homeless girls in Düsseldorf, run by the German welfare organisation Diakonie, wants to start an art project. As a start-up financing they need 500 euro.
The person responsible for the project:
The director of the Düsseldorf branch of Diakonie.
The project carrier:
Diakonie Düsseldorf
The project advocate:
A former homeless girl posts a comment, in which she describes how the workshops, organized by the café, have helped her during her time on the street.
The project supporters:
A South African artist donates 100 euro for paints and brushes. A school in Berlin organises a bake sale and donates 400 euro to the project. A Belgian programmer spends a weekend building a website for them and later on introduces the site with the displayed art work to his colleagues and friends.
For a project to be registered on betterplace it needs neither advocates nor visitors, project carriers or corporate sponsors. All it needs is a person responsible for the project, who describes it on betterplace and is committed to report on the projects progress on the project blog. Over time advocates, visitors, organisations, companies and supporters can form around the project. The more meaningful a project appears to people, the faster this web of trust will form and the more support you will get.
© 2007-2008 betterplace