Goliath’s Post

Hi friends! Today is #GivingTuesday, the global day of giving! Join us for SWB United, our Play It Forward campaign for 2023! Because of community support, SWB Colorado’s program offerings grew in 2023 – enabling the organization to launch new after-school and summer programming sites, supporting over 700 newcomer youth who resettled to the Denver Metro Area or to Weld County from all over the world (representing over 29 different countries). Participants in both regions were provided with more game-play opportunities, community-building activities, and English language support due to an increase in service hours, new partnerships, and new program sites. As the causes of forced displacement continue to grow exponentially year over year, so does the responsibility to support the refugee and asylum-seeking community in Colorado. According to the UNHCR, 108.4 million people worldwide fled their homeland as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and climate-induced displacement in 2022 – an increase of 19 million people compared to the previous year. Consequently, SWB CO continues to receive more requests each year to launch more programming to support the growing needs of newcomer youth. Together, let's stand UNITED in pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable world through soccer. Please consider making a donation to SWB Colorado, here by visiting: https://lnkd.in/gSzYUVNC

Thanks to our donors, we have shipped a care package of multicultural crayons to the DJ DEMP Foundation in Tallahassee, Florida. These crayons will be included in backpacks that will be given to at-risk youths which will be stuffed with all of the general school supplies each child needs. The DJ DEMP Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization based in Tallahassee, Florida. The DJ DEMP Foundation was founded in 1997 by DJ DEMP. DJ DEMP is an international celebrity DJ, with a career spanning over 25 years. It is their mission to improve outcomes for at-risk youth and young adults through education, mentorship, skills training, and access to community-based resources and support. They work to eliminate barriers that limit opportunities. The foundation's anti-bullying program focuses on eradicating bullying, ridiculing, teasing, and harassment in school. Bullying has a serious and lasting negative effects on the mental health and overall well-being of youth. They work to combat the negative impact of bullying through social-emotional learning. They use music to address social issues. Music gives students a unique opportunity to express themselves creatively and build confidence. Music improves cognitive and non-cognitive skills and helps develop language skills in children. The foundation's workshops help kids improve memorization, and develop language and reasoning skills. They also help children build a better self image and provide a safe space for self expression and creativity. The DJ Demp Foundation believes that community engagement plays a vital role in its success. They hold that leaders should be the voice of the people they serve. Thanks to strong community relationships and intimate knowledge of the local community, the foundation better understands the needs of the people and the best way to serve them. Instead of focusing on growth and expanding programs, their focus is on investing in our organizations' core infrastructure, organizational growth and leadership. Learn more about their work by visiting their website https://lnkd.in/eRMjRRmn. #partnership #music #DJDEMP #community #backpacks #schoolsupplies #bullying #antibullying #diversity #inclusion #equality #TheCrayonProject

📢 New Study "The Mobile Mini-Circus for Children (MMCC Global) has created links between the displaced people and the host communities in Afghanistan. It has brought them closer because the children of these communities play together in the circus and they have created good relationships there. Through these links, their families too will have good relations – facilitating more sustainable reintegration." - Insights from Samuel Hall’s pro-bono evaluation of the MMCC Programme in Afghanistan. This year, Samuel Hall embarked on identifying interventions to scale and sustain in Afghanistan. What are initiatives that can be sustained, in a context of limited funding and widespread need? Our team found that social circuses are the right answer to building alternative education pathways, particularly for underserved communities, and social cohesion across Afghanistan. 🔎 What is this and how can this be done? Founded in 2002, The MMCC Global and its local partner, the Afghan Educational Children’s Circus (AECC) has expanded into a countrywide education program focusing on teaching children to lead. MMCC Global is creating safe spaces for children and supporting their growth and talents which is vital for sustaining positive change. Social circus is a unique psycho-social intervention, often seen as a “catalyst for change”, that encourages youth empowerment because it creates resilience by building social support, self-confidence, and interpersonal trust through circus art skills and community building. The model is built on the assumption that when working in a context where resources continue to be limited, the key assets to development are the children and the communities themselves. 💡 Our pro-bono evaluation;  found that through its activities, MMCC has created impact by: ➡Empowering and Encouraging Youth Leadership ➡Inclusion & Integration of Displaced Communities     ➡Facilitating Trust and Community Building   ➡Encouraging Inclusive and safe spaces for young girls and women To help MMCC centres thrive, there is still a lot that needs to be done! Humanitarian organisations need to allocate funds for resources, help create opportunities for community gatherings, build capacity, partnerships and help ensure participation of young girls and women. Read our evaluation and factsheets here⬇ https://lnkd.in/dphBKGuA 📷 Our photo blog on Samuel Hall Stories also captures the voices of children on how the circus is empowering them. https://lnkd.in/dgWVK8mE  To directly help the cause, contact [email protected]

From a goal of 20 kids to impacting 200,000 lives! 🎉 Join us in celebrating GO's incredible journey of growth and impact over two decades. Check out this article to learn more! #GOCampaign #Impact #SupportGrowth 🌟🌍

Play is a fundamental human need, shaping our development from the earliest days. From swings to slides, the playground offers our first taste of socialization and fun. Despite bumps and bruises, we persevere, finding joy in the company of others—turning strangers into playmates, classmates into lifelong friends, and sometimes even partners. Yet, for some, accessibility and inclusivity remain elusive. In our discovery session, Stacy shared a profound insight that resonated deeply with us: 'Accessibility alone falls short; true inclusivity is our aim.' This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the mission of the Inclusive Play Project (IPP)—to ensure that 'fun' is accessible to everyone, without exceptions. Our 5-week collaboration with IPP has been immensely rewarding, contributing to the vision of building Kingston’s first Inclusive Playground. 'The essence of play transcends ability or disability; it’s a universal aspect of the human experience. Regardless of how we navigate the world, we all seek joy and connection through play. Let’s ensure everyone has equal access to this fundamental source of human connection and growth.' Posted are snippets of our work for IPP. Collaborated with Angelica and Ruby Developed the IMC plan under the guidance of Jessica, Scott, Rizma, and Darren Benefitted from the invaluable insights of Marci and Stacy Together, we've taken a holistic approach, integrating digital improvements and offline activities to further the cause of inclusivity in play. If you'd like to support IPP, please consider donating here: https://lnkd.in/gZeBt4Hm #InclusivePlayProject #FunIsForEveryOne

Bridge The Gaps assists at-risk, athletic students who have shown an active interest and role in society through their passions in various athletic activities. Our Play 4 Purpose program helps empower students to utilize their interests and talents in sports to obtain a higher education. Play 4 Purpose provides resources, educational tools, and helps with ancillary expenses that are not available for underprivileged communities. Consider becoming a partner of our Play 4 Purpose program: #Play4Purpose #givingback #btg4youth #givingseason

Now on the OMA blog: Does Your Museum Team Need More Play? In this follow-up to their #OMA2024 session, Tricia O'Connor and Charity Counts dive more into the data and research on team building through play, and share the results of the session group brainstorm!

📣Announcement for All Change-Makers and Advocates of Youth Empowerment!📣 Madi's Movement is gearing up for our upcoming Volunteer Meet & Greet on November 13th. We're offering both in-person and virtual participation options to accommodate all our supporters. To Our Existing Volunteers:💌 If you've been instrumental in our mission already, please check your communication channels - we've reached out with updates. Agenda Highlights for the Meet & Greet: 🤝 Get Acquainted: A deep dive into Madi's Movement and our objectives for supporting foster teens in their transition to independence. 💡Interactive Discussions: A deep dive into our initiatives and collaborative strategies for the future. 🌐 Networking: An opportunity to forge connections with professionals and advocates passionate about youth empowerment. 🔍Skill-Matching: Identifying areas within our mission where your professional skills can be most effectively utilized. 🌟 Meet Some of Our Teens: Interaction with some of the incredible teens benefiting from our programs. Interested in Collaboration?👍 If youth empowerment resonates with your professional or philanthropic objectives, and you're considering volunteering or collaborating with Madi's Movement, we welcome you! Please comment, direct message, or visit our website. www.madismovement.org Join us in this journey to catalyze meaningful change and pave the path to independence and brighter futures for foster teens. Your expertise and support can make a difference! 💜🦋🧡

We all have budgets, and guess what? There's always a bit of wiggle room! If you're a librarian facing the challenge of making the most of your limited budget, this article is just for you. #librarylove #library #entertainment