Social Media for NGOs Conference

The annual SANGONeT “ICTs for Civil Society” Conference is the premier ICT event dedicated to the work of the NGO sector in Southern Africa.

The 2009 event will be held in two parts - from 15-16 October 2009 in Johannesburg, and 20-21 October 2009 in Cape Town.

Following the success of the previous four annual SANGONeT conferences, the 2009 event will focus on the relevance of social media tools to the South African NGO sector. Specific attention will be given to three key related issues:

how NGOs are and/or should be using social media tools (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc) in support of their work;
how to strengthen and complement fundraising strategies using social media tools;
how social media tools are used on 'Africa's computer' - the mobile phone.
Social media are tools that allow groups to generate content, engage in peer-to-peer conversations and exchange content. The key features of social media are participation and interaction, connecting people and providing the tools necessary to have a conversation - all important components of NGOs’ day-to-day work.

The SANGONeT conference will interrogate and assess this scenario in the South African context by drawing on the experience of international experts, showcasing innovative projects, and facilitating the transfer of skills.

The conference programme will include an impressive list of local and international speakers which will make this a truly memorable event.

By hosting the event in two cities we hope to attract many NGOs that would otherwise not be able to attend. The two events will convene approximately 300 NGO practitioners, government officials, donors and representatives from the IT and telecommunications industry interested in the use and application of social media in support of the NGO sector.

The programme of the 2009 SANGONeT conference will be strategically informed by the findings of the 2009 “State of ICTs in the South African NGO Sector” research project which we are implementing in conjunction with World Wide Worx.

The winners of the South African NGO Web Awards 2009 will also be announced during the two events.

25 Tips by Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs

Ready to leave your job behind and become your own boss? It takes a certain kind of person to make it through the first few years. To help you along, we’ve culled the best tips from our own members - people with years’ of experience in running their own businesses.


1. Don’t work for less than you can afford to, but do offer a discount to customers or clients who sign contracts with you.

2. Find people who will refer jobs to you. If they send you nightmare jobs, make sure they’re balanced out with rewarding (profitable!) ones.

3. Surround yourself with supportive people and don’t be discouraged by anyone. If your idea is good and you’re determined to stick with it through the first few difficult years, your chances of success are great.

4. Be flexible in your thinking. Prepare to change the way you work, the products you use and the services you offer, in order to meet the demands of your customers.
5. Admit your mistakes, correct them and carry on.(For example, if you purchase a piece of equipment that does not meet your expectations, send it back, sell it or exchange it!)
6. Develop a good relationship with your bank manager and creditors. Show a genuine interest in solving problems. Pay as much as you can afford to, to everyone to whom you owe money.

7. Get trained! You’ll be spending a lot of time doing things that have nothing to do with your area of expertise, like bookkeeping, marketing, and IT support!

8. Avoid isolation. Even if you work closely with your clients, you won’t be part of a gang anymore. Develop your own network of entrepreneurs that you see regularly and bounce ideas off. Ideally they’ll allow you to vent your anger and share your successes.

9. Separate your work and personal life. Set your working hours and stick to a strict timetable. When you’re not available to clients, leave a message on your answer machine letting them know when they can expect a reply from you. Let them know how to reach you in an emergency.

10. Plan some ‘thinking time’ into every day. If you pack your diary with back-to-back activities, your business will never grow.
11. Plan time to do something you enjoy at least a few times a week - recharge your batteries!

12. Write a business plan so you’re clear about what you’re doing, and update it every year.

13. Develop an excellent telephone manner and react quickly to any complaints or problems.
14. Confirm orders personally and immediately, especially those you receive on email.

15. Never lose sight of the big picture – look for innovative, little-explored directions in which to take your business.


16. When you find someone cleverer than you, employ them!

17. Solicit advice from people who know, for example, other entrepreneurs and reputable small business advisers – the DTI offers lots of information and support for new businesses.

18. Don’t enter a business or a venture that you know nothing about. You’ll be running to catch up for the rest of your business life.

19. Have an existing, loyal customer base and start locally.

20. Be aware that you will get through any initial investment quickly, so ensure you are covered financially until at least the end of the second year.

21. Focus on a specific goal and work at it until it’s achieved

22. Never worry about how to get things done when you are first developing your idea. Money and resources will come together once you have set your goals and begun to work at them.

23. Make quality in every aspect of your business your primary focus and aim. If it isn’t, you will eventually go out of business.

24. Use the Internet. Use email. Build a website (if you aren’t familiar with websites, try HTML for Dummies), send out email newsletters, buy online banner advertisements and register your site with all the major search engines.

25. Delegate. You might have to hire a good PA, lawyer, or marketing professional to ensure you’ll be profitable in the future.

source: ivillage.co.uk

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