Springboard

Julia S (Community Manager) Hi Natasha, for fundraising advice you should get in touch with the 1egg1world boys: http://www.planbig.com.au/1egg1world they are very well schooled in fundraising and extremely helpful.

Ashanthi hey natasha, with the website you should check out www.webs.com - we were having the same issue with raising funds for a website and they allow you to create a website (with domain included) for free!! you can check ours out to see what we did, it's only the start so it's not completely finished www.mycbrisbane.webs.com it's really easy to create, let me know if i can help you with anything! :)

Ashanthi Also, since you're talking about orphanages as well, I'm pretty sure my grandmother is heavily involved with some of the orphanages in Sri Lanka (she lives there). Let me know if you need people on the ground, she might be able to help!

Natasha Munasinghe Yes agreed John.

Ashanthi Hi Springboard, I believe that we can be of mutual assistance to each other! I really like what your plan is about, coming from Sri Lanka myself, I think it's an amazing idea!! You might want to check out www.ourcommunity.com.au which has some great tips on fundraising and grants etc. Other than that, maybe holding an event or getting in touch with established community groups could be an idea. At present I am on the Sri Lanka Society of Qld as Youth Co-ordinator, maybe we can discuss something where we can help you out with an event for fundraising. Let me know!!

Natasha Munasinghe Hey Ashanthi - great to touchbase!! Yup will love to chat with you and bounce around some ideas and thoughts. My email is natashakhema@hotmail.com - if you want to send through your details and i will give you a buzzzzz. And yes! will def. check out the our community site Thanks again - and talk soon! Natasha

Shanil Samarakoon I reckon we need to mobilise the Sri Lankan youth groups and societies to fundraise for this great cause. Maybe get a team member working on that. Unfortunately it's a bit on the late side for the City2Surf but that's a possible start as well.

Natasha Munasinghe yea - little too late for c2s - but maybe if we can get some volunteers runners, walkers in melb or brissy - we could take part in some of the events there!!!!! How do you think we could mobilise the youth of SL?

Julia S (Community Manager) Hi Natasha, thanks for uploading your plan and welcome to PlanBig. 1Egg1World give some good fundraising advice on Ellie's plan: http://www.planbig.com.au/Orphans-of-Vietnam . Are you looking at holding events to raise money? How are you planning on raising awareness? What activities will your programs involve? What age groups are you looking to target? This is a great plan and I'm looking forward to seeing it grow.

Julia S (Community Manager) Also, it's good to see that some people have already shared your plan. Get your friends and family behind it! The more 'likes', 'shares' and comments you get, the more visible you will be to the PlanBig community. You should also check out and connect with some of these plans: http://www.planbig.com.au/1egg1world , http://www.planbig.com.au/Mukwano-Mwana , www.planbig.com.au/A-place-of-learning-and-of-HOPE , www.planbig.com.au/Volunteer-your-world-TO-ME and www.planbig.com.au/Be-Cavalier-and-help-us-Volunteers-make-money-appear

1egg1world Hey Natasha, absolutely love your idea and it seems like a very big task, however i'm sure you can get it done! In terms of fundraisers we have held a few in our days, and the key is numbers and diversity of people...examples: - Art auctions: see if you can encourage local artists to donate works of art, photographers are great as they can reproduce prints with ease. Then all you need is a space and people, silent bidding is a good way to go as well - BBQ's: They're mad fundraisers and really fun. If you can encourage local butchers for discounted meat then thats a big saver...and speak to supermarkets and councils in order to find a good spot to hold one. - Movie nights: I have heard of cinemas helping out small charities and letting them hold movie nights, where they will put on a movie or you and all the ticket sales go to the cause - Concerts: Great and fun, but hard to organise! The key is to find a suitable venue, and then bands/soloists who can keep a good mood all night. Thats about it but there are heaps more options out there. Just make sure that if you hold these events that you have a good range of information on what you are doing, because new people are always really eager to learn what you are doing :) Best of luck, and feel free to contact us if you need any more advice

Alexandra Sutch Let me know if u need volouznteers for something...sorry typing in the dark. I am more than happy to lend a hand.....good luck with this Natasha

Natasha Munasinghe Thanks heaps Alex - would love that!!! Thinking about having a fundraiser - BBQ in a month - would love you to join in (and would be greatttt to see you........) - thanks again!