LIVING IN DOHA
A Ripple Effect: How Small Actions Can Make a Big Difference
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lmost everyone wants to leave a positive mark on this world, and volunteering is a simple and accessible way to do that. People of all ages can get involved, and there is a wide variety of causes and projects to choose from. But this can feel overwhelming, especially if you don't know where to start. Because of that, it is essential to realise that small steps and a bit of creativity might be all you need to make an impact. This is what's known as a "ripple effect". Keeping this in mind is what drove me to start my own project, and this is the story.
By Brett Roberts
Finding Inspiration Like many, I felt that the Covid pandemic was the perfect time to get involved with my community and give back to others. I wanted to do something that I felt was rewarding and filled a need. As the possibilities were endless, I narrowed them down by considering my interests, what I enjoyed, and what worked with my schedule. Unfortunately, not everything that came up met those criteria, so I had to think of something on my own. It was then that I came up with the idea of organising quarterly meals for the staff at my compound and providing them with Christmas gifts. I wanted to also get other residents involved.
Putting It Together Now that I had my idea, I needed to act fast. I started looking up restaurants to supply the meals and looking for gifts that would be useful. I decided on meals and gifts that I believed would be the best value for money. Then, I created a post on our community Facebook group to gauge if there would be enough participants to help fund the purchases regularly. Fortunately, this was a success, so I started a dedicated Facebook page for the fundraiser where people could also share their ideas for future projects.
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