Start with Y: Gathering Social Entrepreneurs Online

HOW CHANGEMAKERS ARE BUILDING A SPACE FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE

YourY Network provides a safe space community for global social entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, share knowledge and do peer to peer mentorships.

The aim to raise public awareness of social entrepreneurship and facilitate collaboration through global online networking events 🇮🇪 🌍

HOW WE MAKE CHANGE

YourY Network were looking for volunteers to help them with Design, Writing, Strategy, Marketing, Project Management and Web Development in order to address the Sustainable Development Goals of Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

We connected them with ChangeMakers from three different countries. Here’s how a few of them have helped 🙌

“IT HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO VALIDATE MY SKILLS AND BUILD MY CONFIDENCE”

Kath Clark 🇬🇧

‘My name is Kath Clark and I am from the United Kingdom. I work in the arts sector in Scotland and have worked across multi-venue organisations leading on marketing, communication, customer experiences and sales. Previously, I had a senior role in the Travel industry. I am educated to a degree level, have professional qualifications and have completed leadership courses.

At YourY Network, I am involved in the strategy team to create a business- and marketing plan. I am project managing the marketing team.

I enjoy being a part of the development of a new organisation, meeting and working with volunteer colleagues. I have the opportunity to use my skills and experience to guide the process. It has been helpful to validate my skills and build my confidence. I’ve also learned different approaches and skills from the other ChangeMakers. It’s been enjoyable to meet and connect with new people with a collective goal.’

“IT HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE COMING INTO THE BUSINESS AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE OF ITS SET-UP”

Anna Beedham 🇬🇧

‘My name is Anna Beedham and I am from the United Kingdom. I am an experienced senior events and project manager in the not-for-profit sector with a Masters in Arts, Festivals and Cultural Management. I am passionate about making impactful changes to society through arts and cultural projects and supporting social enterprises.

Since volunteering with YourY Network I’ve been focusing on collaborating with the team to produce the overall business strategy documents and honing the vision and mission for the network.

We’re now working on designing and launching the new website and continuing to run network events online due to the current event delivery constraints as a result of COVID-19.

It has been such a great experience coming into the business at such an early stage of its set-up. I’ve had experience working on business strategies in previous roles, but not at the very start of a new business. It’s been a real learning curve for all the ChangeMakers, but thanks to the wide range of skills they have brought forward it’s been a real pleasure to get the network onto the right path together.’

“THE TEAM IS AMAZING AND WE GET ALONG GREAT. I AM LEARNING A LOT FROM EVERY ONE OF THEM”

Tsvetan Kanev 🇧🇬

‘My name is Tsvetan Kanev and I am from Bulgaria. In 2010 I moved to live, work and study in Dublin, Ireland, where I got my BA(hons) in Marketing. Marketing is an interesting subject that as a huge Star Wars fan I like to look at as a force. A force that can be used from either the dark or the light side. The dark side uses marketing to drive consumerism in a way that destroys our planet and societal values. Like in Star Wars, the dark side is more seductive and easier to go by.

The light side of the marketing force is where it can be used to promote social enterprises, entrepreneurs, ideas and values. Again like in Star Wars, the light side is more challenging to follow. More challenging but more powerful! Following my beliefs I have started thenovicemarketeer.com where I am developing a social and green marketing concept that I hope will grow and attract marketing Padawans.

At YourY Network I am helping with the general marketing and brand strategy, as well as the development of the website. Long-term commitment is in the development of social media marketing strategy and content marketing.

The experience so far has been great. The team is amazing and we get along great. I am learning a lot from every one of them. The project itself is great too and I am looking forward to it becoming the potential it has.’

“BY BEING PART OF THIS I AM LEARNING NEW SKILLS AND GROWING MY NETWORK”

Nitin Garg 🇮🇳

‘My name is Nitin Garg and I am from India. I did my bachelors in Hospitality in the United Kingdom and recently completed my masters in marketing from Trinity College Dublin. I have volunteered previously and I am always looking to help organisations that are trying to make a difference. For me it is all about giving back to the community and playing a part. 

At YourY Network I have been helping in creating a marketing plan for the organisation and executing it. I am involved in planning the marketing calendar, strategy and managing social media for the organisation. 

Volunteering is about giving back to the community. YourY Network is helping social entrepreneurs across the globe to make a difference and by being a part of this I am learning new skills and growing my network.

RESULT

“We Make Change have helped YourY Network to gained amazing, highly skilled and dedicated team members”

LEYLA KARAHA
FOUNDER, YOURY NETWORK

CREATE YOUR OWN STORY

If you’re a Social Enterprise or NGO, become a Member to get support from our community of online volunteers.

If you want to volunteer your skills to make change happen.