#DaanUtsav

COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT

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ABOUT #DaanUtsav (earlier called the Joy of Giving Week) is India's ‘festival of giving’. Launched in 2009, the festival is celebrated every year – commencing on Gandhi Jayanti – from October 2 to 8. From auto rickshaw drivers to CEOs, school children to celebrities, homemakers to opinion leaders and media personnel, millions of people from all walks of life come together during this week to give their time, money, resources, or skills back to society. They do this by creating or participating in events of their choice. A giving event could be as simple as a family taking out their maid's children for an icecream party, or as large as a ‘Gift Compassion’. The latter is an event that has over 10,000 schoolchildren every year across India making and exchanging gifts with their peers from different socio-economic backgrounds. In 2015, millions of people participated in more than 1,100 events across 110 cities all over the country, by raising several tens of crores in money and resources donated, and giving countless volunteer hours.

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ABOUT

How was #DaanUtsav conceived? Several people around the world have, time and again, come together on the idea of giving back to society. It is impossible to attribute ownership to anyone for these, or likewise for #DaanUtsav! Between November 2008 and February 2009, several individuals and NGO leaders got together and decided to launch an ‘India Giving Week’. Riverside School (in Gujarat) came up with a ‘Design for Change’ contest. Goonj, an NGO based in Delhi, launched the ‘Vastrasamman Campaign’. Toofles, a cause agnostic fundraising platform, organised a ‘Style for Smiles CEO Ramp Walk’. In Chennai, a Battle of the Buffet was run. These were just some of the events; there were many more. The advertising agency, EuroRSCG India created the ‘Joy of Giving Week’ brand identity in March 2009. Between 2009 and 2013, as the festival grew in scale and reached all socioeconomic strata and geographies of India, the need for a name that was easily understood nationally became apparent. In February 2014, volunteers renamed the festival ‘DaanUtsav’ based on feedback received from across the country. Who owns #DaanUtsav? No one owns #DaanUtsav. Like Diwali or Dussera, anyone around the world can celebrate #DaanUtsav! However, in its formative years, to give it shape, a group of core volunteers managed the #DaanUtsav campaign, defined guidelines for participation, and evangelized the effort. But you are the most important part of making this festival bigger. This toolkit has been put together to provide you with all of the resources you need to get started, including: how to celebrate, a sample outreach email, some FAQs, and contact details of volunteers in your city to help discuss more ideas for #DaanUtsav.

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HOW DO I CELEBRATE There are several ways in which you can celebrate #DaanUtsav. Here are a few: You Can Volunteer Volunteering is always a rewarding experience. You can volunteer at an NGO or organize a larger team volunteering event with your friends, staff, and neighbors. For example, you could do a ‘Sewa Sandwich’ event with five of your friends. All you need to do is buy bread, butter, cucumbers, tomatoes, and some sandwich masala or salt and pepper. Then get together and make sandwiches with your group (this will also strengthen your team-building skills). Next, pack and distribute these sandwiches to the homeless in your area. It is fun to strike conversations with the people you give food to as well. You can also choose to donate pro bono hours to help charities in need of your skills. Or perhaps organize a donation drive at your workplace, or the area where you stay, for people to donate goods, clothing, and other items for people in need. The bottom line is: Help someone, anyone in need. You Can Create Giving Events If you think you have people skills or would love to lead a pack of givers, then you can organise an event at your city, workplace, school, college, housing apartment, social or new media platform – choose any place/platform you like. Events could range from organising a charity drive to a marathon in your city and from choreographing a flash mob to getting meals sponsored for the homeless on all seven days of the festival. Refer to our website and 'Ideas and Events Toolkit'; to learn more. You Can Donate Or Raise funds You can donate or you can organise a fundraiser for a non-profit by leveraging #DaanUtsav to expand your donor base and raise more funds across the country. For instance, one giver cooked a sumptuous Thai meal and invited all his friends over for a pay-for-your dinner evening at his house. The funds raised were donated to a charity he supported. Alternatively, you could also partner with a donor or sponsor to host a matching grant challenge for #DaanUtsav. If you are a corporate, you could create a campaign in which your employees donate an amount of their choice. At the end of the week, you contribute and match the same amount towards a cause that you support.

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HOW DO I CELEBRATE You Can Get Social You can celebrate in several ways using #DaanUtsav's social media platforms: Facebook (facebook.com/daanutsav), Twitter (@daanutsav), and Instagram (@daanutsav). Listed below are a few ideas: 1. Post your Happy Dot Selfie: Once you perform an act of giving during the week, click a selfie with the #DaanUtsav happy dot (see the smiley in the logo) and share it online. You can either draw the Happy Dot yourself or print it and stick it on your finger, wrist, or face. 2. Post photos and videos of giving: Document your act of giving and share it across social media platforms. Additionally, you can also upload it on YouTube. 3. Tag atleast 5 people after you perform an act of giving: To create a chain of givers using your social network, tag 5 or more of your friends to motivate them to celebrate #DaanUtsav. 4. Share stories of giving: This can be through blog posts and status updates on social media in which you recount the experience and act of giving through narrative and/ or images. 5. Use the #DaanUtsav badge on your Facebook profile: Go to the 'Pic Badges' app on Facebook and then search for the 'Daan Utsav' badge using the search tool. Once you find it, click on it and activate the feature. The badge will now show on your profile. Wherever you post, whatever you post, don't forget to include the hashtag #daanutsav. For detailed information, refer to the Daan Utsav Social Media Toolkit. You Can Keep Giving #DaanUtsav, and the joy that can be experienced in giving, is so much more than the one week in October. You can pledge to do more throughout the year and experience more joy. You can give a certain amount every month to a charity of your choice, pledge to volunteer every few months, or launch a unique campaign to give back to society after October 8. Just remember, you can keep giving and celebrating life in so many unique ways.

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OUTREACH EMAIL If you would like to invite someone to celebrate #DaanUtsav or simply tell them about the festival, please edit the following draft and use it to reach out to potential givers. Dear Aditi [Insert salutation or name], Hope this email finds you well. If you remember, I had worked with you on the Vodafone project (Women of Pure Wonder) earlier this year. Must say it was a wonderful experience getting to know you. [Personalise this by mentioning how you know this person. If you do not personally know this person, move to the next para directly after the first sentence.] I am writing to you today to tell you about a festival called #DaanUtsav (earlier called the Joy of Giving Week) that the whole of India celebrates from October 2 to 8 every year. The festival brings together Indians from all walks of life, to celebrate ‘giving’. From autorickshaw drivers to CEOs, school children to celebrities, homemakers to opinion leaders and media personnel, millions of people come together during this week to give their time, money, resources, or skills back to society. They do this by creating or participating in events of their choice. A giving event could be as simple as a family taking out their maid's children for an ice-cream party, or as large as ‘Gift Compassion’. The latter is an event that has over 10,000 school children every year across India making and exchanging gifts with their peers from different socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2015, millions participated in more than 1,100 events across 110 cities all over the country, by raising several tens of crores in money and resources donated, and giving millions of volunteer hours. It would be wonderful if you could tell us whether you have participated in #DaanUtsav in the past and how? Please also let us know if you would be interested in participating this year? As an activist and a role model for so many young kids, it would be amazing if you do consider to participate in the festival this year. [Personalise this according to the kind of organisation/person you are writing to and mention at least two to three ideas that they could get them interested. You may also access a list of ideas, specific to each vertical (corporate, school, college, ngo, government – as applicable) from our 'Ideas and Events Toolkit'.] We would be glad to meet you or do a call to discuss the possibilities of acts of giving during the #DaanUtsav week. Looking forward to hearing from you. Warm Regards, Arman Agicha [Your name] Volunteer | Mumbai [Your city]

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FAQs

When is #DaanUtsav? #DaanUtsav is celebrated annually from October 2 to 8. Who can participate in #DaanUtsav? Everyone! #DaanUtsav is an initiative to celebrate giving, and everyone is encouraged to be involved. Why should my organisation or I celebrate #DaanUtsav? #DaanUtsav is an initiative to encourage giving and build ideals of compassion and generosity in everyone. As an organisation, celebrating #DaanUtsav helps build a solid support for your philanthropic activities. For an individual, it increases self-confidence and will also provide a sense of purpose. How does one participate? Everyone can celebrate #DaanUtsav the way they want, keeping in mind the larger cause of giving to the less privileged. Individuals do small acts of giving across the country. Corporates organise giving activities with their employees and customers. NGOs arrange awareness or fundraising events whilst housing societies visit or invite orphanages, elderly homes, or throw a party for their help. Schools and colleges meanwhile encourage students to volunteer. Many individuals, including celebrities, also get involved in their own unique ways. Who owns or organises #DaanUtsav? #DaanUtsav is a festival and not an NGO or organisation. It belongs to the people, just like Diwali, Christmas, Eid, World Elderly Day, or Mother's Day. A large number of socially conscious citizens volunteer to encourage more and more people to celebrate this festival.

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FAQs

Q. Who can one support? Several charitable organisations participate in the week and you could support any of them. You could also simply support any organisation or deserving individuals you know personally. Additonally, #DaanUtsav volunteers can assist you with finding credible organisations, so that you can be sure that your contribution doesn't get misused. Why only a week and not throughout the year? Festivals are celebrated to rededicate ourselves to things that are important throughout the rest of the year as well. While Diwali is celebrated for a day, it reminds us of the triumph of good over evil the whole time. Occasions like Environment Day build focus on important issues that need attention throughout the year. Celebrating a day or a week also allows for collective participation that is not possible all round the year. What has #DaanUtsav achieved so far? Every year, several million Indians now celebrate #DaanUtsav across more than 200 towns, villages, and cities, organising over 1,100 events and contributing tens of crores of rupees in cash and kind, and countless volunteer hours. Where do I get more information if I want? Visit www.daanutsav.org and watch videos at www.youtube.com/joyofgivingweek. Check out #DaanUtsav's Facebook and Twitter pages at www.facebook.com/daanutsav and @daanutsav respectively. How do I get in touch with someone to discuss more ideas for #DaanUtsav? Reach out to any #DaanUtsav volunteer across India, or write to [email protected].

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Let's celebrate For more ideas on how to celebrate #DaanUtsav in your area, contact us here: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] You can also find #DaanUtsav here: Website | www.daanutsav.org Facebook | facebook.com/daanutsav Twitter | @daanutsav Instagram | @daanutsav Picassa | picasaweb.google.com/joyofgivingweek YouTube | www.youtube.com/joyofgivingweek

Thank you, for celebrating #DaanUtsav.