Social networking with purpose
DOING good has gone digital with the launch of a new social networking platform, www.forgood.co.za
The site – aimed at bringing together people and organisations who are nation builders – represents a national valuesbased movement that has been brought to East London recently.
Business consultant Stephen Eichstadt is the East London representative of Forgood.
“Forgood is a social web platform that is focussed on people wanting to do good,” he said.
“The concept is that if we start doing good, and we start connecting and collaborating around good, then good people can inspire others to do good. This can become a movement that could change society around us,” Eichstadt said.
There are only a few East Londoners and East London groups signed up to Forgood at the moment.
“Many people and organisations are doing great work in isolation and it is time to connect, inform and inspire other like-minded people across institutional boundaries,” he said.
“For a businessman, we network for a purpose. The purpose of Forgood is to network to promote and support causes that are good so that we can start seeing change in our city.”
Eichstadt explained that NGOS can use the website to list needs and activities as an accessible and easy way to get support.
Corporates can use the site to see what needs are out there, and to see where they can choose to spend their corporate social investment budgets.
Churches can use it to promote activities, or to collaborate around a cause.
Individuals can also use the site to start doing good in their sphere of influence, in their own street, with their own friends, to better their own city and country.
“This is social networking with a purpose; mindsets change when people see solutions that work,” he said.
Doing good ranges from running soup kitchens to being courteous to car guards. NGOS and non-profit organisations can use Forgood to share their needs, and individuals with resources can use Forgood to share their bounty.
The aim is, ultimately, to connect enough people doing good so that the city looks better, people feel better, and momentum around doing good gains traction.
“As leaders we need to step up and demonstrate values-based leadership in society so we can move forward,” Eich- stadt said.
“A willingness to do good can serve as a catalyst to encourage people that there are alternatives to negativity. You don’t have to emigrate to Australia, you can impact people in your immediate surroundings.
“We want every person to feel they are leaders and that they change the world where they live.”
Border Kei Chamber of Business executive director Les Holbrook reckoned Forgood was a “very good concept” that could encourage individuals and businesses to get involved in community activities.
“When all is done and dusted, you have to ask yourself, what have you done with your life? You should be able to say, ‘I was involved and I helped there’,” he said. “It’s the notion that I can make a difference that is so important. Forgood gives people an opportunity to look and see where they can fit in. There is no question that we should encourage more people to be more giving.”
To sign up to Forgood, go to www.forgood. Link FM, on 97.1, will be airing stories about Forgood as well.
You can contact the Dispatch on news@dispatch.co.za or the Go & Express on goexpress@dispatch.co.za , or you can call (043) 702-2048 for more information.
See today’s Go & Express for an example of how www.forgood.co.za helped make the lives of Duncan Village children a little brighter. that can