You’re young and strong willed? You know what you want to achieve in your nearest future? Or actually you have no clue about the future, but you have some bright ideas at the present, which could change exactly your future and the society you’re living in? Just start a magazine, make an art workcamp for kids, help to prevent starvation in Africa, set up a football match against racism, create a workshop to clean the city – do whatever is good to keep society curious about certain meaningful topics – and a NGO is one of the best places to do it!Like in the beginning of the world there was a purpose of creating something (if we believe that was this “cosmic” dust transformed into the planet Earth we inhabit now), and creating comes out mainly from idea. An idea which survives the times, circumstances and problems. The same can be referred to the creation of a non-governmental organization (further NGO). Mainly in the beginning it’s just a small group of enthusiastic people sharing the same interests about certain topics and a big wish to influence the on-going affairs in local or global level (feeling the urge of preventing certain problems/ speaking out about global consequences in local communities/ alter “unhealthy” thinking etc.)
When this small group is experienced enough (already making some voluntary activities in changing things around them and they succeed), the time comes to establish an organization officially – with main values, goals, rules and regulations, statement of intent and name, which usually gives a brief insight on main activities of the organization.
That’s how a non-governmental organization is born, after the celebration of new-born it’s time to enlarge the range of activities, promotion and voluntary participants (as NGOs are usually working on voluntary basis). When human resources are enlarged by a bunch of enthusiastic people wanting to change this world, it’s time to activate more and more projects, which will strengthen the values of the organization and make people involved closer to each other (friends) and the ideas they follow. When small informational and educational voluntary activities are not enough anymore (even with all this enthusiastic voluntary spirit) and the question comes to money issues – it’s time to search for financial support (either it’s support from local municipality or private companies for several projects or either “Youth in Action” program providing various ways for creative exposure for young minds to make projects and get funding for approved projects). It all depends on the way an NGO is working to get funding for their activities and whether they need money – as the main player still remains the human with his free will to participate and do some changes in society. Nevertheless, NGOs have critical points in their evolution – when the old leader is tired (or wanting to go further in his career) and the young one is not yet ready to keep the track – it usually happens after 2 years of existence. In a lucky situation the new leader takes things under control and the NGO experiences some changes and continues its’ evolutionary chart.
Being a part of an NGO is not just about dealing with bureaucratic circumstances and being involved in activities, it’s about bringing creative ideas, producing lively discussion, team-building, gaining organizational skills, keeping minds aware about global and local issues which matter and taking new challenges. Beside that – entering the society of NGO-ers, which bring not only new contacts (all around the country and abroad) and helping hands in realizing projects (collaboration), but as well different informational fields (full of opportunities for young people to participate and be active). Maybe you’ll start as a follower of someone else's ideas which are so close to your ideals, but anyway that day when you’ll establish your own NGO is already written down in future. For some people it’s like a disease – once you’re in, you can’t get out. Anyway if being active in the NGO sector doesn’t take you in so deep, overall it’s a great experience in a never ending process of non-formal learning.
