Full name: Callysta Raissa Sugiarto

University: The University of Hong Kong

Title of LiA project

Indigenous Communities and Empowerment of Minority Groups

The organisation/charity

MakeSense & Casa Ronald McDonald Peru

Organisation/charity contact

Full name: Paula Bernasconi

Email address: paula.bernasconi@maksense.org

The need or cause being supported

How can we strengthen our volunteers' connection and sense of belonging to the organisation?

Goal

Enhance volunteer engagement and connection, fostering a more cohesive and motivated volunteer base. Implement targeted initiatives aimed at strengthening the ties between volunteers and the organization, leading to improved volunteer retention and a more effective volunteer workforce.

Objectives

1. Validate the impact of a team gathering event on increasing volunteers' sense of belonging by aiming for a 10% improvement measured through pre-event and post-event surveys within one month.
2. Increase volunteer retention rates by 5% over three months by implementing a challenges-system that enhances their sense of belonging and engagement.
3. Establish a comprehensive feedback system to collect and analyze insights from at least 80% of volunteers within two months using both digital and physical collection methods.

Challenges, barriers or risks 

1. Resistance to Change: Established organizations often have set ways of operating, and introducing new systems or events could meet resistance from both long-term volunteers and management.

2. Resource Allocation: Implementing new programs like a challenges-system or comprehensive feedback mechanisms might require additional resources, which could strain the existing budget and manpower.

Ideas to overcome barriers or challenges

1. Tailored Change Management: Develop a comprehensive understanding of the organization's current operations and culture to tailor the change management plan effectively. Utilize iterative feedback loops to continuously refine and adapt the new initiatives based on real-time inputs.

2. Efficient Resource Utilization with Automation: Develop a self-automated and self-directed system that minimizes the need for continuous oversight and manual intervention, thus conserving resources and reducing the strain on management. The mechanisms can operate autonomously using software that can manage tasks such as tracking progress, updating leaderboards, and compiling feedback. 

Milestones per week

Week 1: Immersive Beginnings

• Introduction to the vibrant culture and history of Peru with a visit to Caral.
• Attendance at talks by Saddit Siuce and Antonio Herrera to understand local challenges and approaches.
• Planning & hosting of opening cultural fair to appreciate diverse cultural identities & meet organization members and volunteers.

Week 2: Empathy in Action

• First visit to Casa Ronald McDonald to understand the organization's operations and the families it serves.
• Engage in empathetic interactions with the children and their families to deepen understanding of their needs.

Week 3: Grounded Ideation

• Brainstorming and development of potential solutions to enhance volunteer engagement and connection.
• Collaborations with organization staff and volunteers to ensure solutions are contextually relevant and feasible.

Week 4: Ideas in Motion

• Presentation of initial short-term and long-term solutions to Casa Ronald McDonald management.
• Refinement of solutions based on feedback to ensure they are tailored to the specific needs of the organization.
• Participation in workshops to enhance practical skills necessary for project implementation, such as effective pitching and event planning.

Week 5: Moments of Impact

• Organization and execution of a volunteer gathering event aimed at increasing the sense of belonging among volunteers.
• Reflection and documentation of the impacts and outcomes of the initiatives undertaken.

Final Week: Reflection and Reporting

• Comprehensive reflections, review, and documentation of all project activities, outcomes, and learnings.
• Final meetings with all stakeholders to discuss the project's impact and future implications.