Meet+Your+Neighbor+-+Roxylifer+Graf+-+ATIF

[8:43] Glitteractica Cookie: ok, i will take a seat here [8:43] Glitteractica Cookie: and welcome the first speaker [8:44] Glitteractica Cookie: Roxylifer Graf, meet your neighbor from the UK [8:44] Mila Edelman: I had no idea you and Katy were so close. [8:44] Glitteractica Cookie: w00t! [8:44] Roxylifer Graf: Ok, hi and thanx excuse the pre-fab typing but .... [8:44] Mila Edelman snickers. [8:44] Roxylifer Graf: I am Founder Trustee of AVIF is an innovative online charity, assisting with sustainable development via online & onsite volunteering in Kenya, East Africa. Beth Kanter has been my guru for many years now and she connected me with NTEN and then told me about NPC and TechSoup. Although I joined SL nearly 4 years ago I actually hadn't really the hardware to use it fully until around a year ago. It was only natural for our office to be virtual so I was delighted when we were offered space. [8:45] Roxylifer Graf: I love the fact it means negligible administration costs and carbon footprint for global impact. Operating our network via FaceBook, SL, blog/website (now combined thanks to Joomla), Flickr .. running communications online in general .. all allows and actually enforces efficiency, honesty and transparency. [8:45] Roxylifer Graf: Onsite volunteers are fully immersed into rural communities repaying hospitality by advocating sustainable development NOT handouts. Our Volunteers help us to share a range of simple but effective concepts such as solar cooking & power, disease prevention, empowerment to women, green technologies, global opportunity and internet capability. [8:46] Roxylifer Graf: Online volunteers can offer any skills they may have to help a project from the comfort of their desk, using the [] "virtual village" system. We have over 20 host communities in rural and urban Kenya, one such community is ran by my good freind, Brique Topaz who is going to say a few words too. [8:47] Brique Topaz: AVIF has been a huge help to Live and Learn in Kenya. Besides sending 3 fantastic volunteers to work at the LLK Summer Holiday Camp last August, Roxylifer is always ready to assist with tips and ideas. The 3 volunteers were well-prepared and AVIF was always behind them – before, during and after their weeks in Kenya. AVIF’s work is very impressive. [8:48] Roxylifer Graf: *blushes* Asante Brique, she's also a mentor! [8:48] Glitteractica Cookie: (roxy, come sit in the front, don't be shy!) [8:48] In Kenzo: Brique, Roxylifer, this is so cool! tell us more. [8:48] Roxylifer Graf: ok .. one sec [8:49] Brique Topaz: I met Roxy over the internet about 3 years ago when she sent 3 other volunteers to the Children's Center that we had been building. [8:50] Roxylifer Graf: thats when Ilearntabout the real corruption in Kenya :-( .... great view from here thanks Glitter [8:50] Brique Topaz: If it weren't for her and for her volunteers, we may not have found out that the Center was run by a - let's say - difficult person... [8:51] Roxylifer Graf: we won't go into details but we've learnt valuable lessons about the need for transparency [8:51] Brique Topaz: Since then, we work together as much as possible. She got me here in the first place and now I'm hoping for office space [8:51] Roxylifer Graf: you need to have people on the ground, right Brique? [8:52] Brique Topaz: That's absolutly necessary. [8:53] Brique Topaz: Although, through constant internet - e-mail contacts, we are able to know what is going on although we're so far away. [8:53] Roxylifer Graf: althoug I sit at home in the Yorkshre Dales, here with you all we need real people/ volunteers to actually makethe changes and vet the projects [8:54] Brique Topaz: The three volunteers that AVIF sent to Nakuru last summer literally changed the outlooks to many of our (500) children. [8:55] Roxylifer Graf: it changed ther lives too ... Cristina, Amy and Laurence stay in touch on FaceBook, their photo is on our office wall [8:56] Brique Topaz: Bringing european/American ideas into a very troublesome slum area can really change the way young people think and react to situations - especially considering HIV/AIDS and educational futures. [8:56] Brique Topaz: So everyone is winning. [8:57] Penguin Kuhn: this is amazing [8:57] Katydid Something: Awesome! [8:57] Veri Oddfellow: Way to go! [8:58] Roxylifer Graf: using SL and social media requires an RL side but then we all love to see RL when we're constantly online [8:58] Roxylifer Graf: photos [8:58] Roxylifer Graf: videos [8:58] Brique Topaz: We're hoping that AVIF will have more volunteers for us this coming summer [8:58] Roxylifer Graf: .. which brings me onto say ... WHAT A COOL VIDEO glitter and Penguin did!!!!! [8:58] Glitteractica Cookie: We loved Drax's video! [8:58] Veri Oddfellow: Yeah! New vid rocks! [8:59] Glitteractica Cookie: well, our video [8:59] Katydid Something: Yeaaaa! Yes it is!! [8:59] Glitteractica Cookie: but let's wait until that part of the agenda [8:59] Roxylifer Graf: we will Brique possibly a group of Canadians who are talking to me right now [8:59] Glitteractica Cookie: we need to wrap up this part of the agenda, i am afraid [8:59] JoJa Monday: thks.this is joja dhara..sorry for my appearnce [8:59] Glitteractica Cookie: sorry-- can we move twds wrapping, and get questions [9:00] Roxylifer Graf: Asante & Salamu ... thank you and blessings!!!! [9:00] Jaywick Forcella: How does one go about finding volunteers in SL? [9:00] Brique Topaz: Thanks [9:00] Brique Topaz: Thanks [9:00] In Kenzo: Jaywick, stick around and you'll see in a few minutes ;) [9:00] Jaywick Forcella: More specifically, How did Roxy [9:00] Jaywick Forcella: Oh, ok. [9:01] Roxylifer Graf: its something I'm hoping having the office will help Jaywick we're also listed in the NPC directory for those looking around [9:02] Roxylifer Graf: shall I make way now Glitter? Thanks for the info too Brique I know you have to run shortly [9:02] Brique Topaz: Yes, I have an appointment. [9:02] Glitteractica Cookie: yes, thanks [9:02] Glitteractica Cookie: any further inquiries, just ping Roxy ||