We were all asked to pick a Charity we would organise and run a fundraising event for in Second Life, if we were to become Miss Colour of Couture. The presentation had to include a business case for the Charity event and a marketing plan too.
I already knew of the Charity I decided to use for my challenge, it is deeply cool and close to my heart. Because of this I had been able to do some thinking and planning in the last few weeks and was fighting ready for today (thanking heaven too for the presentation skills working life has given me, which gave me the courage to present in voice today.). We didnt get a chance to see each other's presentations, but I am sure there were some amazing ones, as we are a kick ass bunch of ladies!
Here is my presentation, with the info boards I used, and pictures and stylecard follow at the end of this blog.
hrrmm (clears throat....)
Presentation
The Charity I have chosen to support if I become Miss Colour of Couture is Womankind Worldwide.
Womankind Worldwide is a UK based, international Women’s Rights charity working to help women transform their lives and communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
It is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary this year.
The Charity helps local women's groups to work towards improving women's rights and experiences in their communities.. Womankind's approach is not to impose a 'top down' solution but to help and empower the women's groups it works with, to achieve their own solutions. The Charity also partners with local women’s rights organisations, who are challenging discrimination, and violence. Womankind Worldwide delivers the essential support, funding, training, expertise, contacts and publicity that these local grass roots organisations need, to amplify their voice, increase their impact and bring about greater change in their communities.
Womankind Worldwide also works in wider arenas, to lobby for change, and to influence the powers and practices of governments and non-governmental organisations.
Over the 25 years of its existence Womankind Worldwide has supported directly and indirectly over 12 million women and their families. Last year it worked in 15 countries, directly supported almost 141,000 women, and helped improve the rights of over 6.5 million women. Board 1 lists the countries it worked in last year.
Just a few of the myriad schemes it has helped are shown on Board 2,
That is only a tiny sample, the list could go on for hours....
This is a Charity where even small donations can make a significant difference, because the money is targeted to make maximum and lasting impact. Some examples of how donated amounts can be used are shown on board 3
Looking at the figures, you can see that there is a real chance that money raised in Second Life could make a real difference somewhere.
I am proposing a two week fundraising event, held on one or two sims, donated for the event. It will be called Fashion for Change. See Board 4 and 5 for a synopsis.
The event will be a collaboration of Designers, models, and COC, hopefully also with BOSL participation, to celebrate Women of Colour and indigenous clothing worldwide, but with a Fashion Forward Couture interpretation , mixing 'Western' Fashion with Indigenous and traditional Fashion.
There will be three main components to this event.
There will be a mall where perhaps 30- 50 designers (depending on number of sims) will offer exclusive items with percentage of sales going to the Charity. The Designers could also sell other items, defraying their costs and making this a more attractive commercial event for them to participate in.
There will be an Auction of donated items and services in the last weekend of the event - the donated items will be exhibited during the event in a dedicated area. Designers, Creators, Photographers, Model Agencies/Schools etc would be approached for auction items, and any other interested parties with relevant donations.
There will also be two Fashion Shows, on the first and middle weekends. One Fashion Show will showcase the participating Designer's exclusive Event designs. The other show will feature models styling and celebrating significant Women of Colour past and present. One Show will utilise past and current COC finalists, the other Show could be by either Blvd or possibly MVW contestants as part of their challenges (this would depend on the timing of the Fashion for Change Event).
There would also be donation boxes prominently displayed at the show venue and around the sim.
I would look to put together a committee of people, from COC, and other interested and skilled parties, to help organise and plan this large event. I would help as necessary all parties in the team, as well as being a spokesperson and lobbyist for the Event.
Bloggers will be very significant to this event, both in terms of advertising and spreading the word, and also blogging during the event, therefore invites will be sent to as many bloggers as possible.
I would also intend to:
- Network with the organisers of the Peace on Earth Hunt and the Perfect Runway Hunt to access their support, expertise and contacts - there might even end up being a 5L per item hunt on the sim, with proceeds going to the Charity.
- Approach BOSL to sponsor the Event, alongside COC.
- Approach personally Style Kingdom Magazine, BOSL Magazine, Fierce Magazine and Models Magazine, using my contacts, and I would also approach other magazines to try and get coverage for the event.
- Approach Linden Labs for direct advertising of the Event.
- Approach Boniefacio to video parts of the Event
- I would individually approach as many large and mid sized Designers as possible, as Miss Colour of Couture, to give them information about the Charity and the Event, and to get them on board, and I would help put an information pack together for general release, seeking Designer applications for shops in the Event mall.
- I would ask Sequoia if she can build the Sets for the two Fashion Shows,
- And I would approach BOSL to get their support and help in sim building, utilising their builders, I can also be involved if necessary in helping build the sim as I have non-mesh sim building experience on another grid..
It will be important to establish a website and Facebook presence, with other Social networking such as Twitter and Plurk etc if possible, I would work with COC to help facilitate that - though I am not an expert in this area.
I anticipate this event will require 4-5 months planning, and would be better done after the summer 'lull', in the Autumn of 2014.
Thank you.
Charity Website link - http://www.womankind.org.uk/
Here are pictures of my presentation. I hadnt realised the space we were to present in was a little cramped (the Fashion Cafe), so forgive me Reign for any accidental brain damage caused when I rezzed one of my boards in your head (eeps...sorry...)
It was a totally exhilarating experience today, so much so that I joked I would like to go again when I finished!
Stylecard
We were asked to style in a way appropriate to the Charity we were using. In my styling I tried to reflect the international span of the Charity, incorporating elements from Indigenous cultures in Africa, Asia and South America in an overall interpretation.
Ghana Kente gown and headscarf - Desir (edited)
Michelle Gown - Orange - Countdown
Marzia Gown - Orange - PurpleMoon - Flowers (edited)
Bowler Hat - Asylum in Your Embassy! (edited to resemble Bolivian Chula Hat)
Maasai Jewellery Set - Kungler
Aradhana Jewels - Maangtikka - Mashooka
Nizam Mughal Nose ring - White - Zaara
Ra Gold Armband - Vintage Jewels
Hair - Lucrezia - Baiastice
Nails - Jamman
Makeup - Beautiful Deluxe, Mock
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