People keep saying cold-calling is dead, but many successful businesses rely on it to drive sales,  in our case, sponsorships and donations. We believe that with your voice, you communicate much more than the message.

We have our marketers eagerly dialing numbers day in and day out.  Although it is such a turbulent activity, our team has been able to adapt to the circumstances and we are seeing enormous success calling up sponsors.

Many organizations prefer dealing with queries via email, but it is actually better to speak over the phone because voice conversations are more impactful, deep, and personal.

Especially when it's on account of negative experiences- one that makes anyone anxious and impatient.

Well, that is because we are stuck in a situation and we need solutions quickly.  In addition to this, getting a bit of personal assurance from someone in flesh and blood-someone as human as we are gives that instant relief.  What started out as an impulsive, nervous phone call, may turn out to be a smooth,  pacifying experience.

What you lose with one bad phone call might take you tens of good ones to compensate.
So, to not fall prey to one,  you first need to understand what makes up a bad call experience that could hurt your organization. It'll be a good start to know what not to do while on a call with potential sponsors.

Should one use a script when calling potential sponsors? The answer is YES! We have developed a basic script for our marketers to use because often we get stuck on not knowing what to say,  feeling overwhelmed by complexity. We take refuge in simplicity.

The more you do, the more you get!

Consistency is the key to success.

You should not underestimate the importance of social media as part of our lives or for the promotion of your business.

Social media has become the most influential and important virtual space where the platform is not only used for social networking but is also a great way of digitally advertising your business. Social media’s power is commendable as you get to reach a large number of people within seconds of posting making your ads reach out to your potential audience. With that, it becomes strategic by creating and distributing valuable, relevant and consistent content to retaining your audience.

Social media is definitely a platform for building up social awareness and empathy. As a result of online bullying known as “Cyberbullying”,  a form of online posting resulting in harming, damaging, harassing or upsetting someone else, anonymously. Which can be excruciating, embarrassing and most detrimental to one physical state which could lead to depression by being tormented by someone they don’t know. Nevertheless, there could always be ways of staying and playing safe on social media by stepping away, resisting the urge to retaliate or respond, report the bullying if possible but far and for most, you can block the bully.

With the benefit of social media and the downside of it, we can always make it clear that pulling someone down will never help one reach the top.

Technology opens the door to the world. It's up to us to walk through it in a meaningful and respectful way.

People from different walks of life are intrigued by the way technology is progressing at a profuse rate, shaping our lives into the digital world!

That being said it has a vital part in our lives as it affects us individually in all aspects. One aspect is how it has affected our learning. It’s made learning more interactive and collaborative, it saves time through the ease of accessing information at a twenty-four-hour rate and you have access to almost anything online.

Another common and renowned aspect is communication. We use social media to connect with people who are furthest to us to bring them closer.

All in all, technology has made our lives easier and we have found comfort in that. The importance of technology lies within that comfort.

However, though it doesn't seem dangerous, our comfort is actually ruining the way we think, look and feel about ourselves. Our responsibility falls on the good use of this resource, "With great power comes great responsibility" as spiderman said.

"A mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work if it isn't open"
-Frank Zappa

Induction in the workplace is seen as a formal entry into the organisation. It is about being introduced to the company's acts, principles, and values.

This lays down the rules on how to conduct ourselves in the workplace and how to work in harmony with our fellow colleagues.  People in the workplace need to keep an open mind and be willing to learn new things.

There are many ways to learn and to grow. Sometimes we learn by reading or listening to others. At times we learn with experience or contemplating.  Quality conversations with other people in the workplace can allow us to see things from a different perspective and learn new things, as every single person has something important to offer. 

Being open-minded in the workplace allows us to connect dots, reevaluate our decisions and avoid making mistakes others around us have made.  Avoid head trash. Don't be a garbage can for anything that doesn't feed your intellect or help you grow as an individual, be it in the workplace or in general.

Rules and regulations protect the employer and employee. Do not assume every employee knows how to conduct themselves at work and explain why you have particular rules in place. This will prevent issues in the future and will help the employer and employee to focus on work and have a better working relationship.

Written by Lindokuhle Ditsi

"As Marketers, we should be changing the mantra from always be closing, to always be helping."

Every organization has a structure of its own that it comprises of and is there for different purposes.

HFG's marketing structure consists of mainly Youth. Our vision and mission is to help them out of disadvantaged situations by raising funds towards a safe haven youth center and what better way to do this than having people that can relate to them.

The Marketing team is made up of vibrant youth with different personalities, backgrounds and characteristics, but they all share the same sentiments and that is to help out their fellow peers.

The Youth dreams big and craves challenges to encourage them to explore new paths and options. This is why they are also stepping out in the community to steer them to the right direction. This organization is not only looking to benefit but also give back by advertising for the companies that are going to be contribute to our cause.

HFG is using these Youth marketers because being young is associated with being free, happy, cool, and culturally relevant. They also possess attributes of maturity, sophistication and professionalism adding an awesome dynamic to get our message across.

Our Youth is nothing short of this which makes the tasks easier to execute. Getting the Safe Haven Youth Center is a mission but with the team's vibrancy, it is fun doing so.

HFG'S Youth are STEPPING UP to the challenge!

      1. First you have to Love yourself.

We all come from different backgrounds. Some of us grew up in a loving and encouraging family, and some of us didn't. We've probably all had some kind of relationship in our lives that has left us feeling hurt. You can't control your outside circumstances. I wish we could. What you can control is your own choices. It can be hard to love when you feel broken. If you don't come to any relationship (romantic, friendship, family) whole, you end up asking others to fill in the broken pieces or shutting them out completely. You first have to love yourself. Then, you can offer relationships your strengths rather than looking to them to fix your weaknesses. We all have the power to make this decision no matter what hand life has dealt us.

2. Become someone you would LOVE.

It is always easier to blame others. Always. What's hard is looking to yourself and realizing that maybe it's you who needs to change. Before you have amazing relationships you have to be someone you would love. Be the mother you would want. Be the girlfriend you would fall in love with. This is a lifelong process the important people in your life will help you with if you are open to it. Stop focusing on others' shortcomings so much and instead work on yourself.

3. LOVE deeply.

Don't hold back. Don't hold grudges. Go all in. We've probably all been hurt before, and I'm not saying we should ignore those situations.  Don't let past hurts prevent you from making new relationships or falling in love. This happens to almost everyone We get  hurt and feel justified in our unwillingness to forgive even though our circumstances had changed. This attitude can nearly prevent us  from meeting the people we are meant to be. Don't be afraid to love deeply. It can be scary to depend on anyone. Be open. Be brave.

4. LOVE from friends and family.

I truly believe that you should love everyone. Be it family or friends,  an attitude of love to everyone should be an attribute synonymous to YOU. Can you imagine what th world would be like if everyone was like that. The love we receive from family and friends is said to be the most genuine and forever lasting, however, this dos not mean that you are protected from being hurt.

You can still choose the people who you cultivate this type of relationship with and focus on the positive influences in your life. LOVE them deeply.

 

LOVE is not what you say, LOVE is what you do.

 

The world as we know it has changed, many lives have been lost, others affected by the effects of Covid and others at a stand still.

The prolonged effects of lockdown on psychosocial support services resulted in the outbursts of uncertainties, acute panic, fear, depression, obsessive behaviours, social unrests, stigmatization, anxiety, increased gender-based violence cases and discrimination in the distribution of relief food .

The deaths are attributed to limited access to medical care facilities, shelters and other necessary facilities for safety. This burdens the government and the communities as the number of children requiring social support increases. The death of the breadwinner of the family caused hardships, hunger and pain especially in the vulnerable families that are living below the poverty line.

Gender-based violence cases continue to increase rapidly amid COVID-19. Measures to deal with rampant cases of GBV together with mental health and substance abuse must be enforced. Programmes to assist victims must be accessible, remain open and treated as part of essential services, these include shelters, helplines, and place of safety and counselling services and be afforded necessary financial, provision of rehabilitation and psychosocial support services during COVID-19.

Hope,Faith and Grace Community Project sees the urgency in having an accessible Safe Haven Center for such cases. This will assist a lot of youth with shelter during their time of distress and also help them develop their skills while at it.

The previous year was very difficult for everyone, especially those who are prone to anxiety and depression.  The social isolation, uncertainty about employment, income, health and the health of Covid vulnerable people you love has posed a unique challenge for us all.

In addition to its staggering impact on physical well-being and mortality, COVID-19 is also taking an unprecedented toll on our mental health.

The youth is just as affected as everyone else. Many of them are already going through a lot at home and now are expected to be in isolation with their families. This pandemic has affected the daily lives of young people as they are having less motivation to partake in activities they usually enjoyed.

Their perception of the future has also been negatively affected, particularly in the case of their education. Schools have been closed for longer periods now and this has caused more anxiety and mental breakdowns.

Anxiety is one of the most common forms of mental illness. Anxiety can affect your health. If one is suffering from an anxiety disorder, it is suggests that you may run a higher risk of experiencing physical health problems as well. So when you manage your anxiety, you’re also taking care of your physical health.

Most people who seek treatment experience significant improvement and enjoy an improved quality of life. Make sure to attend therapy.

Whether you have everyday stress, everyday anxiety or an anxiety disorder you can learn important strategies to help you manage and move forward.

Exercising, good nutrition, adequate sleep, and trying to reduce stress all contribute to your well-being.