On November 26th, 2021, for the 15th time, we took part in a Social Friday Activity. Our event was with our long-term partners, the Daycare Centre for street children in Suto Orizari, Skopje.
Social Friday is a global initiative that happens four times a year, and its main idea is to get you and your organization involved in the social aspect of our communities. The goal is to transform the “lost” working hours on Friday afternoons and leave a mark with volunteering, as just a first step into greater involvement in social issues. When we say that Friday afternoons are the least productive time of the working week, we state that as an actual fact. Very interesting research worth checking out!
The Breon team has been a proud participant in the Social Friday initiative for many years now, and we learned a lot during this process. We believe that bounding companies, NGOs, and students together with communities are at the heart of this Social Friday initiative! This kind of event creates opportunities to engage with the problems of our society, get involved in helping, meet the people in need and get the team together in a meaningful way.
Black Friday, also known as a holiday of consumerism, was a perfect day to get a different perspective of the day and show what really matters. We got our team together and met with our friends in the Suto Orizari center, where we got the chance to discuss various topics. We brought them many gifts, from entertaining board games to educational plays. Got to say that the monopoly game really got their attention!
This Friday afternoon gave us a chance to engage with the children, give them the full attention that they surely deserve, and listen to their dreams and perceptions. We believe in empowering the children by creating opportunities for them to acknowledge and further grow their skills by building self-confidence. And those skills can be learned through practice and demonstrations.
Their attitude is what will lead them in their lives and create their values and beliefs. It takes a long period of time to develop and is the most difficult to change. So we strongly believe that each of these kids deserves constant care and good examples from outside the center that would motivate and encourage them. We spent hours in conversations and interactions that really opened our eyes and felt a responsibility to continue our team volunteering mission.
We also discussed the overall situation in the Daycare center with the caregivers and the challenges they are facing every day. They work hard every day to ensure that children receive the education and care they deserve, but it is not always easy to achieve that. The lack of resources, financial help, supplies is an obstacle that is hard to overcome alone. They pointed out that every support that one can offer is more than welcome, and we encourage others to join and volunteer.
We are all born the same way, but we don’t have the same opportunities and chances to succeed and develop. Developing as a person is a continuous process, and we shape our characters from a young age. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” said Nelson Mandela. This is what inspired us to fund an English teacher for them to start learning a language. The English-learning journey opens up a whole new world and opportunities for their dreams.
This experience really got to us and broadened our thinking horizons, that lifting others can help you grow as a person and be more involved in society. No matter if it is volunteering or donating, these acts of good deeds will improve someone else’s life but also yours too. Our team in Breon strongly believes that we all deserve the same chance, and it depends on your interest; there are many volunteering options for you to get involved and make a difference in the world and society. It is beneficial on both sides, so why not join us and start making a difference?
We got the chance to talk with the employees responsible for the children’s care and support and asked them how we can help them more in the future. Because sometimes it’s not all about physical donations, like in this case, besides the financial means that surely helps them, the children also need constant care, guidance, and decent examples that will motivate them to become better people.
You and your team can easily follow our path and join the global Social Friday family. First, you need to find a charity or a movement that you want to join. There are endless options like cleaning up a local park or an area, preparing and donating food for those in need; if you are stuck with the idea, the Social Friday team will gladly help you. For the idea to stick and help you inspire others, you need to be involved for at least a year and organize a minimum of four events, once every quarter. You will be surprised about the benefits that will bring to your team and your personal development. Maximizing your generosity is easy; the more you give in support for others and the community, the more it helps you grow as a person. It’s a two-way street.
We believe that we made a difference that counts for the children in the Daycare Centre in Suto Orizari. Our Breon team discussed the future plans and opportunities of the center that have space for change and will make improvements in the children’s life. We also discussed how we could be more involved in their activities and encourage and inspire others to join in our mission to make a better future for these kids. We want to make better physical settlements for the children and get equal opportunities for them to succeed in life.
Get inspired by actions, get more involved in society, and join the Social Friday initiative!
Do you have in mind a local movement or a charity that you could partner with? If you still don’t, feel free to contact the Social Friday team and get started with the preparation. It is that easy!
Find your cause and feel the change you are creating. Join us on the next Social Friday Activity on March 25, 2022, and change the world for the better.
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