Passion Projects
Passion projects are personal initiatives undertaken to address a specific local or global issue. They play a vital role in personal and community development, allowing Inspire volunteers to contribute meaningfully to causes they care about and be catalysts and inspirations for positive change.
After the field visit, each volunteer will be required to do a passion project of their choice. We want to see you take what you learned abroad working with vulnerable communities and use that as inspiration for your passion project.
Passion projects can be…
- Starting community impact projects to empower future changemakers
- Organizing a soccer tournament to raise funds for a cause of your choice
- Collaborating with your local community to support the unhoused community
- Organizing conferences to present learnings
- Building Homes/Wells for those in need abroad
- And more!
What you can expect
Choose a social issue or cause that you are deeply passionate about. List a minimum of 3-5 issues/causes you are passionate about, and ask yourself why these matter to you. What specific component of each issue would you want to contribute towards?
Your enthusiasm and commitment will drive the success of your project.
Clearly articulate the purpose and goals of your project. What specific change or impact do you hope to achieve? Your objective should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Conduct thorough research to gain a deep understanding of the social issue you are addressing. Identify key stakeholders, existing initiatives, challenges, and potential solutions.
A needs assessment for a community project addressing a social cause involves understanding what the community lacks to tackle the issue effectively. You gather information by asking questions, talking to community members, and studying existing resources and data. This helps identify the most pressing needs and informs the project's goals and strategies.
Outline the steps and timeline for implementing your project. Break down tasks into manageable segments and assign responsibilities if you are working with a team.
Utilize the SMART framework to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for your project. The Inspire team will provide resources and a guidebook to help you with this step!
Identify the resources you need to execute your project, such as funding, materials, volunteers, or partnerships. Explore various avenues for obtaining support, including crowdfunding, grants, or in-kind donations.
Execute your project plan according to the timeline and milestones you have established. Stay flexible and adaptable, making adjustments based on feedback and unforeseen challenges as needed.
Assess your project's progress regularly against your SMART goals. Track metrics, gather feedback, and reflect on what works well and what can be improved.
Document the outcomes and impact of your project through photos, videos, testimonials, and data. Share your achievements with stakeholders, donors, and the broader community to inspire others and attract support for similar initiatives.
After completing your project, take time to reflect on lessons learned and areas for improvement. Use this insight to refine your approach for future projects or iterations.
“There was a young girl by the name of Hifsa who was sensory challenged. Her mother said that she never smiled and she never engaged with anyone. During a game, I had her co-lead with me, and she was jumping, laughing, and just enjoying the moment. I later learned that her mother said that she was a different person, a happy and engaging child, after the camp. This showed me that our job as volunteers was accomplished: we had inspired her.”
“Being able to speak with the local communities, especially as an overseas Pakistani myself, allowed me to connect more with my own culture and made me feel more at home and comfortable with my identity. I have learned so much about Pakistani culture by seeing the way children and locals interact with one another, and I have learned so much about conflict and problem-solving through the various activities within the programming.”
“Many people already know the struggles that many families in Pakistan experience. But seeing things firsthand is something that we are not able to see all the time in Canada. Being a change-maker was one of my greatest experiences. Insha’Allah I will be able to continue to be a change-maker and help make a difference in our community moving forward.”