The Project‍

The project aimed to improve the Trust’s digital outreach by creating visually appealing social media posters. This would help raise awareness and support for the Trust’s mission. The project provided the Trust’s staff with the skills needed to design impactful visual content.

“We have been dedicated to working in rural areas for the past 27 years, striving to uplift and empower local communities. To further enhance our impact, we aim to improve and update the knowledge and skills of our team members through this training program.”, says R. Kamala Kannan

The primary objective of this initiative was to improve the Trust’s ability to communicate its mission, programs, and achievements through engaging and informative social media posts. By developing visually appealing and message-driven posters, the Trust aimed to reach a wider audience, increase community engagement, and attract potential donors and volunteers.

The Journey

The project started with planning, where the NGO’s needs and goals were identified. Volunteers Sivaprasad Raghupathy and James Varghese Francis designed a training program tailored to the Trust’s requirements.

“The training, which lasted for three months, included both practical and theoretical classes conducted step by step.” - R. Kamala Kannan

Over a period of three months, the volunteers conducted weekly training sessions, combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises. These sessions covered essential design principles, the use of free online design tools, and effective strategies for creating eye-catching and informative posters tailored for social media platforms. 

The training was conducted in the local language, ensuring maximum comprehension and active participation from the Trust’s staff. The collaborative spirit between the volunteers and the NGO fostered a learning environment that was both supportive and innovative.

The Challenges Faced

Despite the overall success, the project was not without its challenges. One of the primary obstacles was the limited access to premium design software, which could have restricted the quality and creativity of the posters. However, the team overcame this hurdle by utilizing free online design tools.

Another challenge was ensuring the participants’ consistent engagement and understanding of the training material. To address this, the volunteers made use of various teaching methods, including PowerPoint presentations and hands-on exercises.

Additionally, the need to coordinate schedules between the busy volunteers and the NGO staff required flexibility and effective communication to maintain the momentum of the project.

“Despite these hurdles, everyone who attended the sessions was a quick learner and adapted easily.”, says James Varghese Francis.

The Result

The project concluded with notable achievements and clear results. The staff at St. Thomas Charitable and Educational Trust, equipped with new skills, created over 20 unique posters for various training activities. These posters greatly improved the Trust's digital presence, allowing it to share its mission, programs, and successes more effectively with a broader audience. This project has made the NGO self-sufficient in fulfilling their requirements in terms of creating social media impact which will help them in the long way without depending for technical assistance. This demonstrated the value of strategic volunteer partnerships.

However, the true success of the project extended beyond these achievements. The relationship that formed between the volunteers and the trust staff is the key takeaway of the project. 

A memorable moment occurred when Sivaprasad shared his exciting news about his upcoming wedding. He asked the NGO staff to create an e-invitation and invited them to his wedding, showcasing the strong personal connections formed during the project. To continue this association, Sivaprasad and James have applied to another project with St. Thomas for the upcoming PE20 edition.