The Big Issue Australia doesn’t stand alone in creating opportunities for homeless and marginalised people through its Street Magazine Enterprise. There are 100 Street Papers around the world fighting to end poverty creating the largest social enterprise in the world. The Big Issue proudly hosted the annual International Network of Street Papers (INSP) Conference in Melbourne this month.
The Conference spanned over four days banding together 54 delegates including directors, editors and social development managers from 30 nations. The Conference provided an opportunity for members to receive advice, training, consultancy and benefit from sharing resources, experience and mentoring.
On Day 1 the delegates had opted in for a five-session day which outlined the hows and whys of street paper production. Hailing from such diverse nations as the Czech Republic, the Philippines, Kenya, South Africa, North America, and France, the Street Papers are of various ages and circulations which inspired riveting and insightful contributions.
An impassioned speed networking session started Day 2 of the 2010 INSP conference, with delegates holding five-minute discussions that set the room buzzing. From there the delegates participated in discussions on one of four topics including: Social Development and Vendor Services, Editorial Development, Strategic Partnerships and Fundraising and Business Development, Finance, and Advertising.
Day 3 saw delegates attending a new set of workshops and in the afternoon they visited the Community Street Soccer Program in North Melbourne. Some delegates played alongside Street Soccer players in a round-robin Street Soccer competition while others cheered from the side-lines. The matches jogged memories for many delegates of the Homeless World Cup as some Street Papers also send teams along each year.
The final day of the Conference saw captivating workshop sessions and round-table discussions about “thinking big” and “going global”. A Gala Dinner concluded the four day event giving delegates an opportunity to reflect on the week and share visions for the future with some that would be considered friends for life. Below are several overheard comments from the international suite of delegates:
‘The Big Issue Australia have been smashing.’ — Hildegard Denninger
‘Vendors love their clients and their clients love the vendors.’ — Richard Turgeon
‘My experience is that the people on the ground…they want to change.’ — Richard Fleming
‘Vendors are my heroes.’ — Gretchen R. Crowe
0 comments:
Post a Comment