The Story before the Antarctic(3): Challenges and pieces of advice

Challenges and pieces of advice:

The first challenge I had was to convince my family. For them it didn’t make any scene to go to a no man land with a group of strangers with a vague  mission to preserve the environment. In fact, they were more concerned about my safety and trusting the team.

They had to understand that my concern about the environment was not born in that moment only and it was there inside me since years. I only needed the right direction. Sometimes people don’t know what they are capable of doing and what they want to do until a very late age. It took me almost a week to get a very big green light and huge yes from my family. That week was one of the most difficult weeks in my life.  

Though I was excited and flying with happiness that I was accepted to go to the Antarctic, I was so scared and worried. I needed money to go. The required amount is not something that I can pay by my own especially that I have just become jobless and have no other sort of income. In addition, I have absolutely no idea about how to fundraise an expedition.

Thanks to 2041 team who was helpful and Robert Swan personally was following up my progress. They provided me with sample fundraising tips and pieces of advice. They even gave me suggestions to enhance my proposal. I also got a great support from the 2041 alumnus in Oman especially Bader Al Rahbi who was always giving me valuable advice.

Writing fundraising proposals was challenging and tricky. Though it was all about the expedition what I want out of it and why I think this particular organization should support me, I had to make it strong and up to the point. I had to be carful when choosing the right words that makes the point clear and grabs the reader’s attention.

For those who asked for my suggestions on how to fundraise their expedition, here are some:

1. -       Study the market and learn about big organizations and those who support social projects and initiatives.
2. -       Choose  the organizations that have plans and commitments towards their social responsibility.
3. -       Make a list of organizations with the names of social responsibility department heads and contact details.
4. -       Read about the organization you are targeting and match their common things with your mission.
5. -       Write from your heart and make it simple about why do you want to go to the Antarctic.
6. -       Your mission should be clear and your sentences shouldn’t be that long. Avoid losing the reader’s attention.
7. -       Talk about them (the organization you are targeting) and why they should support you.
8. -       Write about the things you could do in return for them if they support you. If you can propose a timeline that would be excellent though more challenging and requires more careful planning.
9. -       Make a list of sponsorship schemes to give them more freedom to choose  what kind of support they could go for.
10. -       Always leave a room for them to suggest something, but try to close it as soon as you can. You don’t have time to argue as if you were in a big business deal though this might sound a little business.
11. -       Call first, speak to the CSR manager and ask for a meeting to give more details and have a discussion. There is no harm of sending the proposal after the call if the person showed interest. If the person was reluctant and ignorant, speak to someone else in the organization.
12. -       If there is no CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)department, then target the marketing or the corporate dept. Be aware that sometimes another department might be able to help.
13. -       Don’t send your proposal to the ignorant people.
14. -       Don’t send your proposal to those who say it from the beginning that they don’t have budget unless you demand some other kind of support from them.
15. -       Be nice to those who reject your request and respond gently to regrets. At least they were kind enough to read your proposal and write back to you. Remember that not everyone can support even if they want to. On the other hand there are those who could support but they don’t want to.
16. -       Don’t over promise and don’t underestimate. Value your word.
17. -       If you were invited to a meeting and the person was late and then he didn’t apologize for that, take it as a sign for a No or a bad treatment. Yet, that may not be the case  so keep a little hope.
18. -       Never ever listen to someone asking you to stop communicating with their competitors if they only gave you a verbal promise to support. Once you get it in written and if you were convinced, do what they say.
19. -       Be on time if not before time for your meetings and appointments. Take it seriously and dress well, prepare well and speak well.
20. -       Some people will try to let you down. Don’t give them the opportunity to enjoy it and prove them wrong. You have such a great mission that deserves all your self-confidence and humbleness to be put all together.
21. -       Check your emails more than once a day. But reply only when ready.
22. -       Bare all the stress. You know it from the beginning that it may not be easy at all.
23. -       Always go back to those who can support you with positive energy. Never ever talk to those who would let you down. Believe me, in this stage you will know your true friends and you will know the rest when you come back from the Antarctic.
24. -       Let go all the negative thoughts. The 2041 team is there to support, so always consult them.
25. -       There are those organizations that would ask you to do things that are not part of your mission or don’t relate to you r personality and don’t match with you. Don’t close the door from the beginning and give them your suggestions. If you failed to reach a compromised solution, say thank you and then go away. Never ever give up on your values and standards.
26. -       Be committed and deliver your promises.
27. -       Show appreciation and respect because those who believe in you and support you do really deserve it.
28. -       Open a separate bank account for the funds you receive and be aware of your expenditures. It is good to keep track of them.
29. -       No matter how many organizations you approached. It does matter who supports you.
30. -       If you are doing this for the first time, congratulations. This is one of your achievements already regardless to its results.

For me, fundraising was more challenging than the expedition itself. It was also one of the few things that made me feel special after seeing those many people who made it to the Antarctic without going through this stage.

Look at Shinaz who has been to the Antarctic without having all his expenses covered by sponsors. So, he had loans to pay back after the expedition. It was his great desire to make it happen and he did it. There is also Caroline who spent five years till she made it finally this year to the Antarctic.

Look at me, unemployed but I made it.

Good luck to you all.