So much to do, so few resources

Have you ever watched the various shows on television where contestants are asked what would they do to make a difference and they say, become a volunteer for one effort or another? How come they are rarely seen by the actual organizations? If you've ever been a part of any activity requiring charity effort, you'll notice that the bulk of the work is done by just a few people. 

When we asked why this is so, here are a few responses which came out:

• We didn't hear anything further from the organization after we signed up
• We didn't know who to make contact with to know what's next
• No one asked for help, so we didn't know what was required
• and the list goes on.

When we developed The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados [The Cffb], we decided that we wanted to be different, offering training, developing sub-groups to handle various aspects based on the skill set of the individuals who volunteered. We made it easy for volunteers to access information in their own time by having shared files, email, online groups and even online meetings. 

We are thankful to find out that though others may complain that their volunteers don't read, we have found some volunteers who seem to understand what volunteering is about. They are willing to be:

• methodical
• accountable
• responsible 
• they deliver 

They recognize that through their volunteering effort they can expose themselves to the following:

• networking relationships
• job opportunities 
• work experience
• enhancement of skills - administration, fund-raising, logistics, planning (events and activities) 
• social skills - inclusive of public speaking and protocol

Where do we go from here?

We are setting standards to the be premier charity when it comes to being organized and well coordinated. This is by no means an easy task but it is necessary. We want to be the benchmark of quality for charitable organizations not only in Barbados but the rest of the Caribbean region. Our processes will be well documented, so that succession planning is easy and the continuity of the organization to our cause is safeguarded. 

In short, we are The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados. We help those families affected by CF to cope with the challenges of finding information, sources medical care, and financing. We are committed to functioning with excellence.