austraLasia #1797
Virtual volunteers - get ready for it!
SALESIAN CYBERSPACE: 29th March 2007 -- Whether or not the act of volunteering is in itself virtuous is up to the philosophers or theologians to work out. Given that it is closely related to generosity, it must at least be a candidate for consideration. But one thing is now certain - the idea of a 'virtual volunteer' is a growing concept in Salesian circles. Herewith two examples.
The first comes from www.sdb.org! If you take a look at the right hand side column on the home page of the Congregation's web page, you will see 'Preferences'. This is a 'mouseover' line that drops down a list of various items, the first of which says 'translations'. Feel free to take a look. Those who enter in Italian, Spanish, French or Portuguese see the same item in their own language. You can only get so far along the process, until registered as a translator, but you will have noticed by this stage the invitation to register, if you fee you can handle a particular language pair. Those who have volunteered so far are indeed virtual volunteers and much appreciated. The process enables the web site to update its sections with greater ease - there are checks and balances to keep the translation style even, but one thing has already become apparent after a month of trialling the process - many hands make light, and faster work!
The second comes from Cambodia and the newly opened Don Bosco Hotel School. Be a 'virtual guest'! But the idea goes a little further than this, to their benefit, naturally. It is still in 'beta', so to speak, but the school is thinking of young people around the world who for various reasons may not be in a position to pull up stumps and move across to Cambodia, but who still believe they have something to give. Fr Al Rodas and his communications team in Sihanoukville are gradually working up the idea - they believe there are many things a virtual volunteer can offer. We could start with translations. They want the items on their new 'hotel' site (and it is a real hotel offering real, physical accommodation and tourist service) in a range of languages. They are looking for designs for their graphics materials (the school teaches more than hospitality); supporting projects and making them known in their own country.
If Cambodia's foray into virtual volunteerism is as successful as the first example is proving to be, then we may see more of such volunteering.
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GLOSSARY
pull up stumps: a cricketing term. Means effectively to walk off the field (the act of pulling up the wickets or stumps signals the end of the game) but is used also in the sense of moving rather permanently from one place to another.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http:sdl.sdb.org. To contact austraLasia by voice on Skype, the Skype name is austraLasia.
Virtual volunteers - get ready for it!
SALESIAN CYBERSPACE: 29th March 2007 -- Whether or not the act of volunteering is in itself virtuous is up to the philosophers or theologians to work out. Given that it is closely related to generosity, it must at least be a candidate for consideration. But one thing is now certain - the idea of a 'virtual volunteer' is a growing concept in Salesian circles. Herewith two examples.
The first comes from www.sdb.org! If you take a look at the right hand side column on the home page of the Congregation's web page, you will see 'Preferences'. This is a 'mouseover' line that drops down a list of various items, the first of which says 'translations'. Feel free to take a look. Those who enter in Italian, Spanish, French or Portuguese see the same item in their own language. You can only get so far along the process, until registered as a translator, but you will have noticed by this stage the invitation to register, if you fee you can handle a particular language pair. Those who have volunteered so far are indeed virtual volunteers and much appreciated. The process enables the web site to update its sections with greater ease - there are checks and balances to keep the translation style even, but one thing has already become apparent after a month of trialling the process - many hands make light, and faster work!
The second comes from Cambodia and the newly opened Don Bosco Hotel School. Be a 'virtual guest'! But the idea goes a little further than this, to their benefit, naturally. It is still in 'beta', so to speak, but the school is thinking of young people around the world who for various reasons may not be in a position to pull up stumps and move across to Cambodia, but who still believe they have something to give. Fr Al Rodas and his communications team in Sihanoukville are gradually working up the idea - they believe there are many things a virtual volunteer can offer. We could start with translations. They want the items on their new 'hotel' site (and it is a real hotel offering real, physical accommodation and tourist service) in a range of languages. They are looking for designs for their graphics materials (the school teaches more than hospitality); supporting projects and making them known in their own country.
If Cambodia's foray into virtual volunteerism is as successful as the first example is proving to be, then we may see more of such volunteering.
Click here to comment on this item.
GLOSSARY
pull up stumps: a cricketing term. Means effectively to walk off the field (the act of pulling up the wickets or stumps signals the end of the game) but is used also in the sense of moving rather permanently from one place to another.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http:sdl.sdb.org. To contact austraLasia by voice on Skype, the Skype name is austraLasia.
