Unicef Tap Project: Leave your phones and save lives / Laissez vos téléphones et sauvez des vies

I don’t know about you guys but I really struggle to spend time without my phone. It’s not even because I’m always doing something important. I just have to touch it and see what’s going on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and who texted me on WhatsApp… This is probably a full time job to always be connected…well it is for some people. The only time I don’t use my phone is when I’m sleeping (although I probably use it in my dreams too) and when the battery is down. 

How is it possible that we can’t spend 5 minutes without our smartphones, while in other places people are struggling to have something that is more vital? Around the world, 663 million people don’t have access to clean water and you can help them. You can donate on the Unicef tap project website, even $15 can provide 1 year of clean water to someone. But since everyone doesn’t have the possibility to donate money, I am challenging you to donate your online time.

How does it work? It’s very simple. Use your phone to go on the website of Unicef Tap Project. Follow the instructions, and let your phone rest while you take a good time to sleep, read, eat, walk, talk face to face to a loved one or do anything else that does not include being on your phone. You’ll enjoy your life offline and for every 5 minutes the sponsors of the project will provide 1 day clean water to someone in need. The campaign ends in June 30, 2016.

Are you ready to take on this challenge? Post a screenshot of your phone with your results (yes you can go online after :)) with the hashtags #UnicefTapProject and #Ayelive so I can find your pictures. It’s even better if you post a picture of your phone with yourself or what you were doing offline. I am thinking about something to offer to my follower with the highest time off. Book, ice cream? Let me know anything that doesn’t cost more than $10 :p 

I am not sure about whether it works outside of US but if it doesn't and you know someone living here, please spread the word!

Laissez vos téléphones et sauvez des vies

Je ne sais pas pour vous mais j’ai du mal à passer du temps sans mon téléphone. Ce n’est même pas parce que j’ai toujours quelque chose d’important à faire avec. Je ressens tout le temps le besoin de le toucher pour savoir ce qui se passe sur Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat et qui m'a envoyé un texto sur WhatsApp ... C’est probablement un emploi à temps plein d’être toujours connecté ... en tout cas ça l’est réellement pour certains. Les seules fois où je n’utilise mon téléphone sont lorsque je dors (quoi que je l’utilise peut être dans mes rêves aussi) ou que ma batterie est à plat.

Comment se fait-il que nous ne pouvons pas passer 5 minutes sans nos smartphones, alors qu’en certains endroits les gens ont du mal à avoir quelque chose de bien plus vital ? 663 millions de personnes n’ont pas accès à l'eau potable et vous pouvez faire quelque chose pour les aider. Vous pouvez faire un don sur le site de Unicef; 15 $ peut fournir une année d’eau potable à quelqu'un. Mais puisque tout le monde n'a pas la possibilité de donner de l'argent, je vous mets au défi de faire don de votre temps en ligne.

Comment est-ce que ça marche? C'est très simple. Utilisez votre téléphone pour aller sur le site de l'UNICEF Tap Project. Suivez les instructions, et laisser votre téléphone se reposer pendant que vous prenez du bon temps pour dormir, lire, manger, marcher, parler face à face à un être cher ou faire autre chose qui n’inclut pas d'être sur votre téléphone. Vous apprécierez votre temps hors ligne et les sponsors du projet fourniront 1 jour d’eau potable à quelqu’un dans le besoin pour chaque 5 minutes que vous passez ailleurs. La campagne se termine le 30 Juin 2016.

Êtes-vous prêt à relever ce défi? Postez une capture d'écran de votre téléphone avec vos résultats (oui, vous pouvez aller en ligne après :)) avec les hashtags #UnicefTapProject et #Ayelive pour que je puisse retrouver vos photos. C’est encore mieux si vous postez une photo de vous avec vos résultats ou de ce que vous faisiez hors ligne. Je cherche encore ce que j’offrirai à celui qui aura passé plus de temps hors ligne. Livre, Crème glacée, accessoire? Dites-moi ce qui vous ferait plaisir et qui ne coûte pas plus de 10 $ :p

Je ne suis pas sure que l'application fonctionne en dehors des USA mais si ce n'est pas le cas et que vous connaissez quelqu'un ici, partagez l'info svp! 

Hope for slums: Small actions change lives.

http://oslantis.com/projects/hope-for-slums-3/

One of the things we forget to be thankful for is the blessing of living in a comfortable house. If you are reading this, there is a strong possibility that you have access to a decent house and many amenities that are not accessible to millions of people in the world. Last thursday was Thanksgiving and we were supposed to be thankful for every blessing in our lives. Were you thankful for not having to worry about poor living conditions?

In the world, 863 million people live in slums and this number is expected to rise to 2 billion by 2030. For those who are not common with slums, they are “heavily populated urban areas characterized by substandard housing and squalor.” People living in slums lack some of the basic needs to live decently and are exposed to diseases that can be avoided if we decide to act. We love complaining but we rarely think about a way to change things and improve other people’s lives. Sometimes we believe that we are not strong or powerful enough to make a difference. Well, we need to understand that small actions can make a difference.

One of my friend told me about her team project to solve one of the world’s biggest issues. One person can make a change but a village can have a bigger impact. Therefore, they are working to create a challenge that brings people together to improve the lives of slums inhabitants. Their objective is to gather on one hand people who want the problem to be solved and on the other one, people who have creative ideas that can help solving it. One of the things I like about their idea is that they are looking for projects that take into account the culture and social foundations of the slums communities. They want ideas that involve working with the people who will be affected by the change instead of imposing a pseudo solution that will not be useful to the communities. If you want to learn more about their project, be inspired and make a change, you can follow the blog Hope for slums and you also have the opportunity to make a donation for the crowdfunding here.

Will you be the one continuously complaining about not being able to make a big change or will you start with smaller actions to make a difference?

Links:
http://oslantis.com/projects/hope-for-slums-3/
http://claudiapfaffenlehn.wix.com/hopeforslums