Author: Dimitrije Djuric

Job interview simulation “Original talks” organized by the Novak Djokovic Foundation and the Original magazine, with nearly 200 attendees and special guests, was held last month, for the first time in Belgrade. On this occasion, more than 100 young job seekers enjoyed the opportunity to master their job interviews through simulated conversations with HR managers from 20 leading companies in Serbia and the region and pursue careers they were interested in. The goal of this project was to connect young people with HR managers and to inform them first-hand about all the details and steps relevant to the application, recruitment, selection and hiring process.

Furthermore, the event offered participants a realistic interview experience, and the chance to join CV database of some of the largest and most respected companies in Serbia.  In addition, after 40-minute process of simulated interviews, the job candidates received HR evaluation of their performance, along with a personalized feedback. It included specific recommendations to help them improve their communication and presentation skills in front of their future employers.

Jelena and Novak Djokovic welcomed the participants and made a great introduction to the Original talks. Their opening speech was full of great advices for those curious minds and open hearts. Once again both of them showed that they are always on a mission to help young people reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.

Some of their key messages were to go out there and try, because by trying you are one step closer to succeeding.

Be positive and put smile on your face. Be brave and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Emotional intelligence needs to be trained just like mental, physical and spiritual. It will make a difference when you are in the moments of pressure. Learn from mistakes, they are all lessons. Help others! Be authentic, don’t pretend. Be grateful for everything you have. Bring passion to everything you do. BELIEVE! – said director of the Original magazine Jelena Djokovic.

Jelena also mentioned that “the magazine brings powerful and inspiring stories of people discovering and living their dreams with the aim to encourage people to become better versions of themselves”.

Young people were motivated by her speech. They heard how people should focus more on their education and skills and try to be more creative and innovative if they want to succeed while applying for a job, rather than stick to general requirements such as “be a team player” and “ability to work under pressure and handle stressful situations”.

Our magazine and this project seek to promote among young people. I remember how stressful was to prepare for a job interview and come out as the best version of yourself in front of a recruiter. I’ve seen how nervous we can be in those situations. Therefore, we have designed Original talks to support young job seekers, enabling them to test their skills and get useful tips and guidelines how to write a CV and cover letter, as well as how to properly prepare for a job interview.  It’s great that so many people are interested to participate in our HR simulation. This proves that we made a good decision with the project, and therefore we will continue to host similar events in the future, said Jelena Djokovic.

The most successful Serbian athlete, Novak Djokovic, also addressed the audience, highlighting the key elements of his personal and professional accomplishments – his character – that won admiration and respect of people worldwide.

Fail, fail, fail, but keep on coming back stronger. Eventually, that’s what’s going to help you succeed, regardless of your profession or career.  You can’t expect others to make a step forward for you. You have to make an effort on your own. The ability may get you to top, but it takes the character to keep you there. That is why you need to keep developing your character because at the end of the day you will be alone with yourself, and with the feeling that you have deep inside. Being aware that we should improve ourselves whenever we can is crucial in order to achieve our goals, explained Novak Djokovic.

After interesting panel discussions featuring distinguished speakers like Dragan Loncar, professor at the Faculty of Economics, Branko Milutinovic, co-founder and CEO at Nordeus, Jovan Stojanovic, Managing Director at Direct Media Serbia, Zoja Kukic, author and editor at Startit, Robert Coban, CEO at Color Press Group, Dusan Basalo, Senior Partner at Atria Group SEE, Olja Secerov, HR manager at Infostud, and Jovana Andjelic, Talent Acquisition Manager for Eastern Europe at Sitel, job interview simulations started.

Toeing the fine line between stress and excitement can be tough, but staying on the proactive side is crucial to job search success. HR simulation participants knew this, while they waited for their turn to enter the conference hall and talk to more than 20 HR managers from top local and foreign companies: Direct Media, Sitel, Poslovi Infostud, Crowne Plaza Beograd, Adecco Srbija, Atria Group SEE, Delta Holding, Ernst&Young, GI Group, Hemofarm AD, IBWS, KPMG, Manpower Group, NCR, Nelt, Nordeus, Societe Generale Bank, Unicef, and Victoria Group.

One of the first candidates was Jelena Peric. She holds a B.S. in Medical Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Pharmacy. She gladly shared her impressions about the simulation.  She went through several job interviews before and decided to attend the Original talks to improve her presentation skills.

I’m more than satisfied with the results of my simulated interview. This event offers unmatched learning experience for all of us directly with the company where I would like to work, she said.

A final year student of spatial planning at the Faculty of Geography Marijana Milivojevic applied to HR simulation because she wanted to understand better the entire hiring process.

I’ve already had the opportunity to get to know HR managers by participating some recruiting events. They seemed really nice and I have no fear of job interviews in this respect. Morning panel discussions were amazing. I will try to remember and apply everything I learned here, including my formal and informal education, to a job interview environment. Now I feel ready to pursue my dream career.

Ratko Balic graduated with a chemistry degree from the University of Belgrade and completed US master’s degree program. Due to successful job interviews, he worked for several companies. Today he is again a job seeker.

My job interviews so far went well. Some HR managers wanted job candidates to show a high level of professionalism, while others cared also about things like physical appearance. During my last interview they told me I look much younger than my age, so they didn’t hire me even though I had all necessary qualifications for the applied job position. However, I had positive experiences. I got the job in a company immediately after the first interview, and I started working after two days, said Ratko.

Success doesn’t happen overnight. Dragan Loncar, a professor at the Faculty of Economics, tried to explain this to the young people at the HR simulation.

It takes time, hard work, learning from failures and persistence to become successful.  You have to maintain a fine balance between modesty, self-criticism and healthy ambition. Free yourself from vanity, self-centeredness and thinking you are better than others. Success is not measured by the heights one reaches in life, but by the obstacles one overcomes while trying to succeed.

A Student’s Point of View – Don’t wait for the change to happen. Be the change.

Author: Tara Cvetkovic

What happens to people who many times tried and each time failed to make a difference in their lives? Perhaps at some point they will stop trying due to the lack of support, self-confidence or value system in their country. How to encourage them to believe in themselves again and think like winners when they face the inevitable setbacks and disappointments?

Is success reserved only for special ones, or can it be ours as well? Believing in ourselves sets the foundation for our journey on the road to success. Therefore, what should be done to help young people in Serbia keep believing in their dreams and abilities? And to bring back hope to those who already lost it? We need more good news in the media, for the start. There are so many positive examples out there to inspire, empower and guide us through life, so why don’t we hear more about these stories?

Public opinion survey reveals that people are more concentrated on bad news and the media reacts accordingly. The dilemma is do we have to question this research or blame those responsible for the creation of this negative trend.

Who gains from constantly broadcasting and publishing bad things happening in our society, and when will the officials act and end this “bad news” trend?

We should also wonder is it ok to wait for others to change our world for the better, or choose to be the change, support initiatives started to help those in need, and join people willing to find more solutions to our common problems.

Will we just wait for something to happen? Wait to see that situation in the country is changed, wait to welcome completely different circumstances. The easiest thing to do is quit and give up when things are hard. In Serbia people can find million of reasons, legitimate or not, to stay inactive. However, those who decide to say no to excuses and fight against difficulties are the successful ones.

Success isn’t reserved only for the rich and powerful but it is attainable for all people who work hard, follow their dreams and see each failure as a building block to their ultimate success, because of the learning it provides. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.

The post Original Talks – Simulated Job Interviews for Young Job Seekers Who Always Want to Learn More appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Although she is passionate about her many business ventures, she insists that the greatest love of her life is family: her baby boy Stefan, husband Novak Djokovic, and her philanthropic work through the Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Jelena Ristic is no stranger to the tennis fans worldwide. The wife of the world  tennis No.1 met her soulmate during her time in Sports high school in Belgrade.  As both her and Novak are respectful of the professional ambitions of each other, Jelena was able to excel in a career on her own. She moved to Milan in 2005 to pursue a degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University and then went on to study in Monte Carlo where she earned a Master’s Degree in Luxury Management.  The couple married on the coastline of Montenegro in July 2014 and later that year they welcomed their first baby boy  Stefan.

I have many fond memories of my years in Italy. I learned to be independent, courageous, and bold but also to live away from home. I lived in a dormitory, with many students from all over the world. It was a very competitive and high paced environment in which each one of us pushed each other to be progressive and to constantly improve. It was a great experience. I know that at that age, there is a fear of facing a new world, but I knew the importance of enjoying myself by living in the moment. Sometimes we forget that the momenta are all we really have. No one truly knows what will happen next, we only know what is happening now, said Jelena Djokovic exclusively for Alley Oop.  

1) How did the idea of the Novak Djokovic Foundation come about?

Novak always wanted to help others as much as he could because he strongly believes in the power of giving back. He had that luck (or the misfortune) to experience opposite walks of life. Therefore, he never takes anything for granted. In 2007, with the help of his parents, he founded the Novak Fund to help underserved communities in Serbia through various initiatives. Although his early work was reaching many people, it wasn’t making a lasting impact. So in 2012, we made decision together to focus solely on children 3-6 and invest in early childhood education and the Novak Djokovic Foundation, as we all know it, was born. We chose to address an issue that not many NGOs focus on because it takes many years to see the tangible results. Nevertheless, our upbringing keeps steadfast on our mission as we strongly believe that with the right care, support, and education, any child can become a winner regardless of the chosen discipline. And that is why, even when instant gratification is not an option, we always insist on investing in Early Childhood Education (ECE).

2) How does the foundation work?

The Novak Djokovic Foundation is a global organization, with offices in Serbia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Our focus in on early childhood education (ECE) and early childhood development (ECD).

Our engagement with the wider world can be divided into two parts:

• On one hand, we have a global advocacy function whereby the Foundation aims to motivate and encourage policymakers across international borders to provide appropriate financial support for ECE/ECD – we do this via multiple channels, including Novak’s role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

• On the other hand, we have projects on the ground. Our frontline projects are mainly in Serbia, but we have also supported work in Bosnia, Croatia, Australia and the United States. The two key components of our project are concerned with the establishment of new preschools and providing teacher training.

3) What is your role within the foundation?

I am the Global Ambassador of the Foundation, and I also sit on the Board of Directors. I work very closely with the management team of the Foundation.  I like to think that I strike a healthy balance between many family and professional activities.

4) “Believe in Their Dreams”: what is the primary dream of children that you would like to make come true?

Every child’s dream is a dream worthy of coming true. One child’s dream might be to become the best tennis player in the world. For Novak, that dream was fulfilled only because he had a proper upbringing, the right care, love and support from very early on. Not all children are that lucky. By investing in early childhood education and development programs, our goal is to level the playing field. With the right investments all children will have what is necessary to dream big and to win big.

5) Which of the projects already carried out by the Foundation are you most proud of?

I am proud of all our projects because they all try to tackle the root of the problem. For example, through our project Schools of Life, we are establishing pre-schools in underserved areas of Serbia. By establishing pre-schools, we are also employing and training teachers and giving children from poor areas access to high quality care and early childhood education programs. In our project, Family Outreach Worker, we are trying to change the system at place by piloting a program that strives to stop placement of children under 3 years into orphanages. This program will soon become a part of the Republic of Serbia’s social services. Another program we are implementing in Serbia is teaching children how to deal with emotions. This program is still in its pilot phase, but if successful in showing the benefits for child’s overall health, it will become part of the educational system of Serbia.

6) And what future project do you care about the most?

I’m very focused on helping young Serbs reach their full potential. I know how the media can influence their mood and their attitude towards life and its opportunities. There are not many stories that can inspire and motivate them. They read about the economic crisis, wars, scandals, stars of reality TV, and many other material ways of describing the success. To combat this trend, last September we launched a magazine, “The Original”, in which we tell stories of great inspirational leaders from around the world – including Serbia. We had Anna Wintour, Richard Branson, Kevin Systrom, Boris Becker, John Galliano, Arianna Huffington, Karli Kloss and many others who spoke of the true value of success. So we try to help the young people to take control of their lives and find their formula of success by following the right values. It is a wonderful trip and we already had a lot of positive feedback. It is a kind of like an alarm clock. We must invest now to make the most effective leaders of the future.

Copyright: Igor Sljivancanin

7) How much money has been allocated by the Foundation to carry out its projects so far? And in the future?

The Foundation has spent circa 1.8 million euros for the projects in Serbia in period 2012-2015 (2015 still pending audit). As we understand the importance of allocating funds that will support the work of the Foundation long after Novak retires from the tennis, we have started building an endowment to support our steady growth for the years to come. Our goal is to grow and reach as many children, not just in Serbia, but worldwide, and help them reach their full potential.

8) Is it possible to become a partner of the Foundation? And if yes, how?

The Foundation is always very keen to hear from individuals and organizations who wish to explore collaboration in some form. We have worked closely with Banca Intesa, PwC, the World Bank, UNICEF, to name a few.  We look at partnerships as something that deserve special attention. Consequently, we believe that every collaboration with others is unique and reflects the value that both parties bring to the table. For example, I am proud to say that we will have a Gala dinner in Milan on September 20th. This will be an opportunity for groups to support our mission and get to know our work more closely.

9) What’s Novak’s commitment in the Foundation?

Novak is the Founder of the Foundation, and sits on the Board of Directors. His passion to help children get the support, care, and education they need to thrive, always leaves me in awe. With the amount of obligations he has on and off the tennis court, I am always amazed at how much time he still manages to dedicate to the Foundation. For example, he is always trying to use his image in the right way and be the advocate for ECE around the world. To raise awareness of various ECE programs, he tries to regularly make public appearances at preschools around the world – most recently in Melbourne right after he won the Australian Open for the 6th time, and in Miami in the middle of his participation in that tournament.

Source: Alley Oop

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In 2007 Novak Djokovic founded the Novak Djokovic Foundation which has been achieving great things ever since, helping the  youngest get the access to preschool education.

For Novak, early childhood education and development  has  always been the most important field into which he felt the need to invest. In his eyes, a child who receives a quality early childhood education has  a chance to return strongly to any challenge and to become a winner in any field.

Speaking of his childhood and his success, he always stressed that he owes everything to  his family. Because of their belief in him, their trust, love and support, and all the hard work they invested in him, he made his biggest dream come true – he became the world number 1 in tennis.

I want to help other kids as well to learn from my example that many things are possible if we only believe in ourselves and work hard to fulfil our dreams. While I’m still young and have a lot of people’s attention, I want to start building my philanthropic legacy. I want to share the focus that is on me with the work my foundation does and help as many kids in Serbia as possible. Through education, they too can be part of our collective effort to decrease poverty and social exclusion.

Novak Djokovic at the Third “Friendship Games” on Zlatibor, October 2015

Novak shared one of the experiences in his philanthropic work that touched him and moved him to put even more efforts into making preschool education available for as many kids as possible:

I met Erhan in one of the kindergartens built by Novak Djokovic Foundation. It was his first week ever in a preschool. He was sitting in a corner playing. He was alone there and I came up to him. I asked him what his favourite book was. He just looked at me. I asked again and then he said: “What is a book?”

As much as this experience startled me it made me more determined to help children have access to the benefits of Early Childhood Development regardless of the social and economic status of their parents.

But it is not only about building kindergartens.  

We should make sure that every child, particularly those coming from poor families, get access to quality education early in their lives.

We should make sure that every teacher is well-trained to give them good education.

We want to reach these goals in Serbia and beyond, working together with the World Bank.

This August, Novak Djokovic Foundation and the World Bank partnered up with a goal to promote Early Childhood Development in Serbia and abroad. The joint “Early Wins for Lifelong Returns” initiative combines the Bank’s deep knowledge and programs on early childhood development with the power of Novak Djokovic’s commitment to bring sustained attention to the social and economic benefits of early childhood development (ECD) programs for children around the world. In Serbia, the World Bank – Novak Djokovic Foundation initiative will work together with the Serbian government to level the playing field for young children from poor and disadvantaged families.

Novak Djokovic with kids during Friendship Games, Oct 2015

Currently, less than half of children in Serbia, aged 3-5 years old, go to preschool. This number is even more startling in the rural areas, and in the poorest households (only 9% of children attend preschool), and informal Roma settlements (only 5.6% of children attend preschool).  Addressing this problem has far-reaching consequences for breaking the cycle of poverty and enhancing Serbia’s long-term competitiveness and labor productivity.

Every child has a right to a dream. In every life, this dream can be different. To be a doctor, to be an engineer, or maybe to be a tennis player. But to make a dream come true, a child needs support from early years. My life tells the story that if you have the support you need as a young child you can achieve your dream.

Fulfilling dreams starts with Early Childhood Development and that is why it is so important. Early Childhood Education is the beginning for the lifelong learning which helps us acquire skills to be good doctors, excellent engineers, or world number one tennis players.

Working together, the World Bank and Novak Djokovic Foundation aim to give every child an opportunity to make dreams come true.

See the video in which our Founder shares his views on the importance of investing into Early Childhood Education:

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When exploring the lives of a plethora of active philanthropists cultivating their own feudal footprints on stark regions in the world, some lackluster profiles, including overly worn political and corporate career outfits, can trap once eager readers into sleeping spells. However, to rekindle the personal bond we should express for these Apostles of social good and transformation, a more colorful tale would be rare to come by than that of World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Emigrating from the Land of the Morning Sun to the Stars and Stripes at age 5, orchestrating a duet high school athletic career as quarterback and point guard, and striking an academic foray after emerging from Harvard University as a medical doctorate. Excelling in polar arenas of talent, from the physical to mental, Kim remarkably emanates a versatile character that foretells his aptitude for moderating issues as diverse as his personal narrative. For the curious and tireless soul paralyzed at a point of inflection of how to steer their own lives, Jim Yong Kim’s outgoing spirit testifies how timeless and recognized impact on society is forged from personal devotion and dedication. While Kim manifested this ethos through his intellectual and physical pursuit during his years of studies, he wholeheartedly disseminated this principle through his sprawling NGO campaigns against public health degradation and virulent disease epidemics.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim:

What are you willing to do to create social good?

After achieving alma mater from Harvard’s medical program, the adroit laureate deferred all hesitation from plunging into a resource and time intensive scheme to pioneer efficient treatment of tuberculosis in Honduras, and soon after Panama, through Partners in Health. The knowledge and medical expertise starved health commission in Honduras into beckoning for a metamorphosis to resuscitate it with a fresh supply of nectar. For a time, a scarcity of trained health staff and volunteers, coupled with archaic healing and diagnostic practices, muted any possibility for the delicate conditions of patients bearing latent and active tuberculosis cases. Kim’s maverick thinking ushered reforms to unravel the web clouding the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation processes, and planted a pristine set of procedures to soothe the agitating contagion. With avian agility, PIH mustered the manpower and innovations as on site diagnosis apparatuses to dissolute medicals expenditures by nearly tenfold and increase its patient base to 100,000. Duplicating the promising campaign in Panama, Kim helped weave a chrysalis in Central America, incubating the long needed changes to reach thousands of people with debilitating ailments.

After his retirement from PIH during the early 2000’s, the World Health Organization made no deliberation to commission Kim to encourage a Hyang Yuk mentality to undermine HIV/AIDS proliferation in Pan-Africa. With a grand vision to reach out to 3 million people by mid-decade, WHO’s conviction to ameliorate the medical and social implications of poor palliative care in disparate communities awarded over 7 million natives by 2012 with medical attention. Kim Yong Jim’s invocation of the Hippocratic Oath has inspired solidarity among many and not to fear towering obstacles, but tackle them resolutely.

When Kim finally left the WHO and after his Sabbath as President of Dartmouth College, Kim boldly elicited the same values with which he maneuvered his initiatives in PIH and WHO to the World Bank to sanction collective action against erratic epidemics worldwide. Kim is the type of social pioneer who does not retrench from some of the most pervasive issue of our time. His wager against Ebola’s invasion in West Africa and in the hearts of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia reminds me of the difference I or any individual could personally make in the lives of millions. It only takes a unanimous and stolid determination and belief that we can tackle the most taxing inhibitions that stand between whole populations and better mental and physical conditions. After having already committed close to $1 billion to support economic development and growth schemes in the targeted states, the Bank has injected another $300 million to staving off and quarantining Ebola cases.

Jim Yong Kim’s inauguration to guiding international institutions with the most comprehensive collaboration projects in the world, echoes his long-followed mantra of being outgoing and making the most of the mind and knowledge given to us. This way of living the life is what will make a lasting impression on not only isolated parts of the world, that we might take for granted, but also in our personal lives. Embracing an attitude towards making the most of every opportunity will rejuvenate the meaning of charity efforts worldwide towards fostering a cohesive global community.

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From the historical business shoguns John D. Rockefeller to Carnegie Mellon, the upper aristocratic spread carry an infamous reputation for seeking personal gains and rapacity. The bourgeoisie sometimes unfairly associate a person’s net wealth with the degree of disregard they have for societal groups with lower tier status  Yet, to a large extent this perception can be skewed. The quintessential investing guru Warren Buffett, the most generous man in the world, is a living evidence of a man who grew up with a sliver of what most of us have but refused to let that barricade him from becoming one of the most recognized faces in both business and non-profit spaces. From a childhood defined by the economic austerity of the Great Depression, especially acute in the Midwestern state of Nebraska, Buffett arguably understands more than most about making ends meet.

Growing up during such a resource barren time, Warren Buffett has acquired a connoisseur’s sense for finding an inherent value in almost any opportunity that comes his way. To avoid becoming economically disenfranchised, Buffet made it his mission as a schoolboy to begin accumulating a personal savings pool. He remarkably unraveled an innate talent or this as he successfully spearheaded his proprietary low end goods venture in grade school, which later evolved in secondary school as Buffet expanded his conglomerate to detailing automobiles for customers, entering the newspaper vending business, and selling more trinkets like golf balls. After turning 11, Buffet injected funds in his first stock and became a corporate shareholder while most adolescents have only had experience in managing their lunch money. After two decades, Buffet afforded himself a personal net asset collection of USD of $7 million as he executed a series of partnerships. These experiences act as a harrow to the type of man the esteemed Oracle of Omaha would become, not only as a financial practitioner but as a man who sees the value in societal advancements.

Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Mark Zuckerberg

Warren Buffett underpins how critical a capital investment in society is for the greater social well being when he observes:

If I wanted to, I could hire 10,000 people to do nothing but paint my picture every day for the rest of my life. And the GDP would go up. But the utility of the product would be zilch, and I would be keeping those 10,000 people from doing AIDS research, or teaching, or nursing.

Despite media channels lambasting the affluent for being inactive in public welfare causes, Buffet remained true to his covenant when the troika of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Mark Zuckerberg formally agreed to a pact in 2010 to funnel over 50% of their net wealth as endowments to charitable ventures and activities. However, Buffet already afforded himself a head start when he committed to backing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with 83% of his personal fortune. Averaging $2 billion per annum, his inflow provides the foundation with the capability to foster global development and comradery by tackling inordinate public health, education, and human rights crises across geographical and cultural boundaries. A venerable example of the foundation’s work includes a $5 million grant to the International Justice Mission eight years ago to absolve gender abuse cases in the Philippines stemming from an increasing flux in human tracking. This operation involved fortifying enforcement and legal forces to fighting human traffickers both on the streets and in court. Without sizeable investments from Warren Buffett, thousands of world citizens would not be entitled to the benefits that they fortunately can receive due to intervention from organizations as the Gates Foundation.

Not only does the money master practice global philanthropy through the traditional endowment providing process, but it also resolves to his gusto for the financial market to raise funds for charitable causes. One of the signature characteristics of Buffet is to regard virtually everything, including himself, as an asset. That is why on several occasions starting in 2007, Buffett auctioned off certificates to have dinner with Buffett himself that have almost all generated several million worth of funding for the nonprofit humanitarian organization Glide Foundation. This is the type of humorous yet effective tactic that continue to remind us of the ingenious mind of Warren Buffet as well as his ability to materially shape the world. While the top 1% might continue to be liable to dissent and allegations of inaction to socially beneficial causes, there is no doubt that those magnates with a keen eye for finding value in both material objects and in people like Warren Buffet are making the deliberate stance to mobilize their time and resources to shaping a more habitable world for future generations of society.

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We sometimes see traditional charitable efforts to deliver social services as a one way flow – one dollar to feed my neighbor is one less dollar to feed my own. However, new, innovative and bold minds, coupled with greater awareness of global struggles, have paved the bridge where underprivileged communities can access temporary monetary relief and the means to extend the reach of such largesse. Social enterprises are at the vanguard of marrying the financial and management expertise of global bodies with local talent to spur sustainable social and environmental projects.

If there is a single person who embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of today’s bold stride towards making a difference in local communities, Sir Richard Branson, founder of the social impact body Virgin United, has shown all of us how ingenuity and a passion for helping others alone can create a lasting impression on the world. Having sculpted his first magazine business at the age of 16 and successfully launched and signed the signature artists Rolling Stones and Sex Pistols through his flagship company Virgin Records, Sir Branson has incorporated an innate sense of entrepreneurship in his day to day life.

The true artistry of his knack for creativity came into play when Sir Branson entered the humanitarian world by supporting public health efforts to alleviate some of the most formidable infections like HIV/AID, malaria, and tuberculosis in deprived regions at the grass root level. By establishing the nonprofit Virgin Unite brand under his venture capital firm Virgin Group, individuals in poverty-stricken countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, have not only received access to tools to mitigate the spread of life-threatening infections, but also the dual benefit of being able to use these resources to create sustainable businesses that can improve local livelihoods.

Heaven’s Angels Campaign

One deeply rhapsodizing movement by Virgin Unite is captured in its Heaven’s Angels Campaign, which challenges the lack of proper inland infrastructure in South Africa and Kenya that is obstructing healthcare products and services from reaching thousands of people who could otherwise avoid victimization by communicable diseases. The team equips previously unemployed locals with motorcycles to deliver batches of medicines, equipment, and medical services to rural and isolated districts. However, the story does not end here. With each motorcycle averaging $5,000 in costs, the entrepreneurial spirit of the employees has inspired them to employee this capital to upstart their proprietary taxi and transportation enterprises. As a result, the campaign acts as its own funding source while delivering humanitarian relief. Individuals flirting with the thought of creating their own or participating in established social welfare projects can look to Sir Richard Branson as an epitome of how society can sidestep the pitfall of charity models in which we transfer resources for temporary relief that do not carry the added benefit of self-sustaining those efforts in the long run. People in all tranches of society, whether working on public policy initiatives or incubating private campaigns, can assimilate some aspect of United Virgin’s approach to give more families the amenities that we sometimes take for granted.

Along with promulgating public health campaigns across underprivileged rural communities, Virgin Unite champions its social enterprise approach to challenging environmental distresses impacting us on a personal level. Four years ago, the team introduced the Carbon War Room venture to tackle the hemorrhaging emission of Co2 in a progressively urban period. The CWR spawned an innovative online platform that gauges the level of gas emission efficiency of individual vessels across the global shipping industry, responsible for 1 billion tons of annual discharge of Co2. Budding and established corporations are employing this framework to make conscious decisions in regards to the makeup of their maritime fleet. While most of us may not consider this initiative in a traditional philanthropic light, it quintessentially underpins how pressing social concerns can be mitigated while igniting ways for these efforts to fuel themselves or provide ancillary benefits that can help sustain social impact projects.

While we all may have our differences in opinions about how we can best serve society at large, Sir Richard Branson reminds us that the most critical ingredient to a meaningful cause is that initial momentum and sense of initiative. If we do not take the stand to involve ourselves with the opportunities to make a material impact flying right by us, then there is no chance that marginalized groups of people can receive any alleviation. We might feel it impossible to make a dent in the larger scheme of the world, but if we overcome that apprehension, then we can see how entrepreneurial spirit at the grass root level can drive some of the most profound movements taking place right now.

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National Philanthropy Day is not only a big day for Novak Djokovic Foundation but also an opportunity for all of you, global philanthropists, to celebrate and recognize activities of your donors, volunteers, foundations, leaders, corporations, and other philanthropic stakeholders.

Effective Philanthropy

National Philanthropy day is all about increasing public awareness for effective philanthropy. It is more than just giving, it is about focusing our generosity towards the ones who are in the greatest need. What is actually celebrated as a national day is, in fact, a grassroots movement of people, leaders, corporations and volunteers gathered around the idea of love for humanity.

Wise Giving

Wise giving is teaching us to move from being a passive donor to becoming an active donor. Association of Fundraising professionals has come up with Five “Ps” of Wise Giving. The first one is about being passionate about the causes that interest you the most, the ones you deeply care about. Then, as a donor, you have to be proactive and identify the charities which work on issues with the most relevant impact. Some great resources online for such a search are Guidestar, Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.

Next, as a donor, you have to be prepared.Get to know the organization to which you are about to donate your time and money and make sure they are credible and trustworthy. In other words, make sure they are doing great work.

Additionally, planning instead of throwing your money on a whim is important.As in other segment in managing your finances, you want to know when and how much you want to invest. Finally, as proactive and wise donor you have to make sure that your donation is used up to its full potential, so try to consider all the ways to support your favorite charities.

If you would like to take a moment and donate to Novak Djokovic Foundation on National Philanthropy day and support our programs, you can do so through this link.

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