Promoting Online Volunteerism for a Better World
- Pre-Seed
Promote online volunteering in order to build locus of control, which is the sense that individuals can control the events and situations that affect them. For instance, a women can use resources to build skills to use computer and Internet technology to obtain information to manage and support good health.
Locus of control is defined as the feeling that you can control the circumstances in your life, such as your health, rather than other factors making things happen to you, like other people making you feel bad, luck making you win, or even God making you healthy. It is important that individuals feel in control of life circumstances so that they can take steps for positive change and achieve short and long term goals.
One way to feel more in control of one's own health is through the simple act of volunteering. One study showed that 80% of people that volunteered in the past year feel that they control their health and feel better overall (UnitedHealth Group, 2013).
Fortunately, today, technology makes it easy to volunteer- doing what you want and how long you want, even from your own home. This option is referred to as online volunteering, but also called e-volunteering and virtual volunteering.
When a person gains confidence through helping others, they might be more ready and willing to help themselves and loved ones. They might feel the locus of control they need to take steps like maintaining good health.
The World Wide Web is full of trusted, reputable resources to manage health. Online, one can find information about specific health conditions, the latest health news and research, hospital and doctor reviews, health products, emotional support, and more. It is important to know how to use these health resources online to the best of ones advantage. A program to teach skills to find and use the best resources to manage health is part of this solution to build locus of control through volunteering online.
Reference:
Doing Good is Good for You. United Health Group. 2013. Web. 14 May 2014.
- Solve global health crisis
- Promote positive social action online
- Raise individual, local, national and global locus of control
- Education on the optimal online health resources
- How to discriminate the highest quality tools online to manage health
- How to use the tools of technology to one's best advantage to promote good health
My proposal is backed by my academic research
Specially, my dissertation findings:
In my survey, I found that people that feel more in control of their health (with a locus of control) are more likely to use websites to find out about health matters that those feeling less in control. Those same individuals with a locus of control are more likely to assess their use of Internet websites as positive.
Hruska, N. (2012). Effect of personality on the use and perceived utility of web-based health resources. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/do...
My solution could result in improved global health. Solution can be deployed through on ground task force, relayed online through webinars, made available through training (stand alone technology)
Target audience includes:
- People in the developed and developing world
- People that need skills in using technology
- People that would like to volunteer online
- People in need of locus of control
- Individuals 10-100 years of age and older
measured through survey - Increased locus of control
measured through survey - Increased technology skills
measured through survey - Increase in online volunteering
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Old age
- Lower middle income economies (between $1006 and $3975 GNI)
- Low-income economies (< $1005 GNI)
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Middle East and North Africa
- Consumer-facing software (mobile applications, cloud services)
- Digital systems (machine learning, control systems, big data)
- Management & design approaches
- Something so new it doesn’t have a name
My proposed solution will use technology in innovative ways, like geo location to connect volunteers to each other- it will not be just about finding some place to volunteer, but to connect, learn, and find benefit in the overall experience. It might include fun activities like geocaching to earn points toward an overall score. Here is more about the prototype: https://drive.google.com/file/...
The project is designed with this United Nations goal in mind- specifically, the technology:
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
My solution can be made accessible through a free app: https://drive.google.com/file/...
Information can be distributed through brochures, webinars, and in person presentations
- 1-3 (Formulation)
- Not Registered as Any Organization
- United States
no current plan
Lack of technical expertise
Lack of team participation
Lack of acceptance
Lack of skills (languages, vision)
- 5+ years
- 6-12 months
- 6-12 months
http://www.onlinevolunteering.net
- Technology Access
- Future of Work
- 21st Century Skills
- General Wellness
- Digital Health
By becoming a solver, I hope to advance my research and apply it in practical ways
none (self)
unsure (none?)