Why we registered in Singapore

Alongsiders International is now incorporated in Singapore. We chose Singapore as an ideal place to establish our initial legal foundations for a number of key reasons. 

Firstly, Alongsiders was birthed in Asia rather than the West. From the beginning we have focused on empowering local leadership from within Asia, and in the future from throughout the developing world.  So it only seems right that we would establish a headquarters in Asia rather than in North America.  

Singapore holds a key position in the region, as a well-established developed country, with the kind of robust legal and financial infrastructure needed to host an international organization. Though we are about catalyzing movements rather than establishing institutions, we still need secure legal and financial foundations to strengthen the work we do.

Singapore is blessed with resources that we hope can be mobilized to enrich the lives of their poorer neighbors. It is a short plane ride from anyplace in South East Asia.  For example, Singapore has a highly educated population that can travel quickly and easily in the region to "train trainers" within the Alongsiders movement.  

Finally, Singapore is well connected with Cambodia, where Alongsiders started 9 years ago. Our international leadership team is now based in Cambodia working together with the leadership of Alongsiders Cambodia to establish movements to reach the world's most vulnerable children throughout Asia and beyond.

10 ways to motivate volunteers without using money

Many countries have no established culture of volunteerism.

Or they may have been influenced by a negative NGO culture that creates dependency and undermines the motivation to help others without incentives.

In that context it can be hard to imagine how to mobilize young people to mentor at risk kids, without using money.

Fear not! There are lots of ways to challenge, mobilize and inspire people without using financial incentives, which can undermine the movement by introducing mixed motives.

Here are 10 proven ways to inspire and mobilize that have worked well for us:

1. Storytelling.
Stories are a powerful way of connecting with people at different levels. These may include testimonies of orphans or children at risk who have been blessed by their mentors, or the stories of mentors who have been blessed by participating in the movement.

2. Role modeling.
You can not lead where you have not been and you cannot teach what you have not seen. Do it yourself and then encourage others to do likewise.

3. Positive peer influence.
Harness the power of friendships by encouraging the mentors to work in groups and gather their friends into the movement.

4. Video.
What the eye doesn't see the heart cannot grieve over. Show young people the situation of orphans and vulnerable children in their nation through the use of video and multimedia.

5. Preaching.
An anointed sermon on God's heart for the poor, as well as suggestions about practical ways to serve, can move young people to action.

6. Music.
Encourage your young people to write songs about God's heart for the poor and orphans and distribute these on CD or online. Music moves the heart in a way statistics and information cannot.

7. Newsletter or Facebook.
Send out an inspirational newsletter several times a year containing testimonies, activities to complete with mentees, news and other interesting articles. This can also be accomplished through Facebook if people have internet access.

8. Prizes.
T-shirts, certificates and other small items will give a sense of identity and achievement.

9. Encouragement.
Follow up groups of volunteers on a regular basis providing encouragement and advice face to face.

10. Events.

Training workshops and camps for Alongsiders and the children they mentor bring them together and inspire for the season ahead.

How we came up with our logo

The Alongsiders logo design contest attracted more than 130 entries. We had designers from all over the world creating some beautiful and thoughtful symbols to represent who we are.

In the end, we chose this logo, by a young Pakistani designer - for its smooth, graceful lines and evocative symbolism.​

This shade of green symbolizes our down-to-earth grassroots approach to movement making. Alongsiders is committed to working at a grassroots level with young Christians who are embedded in poor communities. ​

The graceful dip and flow of the lines suggests humility and servanthood - two Biblical principles that are central to our ethos and the posture of each mentor.​ We seek to pass this stance on to those we disciple.

Finally, each figure reaches out to the other, a representation of that deep longing for connection within each human heart. In the words of Mother Teresa, "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."  So we seek to walk alongside those who walk alone, reaching out to the world's most vulnerable children, and extending the radical welcome of Christ.

We'd love to hear your thoughts and observations about the new logo in the comments below. What do you think?

Now a youth leader - Theara's Story

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Teara and his "little brother"

We first met Teara and his siblings when their mother was dying.  The last few months of her life were hard and they struggled to survive in a tiny shack that had a broken roof and walls.

Together with neighbors their home was rebuilt.  Teara was so proud of the simple structure. Finally they had a home they could call their own.

But tragedy struck the first night they slept in their new home.  A huge fire swept through the slum and they lost everything, including the only photos of their mother who had died a month before.

Eventually, Teara and his siblings moved in with a Christian lady who opened her home to them and provided guidance and love.  They were matched up with mentors from Alongsiders Cambodia. Things finally were beginning to look up.

Over the years Teara became a keen member of the local church, eventually being entrusted with leadership amongst the youth.

Now, at 21 years old, Teara has officially become an mentor himself to an orphaned boy in the community, through the Alongsiders movement.  He shared with us how he spent three months praying that God would show him which boy to choose out of his village.

When I visited Teara recently, I sat on the floor of his tiny home, eating rice and fish with Teara and his "little brother". They talked and laughed and I could see how much joy Teara's mentoring brought to this little boy.

Teara spoke of how he understood the challenges of beig orphaned, and how it was time to pass on some of the love he has received by being welcomed into the church family.

The second generation - Sros' Story

Sros (in blue) and Piset at an Alongsiders camp prayer time.

“I grew up without a father and we were very poor and it was difficult to get by. One day, a young man, Lee, who was older than me, asked me if I wanted to become his little brother…

Lee encouraged me to study hard, not to lose hope, and listen to my mom. He was always warm and friendly to me, just like my dad used to be.  He invited me to attend church with him and when I believed in Jesus, my whole life changed.  My studies at school, character, and obedience to my mom all improved.

Now I have my own little brother, Piset who is 12 years old. I believe this is the plan of God that God had me take on this boy as my little brother. I plan to fulfil my duties as a mentor to the best of my abilities and encourage, visit, and spend time with him, and follow up on his studies.

I really want to express my thanks for Alongsiders where I first received love, especially the love of Jesus.”

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