Organize your Community

Want to start your own group to help save Darfur? Following are step-by-step instructions to help you get started.

Before you create a group, please check our Groups tool to find other groups in your area. 

Once you’ve created your group, be sure to visit Darfur Activist Center, a repository of a ton of activist resources. 

Step 1: Create an Online Account

Create a free account and you'll get access to all our online organizing tools

Step 2: Create Your Group

Click here to create your group online

Step 3: Invite and Engage Members

Reach out to others in your community and ask them to join in your effort. Here are some simple ideas to jumpstart your group and gather some initial support:

• Hold a Meeting: Get the word out to groups in your area, let people know that you are starting a Darfur group, and you are looking for people to join. You can use our Groups tool to invite new members as well.

• Plan a Simple Event: A first event is a great way to attract support for your group and get people to attend your first meeting. Keep it simple - show a film at your congregation, campus, or community library.
  
  Download our Event Planning Guide for more tips on how to plan and publicize an event.
  
  Important: Make an announcement at the beginning and the end of the event that you are starting your group. Pass around a sign-up sheet or a petition to encourage people to join your group. And don't forget to post your event online!

• Faith Communities: Use our Call To Action DVD and accompanying faith resources and organize your community to help save Darfur.

Step 4: Get Active

EDUCATE your community about the genocide in Darfur

• Show a film about Darfur or about genocide, such as Darfur Now, Hotel Rwanda, or The Devil Came on Horseback

• Host a Voices from Darfur speaking engagement. Find out more at www.voicesfromdarfur.org.

• Lead a discussion or presentation about Darfur.

RAISE FUNDS for the Save Darfur Coalition or other Darfur organizations.

• Host a benefit dinner or ask restaurants in your area to donate a portion of their proceeds for one night to the Save Darfur Coalition. Check out a similar project, Dining for Darfur, for helpful tips.

• Merchandise: Sell Save Darfur Coalition wristbands or other merchandise in your community. Set up a table at events such as farmers’ markets and festivals. Visit www.savedarfur.org/store to order merchandise or to download a merchandise request form.

• Hold a fundraising dinner or event. You can invite a speaker to give a short talk about Darfur or watch a relevant video.

ADVOCATE 

• Collect signatures on postcards that we’ll send to President Bush and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. You can set up a table at local events or pass out postcards at your places of worship, your campuses or your downtown districts. Use our postcard pdf or download a merchandise order form to get printed postcards delivered to you.

• Participate in national Darfur activist campaigns that put grassroots pressure on leaders around the world to act immediately to stop the genocide. Find out more about our current campaigns.

• Pressure your member of Congress to support Darfur legislation. Organize an email or phone campaign; invite your member of Congress to speak about Darfur to your community; or meet with your member of Congress to get their support on important pieces of legislation. See our Legislative Action Center page for more information.

Darfur Activist Central: Be sure to visit Darfur Activist Central, where you will find up-to-date campaign initiatives and legislative items, as well as a complete list of Save Darfur Coalition activist resources.