Sense of Belonging

During my secondary school years and college years, whenever we are in societies or clubs activities, we always stressed the important of Sense of Belonging. Why was it so important? It is the natural attraction to keep our members together. It is the reason why our member stay with the societies and the clubs.

Comparing school years and now I am joining NGOs at the "Adult" level, I believed school boys and girls are doing better comparing to the adults. In terms of quality, the school boys and girls are more committed comparing to the adult. In terms of finance, the school boys and girls know how to raise fund. In terms of unity, the school boys and girls know how to work in a team. Whereas the adults are only busy making money into their own pocket only.

When we have functions or events in the NGOs, members are not committed to bring their friends to join. I wonder why is it so? Is it because they have no friends? Is it because they do not want their friends to come? Is it because they do not believe in the cause of the NGO that they join? If they have no friends, it is high time they really sit down and think why they have no friends to join them in the cause they are serving. If they do not want their friends to join, at the first place, why they join? Scarcity will kill your organization. These kind of people are scarcity and do not wish to share benefit with others. If they don't believe in the cause they are serving in their NGO, then why still going back to the organization? If they believe in the cause, why they do not share the cause with others, and influence others to serve the cause as well?

There are this theory about Sense of Belonging that we practised in secondary school level's societies and clubs. Following are what we have to make sure, in order to cultivate the "Sense of Belonging" of a member towards our society or club.

1. The members have to feel comfortable when coming to the activities.
   
2. The members have to feel welcomed by the senior.
3. The committee have to make sure there is no A,B, and even C team in the organization.
4. Always remind the members of the cause that we are serving, know our objectives clearly.
5. Among members, we should treat each other as siblings, care for each other.

Power hunger, money craze, jealousy and so on might be great obstacle for NGO to proceed further in growing the number of memberships strength, and creating more projects that is serving its cause.

My dear fellow NGOs members... lets work towards a community that is caring, sharing, and loving. There are more resources out there awaiting for us to harvest. Let's not fight each other for what we have, let's work for what we do not have.