Picture by Alan

The idea

With the continuous flow of information on the Internet -especially through social networking sites- it is proving more and more difficult to handle the shared information and turn it into concrete actions. Different online tools are thus being developed to help you better connect with others, prioritise your research, promote and share interesting input to foster growth of your project and community. Below is a non-exhaustive set of toolkits, including tutorials, community platforms...

Tutorials- How To

Wikihow WikiHow is a wiki-based collaboration to build the world's largest and most high quality 'how to' manual.

Shareable "Shareable is the online magazine that tells the story of sharing. We cover the people and projects bringing a shareable world to life. And share how-to's so that you can make sharing real in your life."

Community How To "Community 'How To' is a joint project from Online Centres Foundation (OCF) and Nominet Trust. The service helps community and third sector organisations find digital tools which could help them do more of what they do best, and helps them share their ideas and tools with others."

MORE ON ONLINE TOOLKITS:

Community Downloadable Toolkits and softwares

Frog Design Toolkit "The Collective Action Toolkit (CAT) is a package of resources and activities that enable groups of people anywhere to organise, build trust, and collaboratively create solutions for problems impacting their community. The toolkit provides a dynamic framework that integrates knowledge and action to solve challenges. Designed to harness the benefits of group action and the power of open sharing, the activities draw on each participant’s strengths and perspectives as the group works to accomplish a common goal." Free online download You can share how your group is using the toolkit in your community: cat à frogdesign.com

Human centered Toolkit "Human-centered design is a process that has been used for decades to create new solutions to design challenges. The process helps people hear the needs of the people and communities they’re designing for, create innovative approaches to meet these needs, and deliver solutions that work in specific cultural and economic contexts." The Human-Centered Design Toolkit was designed specifically for people, nonprofits, and social enterprises that work with low-income communities throughout the world. The HCD Toolkit walks users through the human-centered design process and supports them in activities such as building observation and empathy skills, prototyping, leading workshops, and implementing ideas.

Community Lovers Guide The Community Lover’s Guide to the Universe is a growing collection of stories and book editions, currently 60 editions are in production, bringing together the experiences of many amazing people and their innovative projects - people who are actively and creatively making community, together.

Community Forge: Community Forge offers over 50 community groups who use mutual credit accounting each a free hosted web site. Typically the users are LETS groups in French-speaking Europe. They emphasize the importance of self-governance, and coordination and collaboration between these groups in the domains of software and monetary standards. With their partner Community Tools in Estonia, they are building relationships with Timebanks, Transition Towns, B2B barter networks, and LETS to provide progressive communities with free software to manage their resources and organize politically. Online tutorial video

Sharetribe: "Sharetribe is a web service where the members of your community can share goods, services, rides and spaces in a trusted local environment. It's free and only takes a minute to do!"

Project support platforms & social networks

Imaginationforpeople "Imagination for People (I4P) is first and foremost, a community of citizens from all over the globe who believe that creativity can be used in practical ways to make a positive social impact." The goal of I4P is twofold:

  • Identify innovative projects from different countries that showcase the extraordinary imagination of citizens. This includes projects being carried out by individual entrepreneurs or communities of enlightened citizens, visionary public organisations and pioneer companies - the three “Ps” that Imagination for People likes to refer to - People, Public, Private.
  • Support social entrepreneurs as they start up their projects by giving them access to upcoming collaborative tools that will allow them to mobilise a global movement of collective inventiveness.

To achieve its goal, I4P has decided to set up a web-based platform that is "creative, wiki-citizen (collaborative), international (and therefore multilingual), fun and experiential all at the same time." To join the team, visit: http://imaginationforpeople.org/en/about/contact

Causes "Causes is a free online platform that provides easy-to-use tools for driving change. We help passionate people share ideas, find supporters, raise money, and make an impact. If you’ve ever thought about organising a boycott, creating a petition, or raising money for a good cause, you’ve come to the right place."

Dosomething: is the UK country’s largest not-for-profit for young people and social change. It provides concrete tools and different campaigns for youth to join

Wiser "The social network for sustainability. Wiser is a user-generated online community space for the social and environmental movement. As one of the social networks for environmental sustainability and social change, Wiser.org is the primary initiative of the non-profit organisation WiserEarth, which tracks the work of non-profits around the world." The site maps and connects non-governmental organisations (NGOs), businesses, governments, groups and individuals addressing global issues such as climate change, poverty, the environment, peace, water, hunger, social justice, conservation, human rights, and more.

Sparknews "Sparknews is a creative social start-up. Its most notable project to date is the world’s first website for media content about real-world solutions, for journalists, field workers and the general public. Sparknews values the media’s ability to create and inspire action by reporting on solutions.
 Sparknews seeks to develop a concept we call “Impact Journalism” or even "Double Impact Journalism"." The first impact occurs when the media denounces injustice and its derivatives – by alerting us. The second impact occurs when the media shows an existing solution to these problems – it gives us the means to react. » Send an email to mpoupinel(at)sparknews.com if you want to become a sparker !

The BOBS: Best of online activism with a selection of activists' blogs (website available in 14 languages)

As innovative social projects can also be found on different crowdfunding platforms do not hesitate to visit them and get inspiration:

French communities

Koom a pour mission de faciliter et valoriser l’engagement citoyen des particuliers, des entreprises et des villes dans une dynamique collective. Nous souhaitons encourager chacun à passer à l’action à son niveau, via différents outils, comme la géolocalisation des Koomeurs et des entreprises engagées dans son quartier."

NEWMANITY est le point de rencontre de toutes celles et ceux qui aspirent à une société plus humaine, plus écologique et plus responsable. Newmanity permet à chacun de mettre en cohérence sa vie personnelle avec ses aspirations profondes, en proposant des outils et des services pratiques pour agir facilement au quotidien.

Les Végétaliseurs est le premier réseau social écocitoyen. Une communauté de 60 000 passionnés d'environnement qui a pour but d’échanger, partager, débattre et proposer des solutions concrètes pour rendre le monde plus vert.

Tinkuy une communauté d'internautes qui s'entraident pour devenir plus responsables : c'est à dire, plus respectueux de l'Homme et de l'Environnement. Vous êtes sensible au développement durable ? Vous cherchez des solutions pour agir concrètement ? Vous souhaitez consommer en limitant votre impact environnemental ? Vous aimeriez réaliser des économies grâce à vos actions et vos initiatives ?