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matt: we're gonna have a fun time
{music}
i'm matt and we're here at the harlem tavern enjoying some grub and drinks.I'm
here with adam sg of mission.tv. so adam thank you so much for joining me, and i
just want you to talk to us about what mission.tv is about.
adam: mission.tv was started after realizing that one that there are a lot of
other people in our age range that are interested in doing the same things and
getting out there helping people. But there currently was really never any go-to
spot to actually be able to find articles to find content about this type of travel
about cost of volunteering and connecting and actually having tools to
actually read an article and be able to connect going to that spot to actually
being able to actually help and to actually help effect change.
matt: you were one of the charter members of mission.tv, what exactly was
it that inspired your team to start this group?
adam: I think a lot of encountered the same problem. I mean for me I know
where when I was trying to do my first volunteer trip, this was actually to peru.
It was me and my wife and we were trying to search the internet for volunteer
trips or volunteer organizations that we felt were willing to help. We could see
just by searching google for different programs that not all the volunteer trips
were all that I don't want to say legitimate. So actually trying to navigate
that space was kind of difficult. There was one site that was all html based, old
school. So it was very intensive process. So when amy Schrier, who was the
founder of mission, after she approached us and we started talking and she posed
the idea of the one thing that really stuck with me of volunteer trip finder was the
results that were spewed back when you would go search trips, they would all be
reviewed by us, and you would know you'd be getting quality trips. trips that
you can potentially remove all that time in the process of finding trips, and I don't
think that's fun to do, removing all that time it takes in finding a trip, and
connecting you to something that is available and doing it fast.
Matt: How does mission hope to connect people with content and different sorts of
organizations or trips that they can go on to help people?
Adam: The way that the volunteer trip finder and the content interact with
people will all be available on the site. Say you specify Africa as a place to help
people. No problem. one you'll find volunteer trips to go on, and two you'll
find content. What we've found around. So you very easily can pick an article that
is of interest to you, and then you can see what opportunities there are to go
there. That is the ultimate way to use our site.
Matt: Will the volunteer trip finder have all the link that will be necessary or will it
link you to another site, which will link you to another site, to a download that
you have to fill out, etc.
Adam: No absolutely not. the purpose is to make this as easy for the user as
possible. so there will be some that will be linked to videos and documents, but
all the tools you need will be right there.
Matt: So will there be opportunities for certain candidates to maybe take trips at
reduced cost, or on scholarship, for free?
Adam: Potentially, there will be offers that allow for people to take trips for
subsidized costs. We'll have giveaways that allow for people to do that, we'll
have contests.
Matt: Where could mission.tv use some help right now?
Adam: I think, what I could most easily say is that we need help with content, we
are a startup so we're fundraising. {laughter} and uh, we need developers,
filmers, people for photography, our website right now is in development, and
obviously we need help with funding and also we need help with submissions from
videographers and uh, you know writing. you can see what opportunities there are
on our website.
Matt: So like, are you guys doing events, letting people know about mission.tv? I
feel like, most people I know want to do something good, but they just don't know
where to start. So is mission.tv getting the word out?
Adam: So at this point we're all kind of, our best pr is through social media. A lot
of facebooking, the web. As far as event, we'll be advertising that through social
media.
Matt: I'll definitely be putting mission's links up on my facebook. The website
says "see the planet, change the world". Why do you think travel is so important
in changing the world.
Adam: One, it's impossible as a human being to be in a different country and not
be affected. You're in a different culture, you're experiencing new ways of
thinking, so literally it's impossible to not be affected. you know by going abroad,
change is going to happen, in every moment that you're there.
Matt: Tell me, what is the most important thing to remember when you want to
make a change in the world?
Adam: Two things - one is the importance of dialogue. it's a good
segueway from your last question. When you dialogue, you are kind of helping to
in addition to changing, you are kind of putting your own viewpoints and taking
the viewpoints of others and . the second is to try and just to try and remember to
empower the people where you are. And connecting. to to try to even the level of power there.
Matt: Adam, thank you so much, and best of luck with mission.tv.