International
ONE Members Take South America By Storm……Literally
Neither sun and storms could stop ONE Members in South America from coming out to the U2 360° Tour. With shows in Santiago, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo, 185 ONE volunteers dedicated their time to signing up almost 42,000 new members to the organization. Such an incredible job done by all!
ONE members in São Paulo, Brazil
It truly represents the commitment, the passion and the heartfelt dedication shown by all the ONE volunteers I met and their desire to educate their friends and neighbours on the issues of extreme poverty.
ONE member, Tomas Kepple Borba, shared his experience of volunteering at the U2 show in São Paulo. And I think this sums it up nicely….
A couple years ago I found out about ONE on the internet, became very interested in the campaign and became a member. Whenever I could, I would help campaigning through social networks mainly, and tried to get friends involved, too. A few weeks ago I got an email from Maura inviting me to be a volunteer at the U2 360° Tour concerts in São Paulo. I immediately signed up, and arranged to go to São Paulo for the second concert, even though it included getting up at 5:30 AM to catch a bus. It was an opportunity to really get involved with the cause, find out more about it and, of course, watch an amazing concert. Not only were my expectations fulfilled, but far exceeded!
When I arrived at the venue, Morumbi Stadium, I already knew it was going to be good. I soon started chatting with other volunteers, all fantastic people, and we will for sure all maintain contact! At the set time we met Maura, a really nice and enthusiastic person – really inspiring! She gave us a summary of what we would be doing and told us more about ONE, and before we knew it we were out with the mission to sign up as many new member as we could, talking to U2 fans from all over Brazil! Doing so we helped strengthen ONE, which gains more and more power to fight against extreme poverty, as it gets more members! The process involved telling people about ONE, since many had not heard about it, and inviting them to become a member and sign the petition for more investments in the new vaccines against pneumonia and diarrhoea – the two biggest causes of child death in the world.
Although most of the time we only exchanged a couple sentences with the people we signed up, it was an amazing experience to interact with so many people from all over the country (and even the world) – I think I had never talked to so many new people in such a short time! Surely an experience for life!
At the end, we were all very tired, our feet aching from standing up and walking up and down the lines, and fingers sore from typing so many names, but also very happy! To do something selfless, for a cause that was much bigger then all of us together, was an incredible and very rewarding experience – a day that all of us volunteers will remember! A sensation that is impossible to put in to words! As if the whole experience wasn´t good enough, we had the opportunity to watch one of the most amazing concerts ever!
It is very hard to put in to words the sensation of participating in something like we did, and I’m sure that all of us will keep it in our hearts forever, and now want to participate even more then before! Brazil and South America are together with ONE in the fight against extreme poverty!
I continue to remain grateful and inspired by Tomas and every person that I have met along the way in South America and I look forward to giving a voice to the voiceless with each and every one of you.
On to Mexico City and then North America!!
Thanks to everyone and much love,
Maura
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About the Blog
The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
14/04/2011 at 6:58 pm
Maura, thanks for opportunity! I hope see you again here and work a lot again for ONE. I loved yesterday! Thanks for all!
14/04/2011 at 7:09 pm
well, we work together and thats the best the rest is evolution and thats also great to watch happen…
14/04/2011 at 7:09 pm
Maura we must to thank YOU for the attention!!!! It was the most amazing experience in my life! Hope ONE in Brasil soon, a Portuguese version of the site… because I will never stop the incredible work we began yesterday. Thanks, thanks, thanks.
ONE Team: I love you all.
14/04/2011 at 7:13 pm
Hey Maura!
It was a great pleasure working with you and all other oners on April 9th! I wrote a blog (in Portuguese) (lucasfedrigo.blogspot.com) to show all my happiness and thanks to everyone who took part in this who was one of the best days of my life! On my blog, I made a special thanks to you (in English) at the end! I hope to be a volunteer again at the next opportunity! See ya!
14/04/2011 at 7:47 pm
Thanks again for everything Maura! Hope everyone likes the post – I tried to include a bit of everything I heard from other volunteers! I had an awesome time with all of you!
Good luck in Mexico and in the US!
14/04/2011 at 7:48 pm
I bacame a member in the Santiago show, since then I always wear the ONE white rubber band. Thanks for spreading the word together with U2! – Good job volunteers!
14/04/2011 at 7:53 pm
Maura, I loved work with you and all volunteer , we will be touch , and waiting any time to help !!!! Thanks to gave us this chance to help….I hope see you all soon !!! Thanks ONE
14/04/2011 at 7:53 pm
Hey Maura and guys,
it was amazing to spent that day with u.
thanks for this opportunity and for the chance to make a difference, even for just one day.
and now is time to work hard to get ONE to SOUTH AMERICA!
so, what time is it in the world?????
14/04/2011 at 7:55 pm
Hello ONE MEMBERS SOUTH AMERICA ,
Brazilian members of the One created a facebook profile to unite all members of Latin America! Please join us! Together we will build a base of One to assist in this work! Let’s try to build this foundation and make new friends!
Together in the fight against extreme poverty!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_153898891341124#!/pages/One-South-America/159256287467839
Ricardo Panicali and Tomas Kepple Borba are helping it!
Kisses
Priscila
14/04/2011 at 8:00 pm
Our OFICIAL PROFILE in Facebook is:
One South America
Join US!
Priscila
14/04/2011 at 8:30 pm
Maura
I thank you very much for such opportunity. I’m surely a best Person that I was before last sunday. Any time you come back to Brazil, please know that you have a friend that will be very happy to see you again!
A lovely hug, Carolina
14/04/2011 at 10:43 pm
hi everyone! I m so glad! I was a volunteer during the concerts in Argentina!
go oners!
14/04/2011 at 11:36 pm
I went to the show and then, after a nice chat with one of the volunteers, I signed up for the cause!
Thank you to all involved in ONE for helping the world to become a better place for everyone!
xoxo,
Patricia
15/04/2011 at 12:40 am
Our job is not over, right comrades?
I’m very proud of our work, courage and willingness. We made for a great and noble cause.
“Long Life” to ONE, and all who are not registered, have accessed the site and signed up later. Let all who have registered deeply understand the importance of their voices to this cause.
The show was beautiful, our participation was beautiful … Everything was great!
In memory, recall, in heart the joy of having participated.
That we can bring ONE to South America!
Warm hugs to everyone!
15/04/2011 at 2:38 am
Parabéns a todos, por ser guerreiros numa lutar como essa.
15/04/2011 at 2:47 am
O conflito de Darfur deixou um saldo bastante desumano, segundo as estimativas da ONU a guerra civil já deixou cerca de 30 mil mortos e milhões de refugiados. De acordo com estudos e estimativas da OMS (Organização Mundial de Saúde) a realidade no qual vive os refugiados do conflito é extremamente degradante, aproximadamente 10 mil pessoas morrem mensalmente vítimas da violência, fome e das diversas doenças epidêmicas presentes como, por exemplo, a AIDS.
E esse e uns dos exemplos da i importância de ser voluntário da ONE.
15/04/2011 at 3:46 am
I’m so proud of taking part of this, and glad to meet wonderful people these days!
What a great work we did!
Thank’s Maura , thank’s ONE partners!
Let’s coninue together this work!
15/04/2011 at 5:03 am
Hi all and Maura,
Thanks for the opportunity to be a part and act as ONE !
I hope all fillings that came up with this opportunity will be light up forever in all of us.
To use our voices against the extreme poverty, against global warming, against the inhumanity and fight for life !
Maura, please as soon as you have opportunity see my e-mail too you? i think it is important.
I will keeping my efforts to get more voices to sing together with us as ONE.
15/04/2011 at 5:18 am
Thanks for this unforgettable and incredible opportunity, Maura!
Tonight, we can be as ONE!
Thanks ONE volunteers! You’re all awesome!
And thanks, Bono and Edge, Adam and Larry for the greatest show I’ve ever seen! Thanks Bono for being such a great person and activist!
15/04/2011 at 5:25 am
Hello, Maura!
Thank YOU so much for the opportunity to be one of the Oners!
We´re here ready for another mission…ready to work together as ONE!
Best regards
=)
15/04/2011 at 1:33 pm
Hi Guys!!!!
I loved to work with all volunteers! Maura Thanks so much for the opportunity!
I will never forget this date 13/04/2011 !!!! amazing day with ONE !
Kisses
15/04/2011 at 2:03 pm
Once again thanks for this experience…A day I will never forget… Hope we can work together again as ONE.
ONE South America rocks!!!
from Argentina
15/04/2011 at 3:07 pm
Maura!
We really loved that day working for ONE. Any time you need volunteers here in Brasil, please, cont on us! We’ll be very glad to help ONE again.
We hope Mexico get more signatures than Brasil, USA more than Mexico… And so on!
Cheers!
Luciana and Cicero
15/04/2011 at 3:49 pm
Dear friends, I love to make part of the ONE TEAM in 04/13. It was an amazing moment. I believe that all of us feel an intense emotion. I would like to thank all the new friends of the ONE TEAM BRASIL and specially MAURA. LET US ALL BE TOGETHER AS ONE!
15/04/2011 at 6:42 pm
I have just ONE thing to say: Thank you! The work was wonderful!
15/04/2011 at 8:52 pm
Thank´s for All, Maura!!! I´ll never forget it!! Unique Experience, Amazing Job done by everyone. I have no words to describe the show and the moment when we were on the stage! You´re very nice, and we hope to see You again, someday, I hope soon! Kisses, Have a Nice Weekend, and Hello/Thanks to everyone, all this lovely team that made a incredible job! God Bless You, See You, Kisses, Peace and Love, Jackson Sardá. 15/04/2011. P.S.: My birthday is coming, it´s April 18th!
16/04/2011 at 1:39 am
All we cuold do something! We are ONE!
17/04/2011 at 3:06 am
Boa noite,
Gostaria muito de fazer parte da ONG One aqui no Brasil, São Paulo.
Se puder me enviar o contato daqui, para que possa me filiar a ONG.
Admiro muito o trabalho de voces, e gostaria de fazer parte integrante dele.
Obrigada.
Imaculada
17/04/2011 at 5:24 am
Thanks for everything, Maura! I’ll never forget it! Incredible work done by all. I appreciate the opportunity I received in being closer to the “ONE”.
The distance between us does not exist! Here in São Paulo through my contacts continue promoting the work of “ONE” with much love, respect and seriousness.
Until very soon!
Kisses
Roseli
18/04/2011 at 2:11 am
Maura,
I am so happy for helped and knew wonderful people !
Thanks for everything !! I will never forget all I lived in April 13th. It was the best experience in my life !!
I hope be able to continue this job !!
Always ONE !!
hugs from Brazil !!
Thais BMW…. now with my last name … Thanks again !! You are a great person ! You deserved all this joy !
19/04/2011 at 5:23 am
In Argentina we reffer to our fellow Sout Americans as “hermanos americanos” (meaning: “(south) american siblings), and it seems like we’re actually creating a brotherhood / sisterhood of volunteers here (not only South Americans)!
We’re “ONErs without borders” LOL
Loved the experience! Would do it all over again!! Let’s hope we’ll all be able to work together soon!!!
@Maura, as always, my best wishes for you!
19/04/2011 at 5:23 am
In Argentina we refer to our fellow Sout Americans as “hermanos americanos” (meaning: “(south) american siblings), and it seems like we’re actually creating a brotherhood / sisterhood of volunteers here (not only South Americans)!
We’re “ONErs without borders” LOL
Loved the experience! Would do it all over again!! Let’s hope we’ll all be able to work together soon!!!
@Maura, as always, my best wishes for you!
27/04/2011 at 3:27 am
“On to Mexico City and then North America!!”
but you already know that Mexico City is in a country that it’s part of North America… right?