PING PONG-A-THON General Information

ping pong-a-thon2

PING PONG-A-THON General Information

WHY WE PONG

We live in the most technologically advanced era the world has ever known.

And yet, there are 45.8 million slaves in the world today, (Global Slavery Index, 2016), more than at any other time in history. Despite the best efforts of abolitionists across the centuries, the buying and selling of human beings for profit is booming. It’s typically the poor who are targeted. Yet, anyone in the wrong circumstances is vulnerable to trafficking

and exploitation. Exploitation is no respecter of gender, age, race or status. There are slaves in the most developed nations in the world, (an estimated 4,000 slaves in Australia according to the 2016 GSI).

In the West, a different kind of slavery is on the rise. Consumerism, s e l f - o b s e s s i o n ,

addiction, isolation and the pursuit of “success” leave many, despite all the advances of our age, with a deep hunger for community and meaning.

The Pong was started as a one-off event to raise funds and awareness to help young people enslaved through human trafficking. But in the last few years, as The Pong movement has developed, we’ve seen the event inspire participants and whole communities to:

• Radically re-orient worldview and perspective

• Spark a cultural shift in values, attitudes and behaviours

• Draw individuals of all ages, genders, abilities, races and political persuasions into a fun, com-munity-rich experience

• Inspire creativity, momentum and a shared be-lief that when they work together for the one cause they can achieve something that really does make the world a better place.

To inspire and resource all people to live a life marked by FREEDOM is WHY WE PONG!

At the heart of our WHY are two fundamental beliefs:

1. Every person matters.

2. Every person deserves the chance to live a life that is free.

WHAT IS A PING PONG-A-THON?

Ping Pong-A-Thon events are held annually throughout October in all Australian States and Territories. A standard event runs 24 hours, usually commencing on a Friday afternoon/evening through to Saturday afternoon/evening. Participants register to play table tennis for a minimum period of 3 hours during the event and invite their friends, families and networks to sponsor their efforts.

Participants of all ages (6 – 100 years is our current age range) and abilities are welcome to participate. Communities without the capacity to run a 24-hour event have the option to run a Mini-Pong event (3 or more hours in length).

The event is adaptable and can be hosted by a range of different community groups (schools, churches, sporting clubs, workplaces, pubs, universities, local councils, Rotary Clubs, Men’s Sheds etc.)

Once officially registered to host an event, the local event organiser is equipped with a range of resources to assist them in running a quality event.

Resources include:

• Pong Event Organiser Manual (step-by-step guide to running the event)

• Pong Promo Pack (promotional material includ-ing participant guide, sponsor cards, A3 posters,

general information 3

promo clips/short films, press release and radio service guide to engage local media)

• Access to additional event resources via Google Drive and on USB (including promotional clips/short films/PowerPoint presentation etc.)

• Access to The Pong’s Event Organiser Facebook Group (where you can share ideas with and get advice from more experienced event organisers).

PING PONG-A-THON KEY OBJECTIVES

• To raise funds to support the work of our 7 inno-vative partner organisations in South-East Asia who are committed to the prevention of human trafficking and exploitation.

• To raise awareness in the general community of the issues pertaining to human trafficking, mod-ern-day slavery and exploitation.

• To provide a fun, non-threatening environment in which boys and girls and men and women of all ages and backgrounds can build friendships, experience community, participate in some-thing bigger than themselves and take initial steps towards becoming an advocate on issues of justice.

• To be a vehicle for the establishment of strong community partnerships, (different groups in a community working together to achieve a shared goal).

OUR FOUNDER AND HISTORY OF THE PONG

Our founder, Adrian Rowse, worked with teenagers being exploited and sold in the red-light districts of Thailand in 2011-12. Describing these young people as ‘the most courageous and inspiring humans I’ve encountered in 20+ years of youth work’, Adrian started The Pong as a one-off fundraiser to help two organisations specialising in aftercare and prevention of sexual exploitation of young people in Thailand.

In November 2011, Adrian brought together 14 friends to host the first 24 hour Pong event in Melbourne, Australia. Raising $10,000 and sparking countless conversations, the event was a wild success with one participant commenting: ‘it feels so good to be doing something for someone else for a change, instead of just being focused on myself and my own problems’.

The movement has expanded rapidly across Australia in a wide range of venues. Everyday Australians have raised $750,000 since The Pong began in 2011. Many Australian communities have adopted The Pong as a prioritised annual event because of the positive impact it has in their communities.

In October 2017, we anticipate up to 100 communities hosting events across Australia will raise in excess of $500,000. 2017 is also shaping as a year of organizational growth (with three part-time staff joining the team) and planning for several international Pong events in 2018.

ping pong-a-thon4

GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT

The Pong operates as a project of Partnering For Transformation, (P4T).

P4T is working to create a world where everyone is seen and valued, with a focus on developing the social environment towards a just society. As a registered Australian charity, P4T Inc. report to the ACNC, the ATO and state fundraising bodies as required. P4T’s finances are also independently audited each year. P4T has Public Benevolent Institution status in Australia which means donations are tax deductible.

The Pong Management Team brings sixty years of combined experience working in the non-profit sector alongside a wide range of skills and are committed to ensuring the longevity of the movement. The team is made up of:

• Steve Low (avid table tennis enthusiast and char-tered accountant)

• Matt Maudlin (former CEO of non-profit organi-sation Servants Community Housing)

• Adrian Rowse (founder of several Australian movements including The Pong).

The Pong’s current staff are:

• Pete Davidson: Community Engagement (QLD)

• Matt Maudlin: Strategic Development

• Chanelle Webber: Administration/Event Support

• Steve Lowe: Finance Manager

• Adrian Rowse: Founder/Project Manager

JUST FOR THE MEN?

We initially held Pong events specifically targeted towards men, as men are both under-represented and disengaged when it comes to issues of human trafficking and exploitation, yet play the most significant role on the demand side of these issues. The Pong desires to see men providing leadership and taking action on solutions to these injustices.

While engaging men as the foundational demographic of The Pong was vital in the early years, we knew the impact of the Pong movement would be still more significant with women invited to organise events and participate. In 2015 several Pong venues opened their doors to the participation of girls and women, including the now legendary inaugural ‘Pink Pong-A-Thon’ event.

While some venues maintain a largely male participant focus, using the event to challenge men about their personal attitudes and behaviours towards women, most Pong venues now have

PONG PARTNERS

We currently support the work of 7 partners in Thailand and Cambodia. Each of our partners are passionate about working with children, teenagers and young adults who are impacted by or highly vulnerable to human trafficking and/or exploitation. We prioritise working with partners who are prevention-focused because we believe prevention to be the most strategic method of bringing modern day slavery to an end.

Information about our partners and specific projects supported by The Pong are detailed at:

http://pingpongathon.com/inspiration/

Prior to being selected as a Pong Partner organisations are required to undergo an extensive application process. Partners report on use of funds twice yearly and are visited at least once a year by a Pong team member. The Pong is committed to building quality relationships with our Partners; this includes providing encouragement, consultative services and other practical supports in addition to the funding of projects.

2017 PONG PARTNERS

5general information

specific playing periods for girls and women or run a completely mixed gender venue. It’s likely there will be some all-girls/women venues running in the near future, (e.g. all-girls schools).

HOSTING A PING PONG-A-THON EVENT — THE WINS

Hosting a Pong event typically results in one or more of the following outcomes:

• Participants experience a powerful sense of meaningful community by playing sport, having fun and making friends. Individuals previously on the fringes of community, or not connect-ed at all to a healthy community, find a place to engage and feel at home.

• The hearts and minds of men and women are moved and equipped on issues of injustice. Participants are empowered to become advo-cates in their own right, gaining a sense that they are a part of something that is directly im-pacting the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. This empowers participants with a fresh perspective that has the power to shape their personal circumstances and future community impact.

• Host communities build connections and en-gage more fully with a wide range of other com-munity groups, (Rotary, churches, sporting clubs, corporates). This broadens awareness in the local community on issues of injustice and strength-ens the capacity and resilience in communities.

• The Pong is an easy way to spread a ‘feel good’ vibe in your community group. Host communi-ties often gain a deep sense of pride and mo-mentum as people in their community commit to advocate for vulnerable young people.

• Young vulnerable lives are changed through the funds raised at Pong events. The monies raised directly contribute to seeing exploitation and abuse prevented. Many who have been exploited gain access to quality aftercare, rehabilitation and sup-port in rebuilding their lives. And, most sig-nificantly, The Pong’s prevention focus will see future generations protected as a result of change in the systemic areas that currently en-able the cycle of trafficking and exploitation to continue.

NEXT STEPS

Please email us at admin@pingpongathon.com

Our Event Support Team would love to help answer your questions and get you set up as a Pong event organiser. Provide your name, contact number, location and some basic info about yourself and your community to help us get to know you a little as a starting point.

If you have already want to host a Pong event as part of the October 2017 campaign, please request and return our Venue Confirmation Form. The form must be received by August 15th for your community to participate in this year’s campaign. NOTE: Our most successful Pong venues are confirmed by June 30th each year. The sooner you confirm your event, the more time you will have to plan, organise and inspire your community to achieve a great Pong result).

Want to run an event in your school?

Please get in touch and request a Schools Info Pack.

serve up some justice

Facebook: ThePongAU