Here are ten ideas for how you can support the O Project:
1. Sign our roll of support
Add you name now to help us reach our target of 100 signatures as the first step in our 100 100 100 initiative.
2. Tell others about the O Project
Why not post one our banners on your website; mention the O Project and 100 100 100 in your blog or in a bulletin; or tell your friends and encourage them to sign our roll of support.
3. Donate to good causes
You can donate money to appropriate secular charities. If you are in the UK you can find some suggestions on the British Humanist Association website or if you are in the USA try the Atheist Volunteers website.
Another project you might like to support is the ‘Mustard Seed School’ of Busota, set up by Moses Kamya in Uganda. Moses is a young teacher who was twice dismissed from teaching posts in Christian schools because he is a humanist. So he decided to establish a secondary school of his own “based on humanist ideas of free inquiry, scepticism and rationalism”. He started out with just 4 pupils and now has 157 on the books! Many of these are there on bursaries and this is where we come in. The Rationalist Association is raising money to help them, and you can send cheques payable to 'Rationalist Association' to 1 Gower Street, WC1E 6HD marked 'Mustard Seed' A one-term bursary for one child costs £27 and the cost for one year is £71. ALL money collected goes straight to Moses and the school, and Moses will decide how best to spend it.
4. Find volunteering opportunities in your area
If you want to put something back in your local community you can search for opportunities at www.do-it.org.uk. Alternatively you might want to become a:
(NB: If you are looking for activities supporting humanistic-specific causes you might want to look at the Atheist Action Central website which is run independantly of the O Project)
5. Be less modest about doing things because you are a humanist
For example, if you are ever interviewed by your local radio or newspaper about charity or community work you are invovled in, don't be afraid to mention that a motivation was your non-religious ethics (if true!)
6. Tell us about how humanism has driven your own voluntary or community work
We would like to publish grass roots testimonies illustrating the contribution of atheist to social justice - please get in touch.
7. Get involved with your nearest humanist organisation
The British Humanist Association website contains a directory of local humanist groups you can contact. If there are none they can advice how you can set one up.
8. Get your humanist organisation involved in local community and voluntary activity
This could be fundraising for a local, national or international cause, a local environmental clear-up, or teaming up with a local refugee organisation. This offers something a bit different and more hands on than a speaker, which can help gel the group as well as making a local stand as part of the community and attracting prospective members. Don't be shy about letting people know before and afterwards.
9. Get your humanist organisation involved in your local interfaith group
The July 2005 bombings in London perhaps highlight the need for what Islamic philosopher and activist, Tariq Ramadan calls interculturalism – the inclusive intersection of common values – "which requires grass-roots, multi-identity, in-between organisations that bridge communities and cultures". Interfaith bodies are one type of groups that can fit this role, but at the moment only five of the 110
Lack of belief in god isn’t an obstacle - there are equally significant theological differences between faiths. If various faith bodies could agree on seven shared values at the turn of the millennium - coming up with suitably vague concepts like respect for the environment, justice and peace and compassion - it’s not difficult for atheists to have an equal share in these foundations.
You can find your nearest interfaith group here.
10. Help supply prizes
For future steps of our 100 100 100 initiative we will provide prizes of relevant reading material to our suppporters. Since this is a project run on a voluntary basis you may like help the O Project by buying one of the books from this list to reduce our costs. We will provide evidence that the books are actually passed on. Used books in excellent condition are acceptable and if you'd like to donate a personal copy please contact us.