Emilie Yerby: 100 Ways To Make A Difference in Guernsey

Monday 21 January 2019

Deputy Emilie Yerby has launched a new social media campaign, to try and encourage more engagement with local politics. Here, she explains in her own words what it's all about.

"I launched '100 Ways to Make a Difference in Guernsey' on social media last week, in the hope of starting a fresh conversation about how we can all contribute to the community and political life of our island.

"So many people already put an incredible amount of time and effort into making our home a better place for everyone who lives here. We have hundreds of registered charities, and thousands of people who volunteer for them and donate to them. Thousands more have selfless careers: in health and care, in teaching, and in other forms of public service

"But some of this energy fades away when it comes to local politics. We talk about it a lot, but only a small handful of people get actively involved with campaigning or with running for public office. I hope this project will help to change that.

Pictured: Deputy Yerby said; "many people already put an incredible amount of time and effort into making our home a better place for everyone who lives here. We have hundreds of registered charities, and thousands of people who volunteer for them and donate to them."

"First of all, I hope it will draw links between political activity and other positive ways of making a difference in the community, from volunteering to environmental action. This project really aims to remind us of the power that each of us has to do good, in many different ways. That stretches to politics. I think that if we were to think about politics as a kind of public service – a duty that each of us has toward our community – it might encourage more people to get involved with it. 

"And, second, I want to give people the tools to get involved. The most basic one is knowledge – knowledge of what's out there, and knowledge of what you can do to make a difference. Knowledge is power, and power is something that we should all have a share in: not something we should be willing to leave in the hands of a few.

"By providing suggestions for different ways that people can get involved in the life of our community, including political and non-political actions, I hope to get people thinking about the difference that each of us can make to our island; giving people the courage to get involved in ways they might not have thought about before; and just raising awareness about the many different opportunities we have to make a positive impact on Guernsey life.

"The Facebook page for the project is facebook.com/100WaysGsy/- or look out for the hashtag #100WaysGsy. I'll be posting a new suggestion around three times a week, to keep the conversation going. I'd love people to get involved, and to share their own ideas for how we can contribute to the life of our community. I'd be delighted to feature your ideas on the list, and to eventually extend it beyond 100 Ways. 

"I'm only in the States for another year and a half – I've said from the start I'm just doing one term, and I'm sticking to that. I really want to use these last 18 months to raise awareness of Guernsey politics and to encourage civic engagement of all kinds, so that in 2020 I can pass the baton on to another group of committed, compassionate people who care about our island. I hope this project will at least encourage some people to think about it and that, whatever happens, in lots of little ways, it will help to make a positive contribution to island life."

Pictured top: Deputy Emilie Yerby.