Masters student in quest for social media formula

Page published: 6 October 2011

Student research focuses on fundraising for water charities.

Bournemouth University (BU) student Georgina Sekadakis is working closely with a water charity in an effort to find the best way of using social media to benefit the cause.

Just a Drop is a registered water charity raising money to build wells, install boreholes and hand pumps as well as carry out sanitation and health education programmes in some of the poorest parts of the developing world. One key objective is to reduce poor child mortality rates which occur as a result of water-borne diseases.

At present, most of the money raised for Just a Drop comes from the tourist industry, but Georgina hopes that by working with the organisation, her research into how the new tools of Facebook, Twitter and other social media can provide a low cost high impact marketing campaign which can provide vital funds for charities across the board.

Georgina, who is studying MA Tourism and Marketing within BU’s internationally renowned School of Tourism, also believes that engaging creatively with stakeholders through social media will provide an ideal platform for establishing ongoing mutually profitable relationships. “So far our attempts have been successful and we have found that followers are engaging with us through Social Media and we are now looking into ways of raising money through the various platforms to help fund new projects around the world,” she explains.

Find out more about Georgina and her fellow researchers from our School of Tourism at the World Travel Market at ExCeL, London, from 7-10 November, 2011.