#heartandstroke

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup May 2024

The Impact of War on Children Worldwide

"According to Save the Children, in 2022, there were approximately 452 million children – or one in six of all children on the planet – that were living in conflict‐affected areas. As of 2024, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of attacks against children in armed conflict contexts."

“Untitled” by Bîstyek, a Winnipeg‐based Kurdish artist from Syria who fled that country at 16 years of age. Painting by Bîstyek

"The impacts of armed conflict on children are multi‐pronged and have long‐term consequences beyond the duration of the armed conflict. When children are exposed to armed conflict, denied humanitarian access, displaced from their homes and families and unable to attain education, the ramifications impact the individual child and, at the same time, impact the development of communities and economic growth while perpetuating cycles of insecurity and violence."

Gaza – children in the crossfire, lack of access to education and healthcare

Sudan – forced displacement, lack of education and food insecurity

Colombia – armed violence, recruitment of children and trafficking

"We need to reframe the way we think about and understand children’s participation and protection. Understanding and including children’s perspectives in peace and security can contribute to the empowerment of children as agents of change, bring diverse solutions to intractable problems, and help us to disrupt long‐term consequences of armed conflict that impact children’s identity, belonging and connection to family and communities. The challenge of supporting children’s engagement is not about their lack of capacity but a shortcoming in the imagination of adults to think beyond traditional approaches to peace and security. Building lasting peace and security requires a new approach that addresses the unique challenges that children face before, during and after conflict and one that recognizes that children’s perspectives and protection are at the core of our humanity."

Waiving Away the Problem: How US Presidents Have Let Countries Complicit in Child Soldiering Off the Hook

"For more than a decade, the United States has sent billions of dollars in military assistance and weapons to countries complicit in the recruitment or use of child soldiers, despite a law intended to block it. But there are concrete steps that presidents can take to enhance U.S. child soldier prevention efforts by leveraging the fierce global demand for U.S. arms and assistance."

HOW MINT LEAVES AND LEMON TREES ARE HELPING ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN NEPAL

“There is a strong correlation between elephant habitat fragmentation and crop loss,” says Rinjan Shrestha, WWF-Canada’s leading expert on Asian species. Today, human-elephant conflict remains the number one threat to the already-small Asian elephant population in Nepal. “The answer,” says Shrestha, “is to connect and restore historical habitats for growing numbers of elephants.”

"Biological fencing, or “biofencing” — the practice of making barriers out of natural, living things — is one way to help guide Asian elephants through their natural habitat without tempting them to wander into cropland."

Bees & Elephants: Villagers in Yunnan turn to beekeeping to bolster conservation of wild Asian elephants

"In recent years, in some rural areas in Yunnan, the local governments and volunteers have been promoting industrial transformation, with beekeeping being a key project. This has not only helped achieve rural carbon reduction but also allowed villagers to work at home, reducing direct contact with elephants."

❤️ / It is officially #RideforHeart month!!! ❤️ /

For the 4th year I will be raising money in support of Heart and Stroke in memory of my Dad 🎗 This year I am thrilled to be part of the Heartbeat Heroes - VIP Community! As a VIP my fundraising goal is to reach $1000.

As of today I am at 45% of my goal. You may find my fundraising page HERE Thank you so much for supporting me and Heart and Stroke ❤️ I am making every beat count for my Dad ❤️ today and forever.

[nowartic]

إزاى تتخلص من التوتر والقلق والضغط العصبى

إزاى تتخلص من التوتر والقلق والضغط العصبى

الضغط العصبى والتوتر من أبرز المشاكل التي نعانى منها جميعها ويؤثر بشكل كبير على الصحة الجسدية والنفسية، لكن التوتر المستمر أو المزمن يمكن أن يزيد من مخاطر الإصابة بمرض السكري وأمراض القلب والسرطان. وهناك بعض الطرق للتخلص من التوتر الزائد ووفقا لما ذكره موقع heartandstroke فهى: -احصل على نوم جيد ليلاً هل استيقظت يومًا بعد نوم مضطرب؟ يبدو أنه لا شيء يمكن أن يسير على ما يرام في ذلك اليوم لكن…

[lifewithhorsesphoto]

Need 1 more second shooter for Friday (other days too if you want) at @showjumpforheart @tensixtystables . Anyone available to help out, enjoy the competition and the amazing performers and vendors that will there. 😋 Full Day would be great but a few hours is great too. Any little bit helps. #givingback #showjumpforheart #heartandstroke #cardiaccare #southlake (at Ten Sixty Stables) https://www.instagram.com/p/By5rQs8JYFk/?igshid=b9yrw4ehg9v2

[collmemsrae]

#jumpropeforheart❤️ We've been practicing our healthy habits in the school gym since it's too cold for out door recess. The Boys were fundraising in memory of the Grandpa they never got to meet. #heartandstroke https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt09K82ANFA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1weud4dt2eldf

[karatk]

Cold and super wet ride today for #rideforheart #heartandstroke (at Enercare Centre)

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup April 2024

❤️ Heart Failure Awareness Week, May 5 - 11 ❤️

This week highlights the importance of sharing information to help raise awareness, increase public knowledge, and provide a better understanding of heart health. Follow @canadianheartfailuresociety and visit heartfailure.ca to access downloadable resources 🩺

For the 4th year I will be raising money in support of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada ❤️/ Donations received between now and June 30th will be matched until $500,000 in gifts are received. You may contribute to my page HERE Once again I have set an ambitious goal of $1000. Thank you for supporting me, and Heart & Stroke, in memory of my Dad 🎗

______________________________________________________________

Many children must live with the trauma of war. Here's how to help them

Conflict in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan has led to millions of children losing family members, fleeing their homes and being caught up in the fighting themselves. The effects could last for decades.

"In particular, they say, from the get-go, the international community needs to not only focus on acute humanitarian needs like food and shelter, but also on the longer-term requirements of providing community and family support, trauma-informed mental health and social services and lasting infrastructure like stable living conditions and medical care."

BIG STEPS FORWARD: A PATH TO ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN NEPAL "For Asian elephants, who need lots of space to roam, landscape-level conservation means securing and protecting existing habitat fragments and corridors in the Terai Arc Landscape so they can regrow naturally and resist further degradation. This will rebuild safe corridors for elephants to travel and avoid human contact. It also involves using the latest technology — such as motion-sensing cameras, satellite GPS tracking, molecular genetics and conservation drones — to map elephants’ migratory behaviours and monitor corridors. These game-changing tools also help us understand elephants’ use of space and keep an eye on the success of our conservation efforts."

NASA is tracking endangered animal habitats from space

"The rapid decline of many iconic animal species due to habitat loss presents one of the most critical challenges in modern conservation. NASA, an organization typically associated with space exploration, has emerged as a valuable partner in the fight to save endangered animals. By utilizing cutting-edge satellite technology, NASA provides vital data on endangered wildlife habitats, informing and driving conservation strategies around the world."

Elephant conservation: Habitat preferences to mitigate conflict

"African savanna elephants, now classified as endangered, struggle with the relentless expansion of human settlements into their native range. A NASA study offers insights into elephant habitat preferences, particularly in less protected zones where conflict of with humans is more likely. The researchers found that elephants consistently favor dense forests, especially near waterways. Unfortunately, these same areas are often targeted for tourism infrastructure. Armed with this knowledge, conservationists and land managers can work together to identify areas where development poses less risk to elephant populations, striking a balance between economic needs and conservation goals. The experts can also strategically prioritize the protection of the dense forest habitats that elephants rely on for survival."

______________________________________________________________

How you can get involved

Consider the following ways to get involved:

Support

Targeted donations

Consider volunteering your time or skills.

Raise awareness

The power of your voice

Fact-based advocacy

Make informed choices

Sustainable consumption

Scrutinize business practices

Reduce, reuse, recycle

[inayamot]

A yearly tradition to participate in the Ride For Heart. The ride will take place June 3rd 2018 and will shut down parts of the Gardiner Expressway and DVP. Last year I was only able to walk 5km due to health reasons but this year I will push myself to ride 50km. Show your support by donating to an amazing cause. The full link is clickable on my bio page. #RideForHeart #Manulife #HeartAndStroke @thehsf #Toronto

[richcreviews]

Such an amazing time going down to @blooryorkville to see the #Toronto #icefest2018 So many unique and different ice sculptures to appreciate! 🙂 #ice #festival #Canada #sculpture #madefromice #ice #yorkville #bloor #winter #amazing #amazingthings #winterhathcome #majestic #medievaltimes #heartandstroke #heartandstrokefoundation #castle #icesculpture (at Yorkville, Toronto)

[freshstartwithnancybeth]

The Big Hearts 2018 committee has started planning our annual fundraiser, which is sure to be one of the best yet! Our title sponsor will be announced soon along with event details. One thing I can share is the incredible talent we have booked for the evening ... Johnny Ross & Peggy Clinton. At this time we are seeking silent auction donations. This year we will be having a stronger social media presence, highlighting all individuals, organizations and companies who make donations or sponsor the event. If you would like to support this event by making a donation towards our silent auction table, please post below or inbox me. A big thank you to those who have already donated! We appreciate your support. #BigHearts #BigHearts2018 #HeartandStroke #silentauction #donation #donations #donationsneeded #sponsorship #fundraiser #fundraising #heartdisease #afib #permanentafib (at SWEET SPOT ACADEMY)

[sugarpickledesigns]

It's jump rope for heart today!! #jumpropeforheart #hearthealth #fundraiser #heartandstrokefoundation #healthykids #donate #heartandstroke #healthyheartpledge #jumpropeforheart2017

[garmannl-blog]

Heart Truth YYC fundraiser. #heartandstroke @hearttruthyyc #yyc #charity #fundraiser #local #health #women #reddresses #cause #design #fashion #gala #night (at Eighth Avenue Place)

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup March 2024

Handbook to Mitigate the Impact of Roads and Railways on Asian Elephants

"The first elephant-specific handbook to help countries reduce collisions and provide safe passage for elephants has just been published, coauthored by experts on elephants and transport ecology from the Asian Elephant Transport Working Group—a collaborative effort between the International Union for Conservation of Nature Asian Elephant Specialist Group and the Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group. The “Handbook to Mitigate the Impacts of Roads and Railways on Asian Elephants” aims to provide workable solutions for transportation planners and engineers to protect Asian elephants from the negative impacts of roads and railways."

Who Pays for Conservation?: New CITES Publication Calls for Mobilizing Sustainable Finance for African Elephant Conservation

"The challenge of elephant conservation is both complex and costly, necessitating a move towards innovative approaches to financing conservation costs so as to ensure that no species is threatened with extinction by entering into international trade. This publication is a significant step towards understanding how to address the gap in conservation funding and ensuring the sustainable future of our precious wildlife."

Why Child Soldiering Persists in Africa

"In 2020, approximately 337 million children around the world resided within 50 kilometers of an ongoing conflict where at least one conflict actor was reported to have recruited children. In Africa specifically, some 118 million children were in such a position, meaning about one in six were vulnerable to recruitment." 

"Child recruitment is a global challenge, but the problem remains deep-rooted in several African states despite decades of efforts to combat the practice. Academic research frames the problem in supply- and demand-side terms, shedding light on structural problems in the society unique to young children as well as the conditions that make children desirable recruits."

"Combatting this issue necessitates action: identifying and resolving root causes, disincentivizing armed actors from pursuing children, and enhancing education in local communities."

Credit: https://www.instagram.com/kandakamagazine/p/C5Lj28YOf6N/

Heart and Stroke: Ride for Heart June 2024

You may donate HERE

Thank you for supporting Heart & Stroke in memory of my Dad.

[inayamot]

DID IT!!!! This was an amazing experience. Shout out to @thehsf and #Becel for putting on an amazing fundraiser #RideForHeart #HeartAndStroke #MoreMoments (at Enercare Centre)

[landpeng]

#virtualrideforheart @heartandstroke https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJGKmppHDO/?igshid=1tci894e5v0rd

[parrot-matt]

@matlantivex: RT @HeartDocSharon: Heart-Brain ❤️🧠Connection: breaking down the silos, sharing knowledge of the interconnected complexities of the vascular system, sending the message of prevention @HeartandStroke @DalhousieU @NSHAcentral @QEIIFoundation @CWHHAlliance @BrenNicAllen @MaryAnnButt @NicoleNickers11 https://t.co/QTBbbERcsm

RT @HeartDocSharon: Heart-Brain ❤️🧠Connection: breaking down the silos, sharing knowledge of the interconnected complexities of the vascular system, sending the message of prevention @HeartandStroke @DalhousieU @NSHAcentral @QEIIFoundation @CWHHAlliance @BrenNicAllen @MaryAnnButt @NicoleNickers11 https://t.co/QTBbbERcsm

[turningthetablesblog]

The Heart and Stroke Foundation Social Media Assessment Report.

April 5th,  2019

Person A – Haley Zsolt (10175773)

Blog Link:  https://haleyzsolt8.wixsite.com/heartandstroke

Table of Contents

Executive Summary…. 2

Introduction…………… 3

Media Analytics……… 4

Methods………………...5

Social Media…………...6

Website...............6

Facebook……..6-7

Instagram…………7

Twitter……...7

Discussion……………...8

Conclusion …………….8

References……………..9

Appendices ……………10-11

Executive Summary

This analytical report examined each social media platform where the Heart and Stroke are present. Each platform was examined, critiqued and recommendations were disclosed. The utilization of these platforms need to be expanded as well show more uniformity in information and posts they are sharing. Specially the organization needs to create material that are so engaging individuals will want to share. The types of posts and tone used greatly affect the influx of traffic on each platform. It will be concluded that having a more active presence on these platforms and the strength of material shared will reach a larger audience. Heart and Stroke will benefit from this by reaching more potential volunteers and donors.

Introduction

The Heart and Stroke Foundation is an organization that focuses on research and programs for those who have been impacted by either one. Through dedicated research, breakthroughs, and innovations, many lives are saved. Some of the leading goals of Heart & Stroke is to advocate, educate and support research contributing to Heart Disease and Stroke. Advocacy and education create awareness and influence preventive measures within research as well to increase recognition of stroke and heart condition symptoms. As the Heart and Stroke foundation mission states:

“ For over 60 years, Heart & Stroke has been dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our work has saved thousands of lives and improved the lives of millions of others”

The Heart and Stroke Foundation will be analytically critiqued through their Social Media presence.  The analysis of the Heart & Strokes use of media will influence clarity to the how the organization is peeing perceived and if the Foundations current media strategies are beneficial.

[figure 1]

Media Analytics

Digital connectivity is a critical aspect of campaign success. The use of various social outlets can either progress the goals of the foundation or prevent potential engagement.  The use of experimentation on these platforms can influence the organization to reach greater audience and with time act as a force for social good (Kanter, 2018).

[Figure 2]

Video content has been shown to be the most effective method to move and enhance their audiences, the bets platform to post video content on is Facebook (Kanter, 2018). During this time it is crucial to ensure each platform can be accessible on a smartphone device, this includes website content. With the decline of desktop computer use it is important to invest in making each platform engaging and easily accessible to ensure no significant loss in donations (Kanter, 2018).

Identifying The Audience

A major portion of the population that Heart and Stroke Foundation is targeting their social media campaign towards is a middle aged and middle class audience, especially regarding their Facebook page. A large portion of images and articles posted to their Facebook are articles either relating to healthier life choices for middle aged citizens, or to making healthy choices for your children. This also means that people with children are large targets for this campaign as well, considering most people using Facebook are between the ages of 25 and 45 (Statista).

Methods

How did we analyze the data

Present findings or research as simply as possible

Traffic information

For this analysis each relevant Social Media platform was visited,  including the Heart & Stroke Website,  Instagram , Twitter,  and Facebook. The tone, clarity, branding and the level of engagement within each Social Media was examined. Each platform was analyzed where applicable in order to examine current user traffic and predict potential traffic.

Traffic methods:

The number of followers and subscribers,  the average number of posts per week and the average number of likes per post were collected

The average was collected for the number of posts per week by examining how many post were made over a period of two weeks

The average number of likes per post was collected by analyzed the amount of likes per post within the period of two weeks

Unfortunately the traffic for and posting information for the Heart and Stroke website was unviable at this time.

[Figure 3]

Social Media Platforms

Website  https://www.heartandstroke.ca/

The website contains valuable information regarding the foundation, donations, and valuable research reports and guidance regarding heart disease and stroke.

Website design was clean, modern, and offered positive sentiment in light of the difficult topic.

The website contained many keywords relevant to the goal of the foundation as well as had strong backlinks, all positively affecting Heart and Stroke’s SEO.

Recommendations

There is difficulty regarding navigation, tabs seem to lead to disorganized and clustered topics. Creating multiple subheadings within over-reaching sections would help this issue.

The page brightness with color can be over for some individuals. In order to keep the red contrast with the brand, incorporated more white or grey backgrounds.

Information was not seen as being organized, as many pages have long scrolls and diseased content.

It is crucial to sift through website content and remove and unnecessary testimonials or facts as they can be posted on other social media platforms.

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/heartandstroke/

This platform is the organized most liked platform as well acts as hub for information and connections for heart and stroke audiences.

The page offers multimedia such as videos, links to heart and stroke events,

This platforms offers important  information quickly for those who do not wish to sift through the website such as  contact, photos, videos and more.

Recommendations

The page should ideally focus on relating topics, whether it be fundraising, health tips, or educational statements. Currently the page posts are unorganized and some even unrelated which may confuse the audience.

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/thehsf/?hl=en

the bio of the page is well structured,  Sharing hashtags for users to use as well as foundation goals and the website link

The majority of the posts are aligned with the branding of foundation,

Recommendations

Currently the account is only posting 1-2 posts a week, this is not enough to create an active presence on Instagram, this should increase to 1-2 posts a day.

It is crucial to utilize the story feature to keep fallowers updated and tuned in to current Heart and Stroke events, news and daily posts.

The page should have a greater uniformity of attractive, intriguing posts to capture the audience.

Twitter  https://twitter.com/HeartandStroke

This twitter account is a leading account for recent activity and updates.

The account is currently very active showing an average of 26 tweets a week with a large fallowing.

Recommendations

Although this account is fairly active, there is limited us of hashtags and key words within the tweets

Tis platform should be the most updated and most relevant, therefore posting engaging tweets, articles, facts are needed to maintain high flow of traffic.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths of Heart and Stroke

The Instagram page for the Heart and Stroke Foundation is certainly a strong point in their social media campaign. Compared to their Facebook and Twitter pages, their Instagram page does not have nearly as many followers (see figure 3), yet they garner a lot more likes compared to the other pages. Their Instagram also differs significantly from their Facebook and Twitter  pages. They seem to have accumulated a large amount of likes from the images that they post, and that is because they have managed to maintain a consistent theme and aesthetic regarding the content of their posts. A majority of their posts either promote survivors or volunteers, as well as a series of quotes that promote healthier diets and encourage people to be aware of their cardiovascular health. The above image is just one example of many posts on the HSF Instagram page. The page has a consistent aesthetic that bodes well for a platform such as Instagram, and as a result it is certainly the platform with their most interactions.

Suggestions for Improvement

One of the most glaring flaws that exists in the social media campaign that Heart and Stroke is managing is the substance on their Twitter feed. While they may have almost 50 thousand followers on Twitter, their likes and retweets are averaging under 20 per tweet, indicating that their messages are not reaching the number of people reflected in their follower count. While they are very active, sometimes tweeting multiple times per day, they seem to have a tough time managing their audience on Twitter. One way in which Heart and Stroke may convert their lonely Twitter page into a successful and more interactive one is to find a proper purpose for the page and accurately address their audience. A successful example of a social media campaign called Know Your Lemons made education around breast cancer more accessible for women of all ages, combining the importance of spreading information about the disease with a series of videos and the entertainment factor of going online (Seo-Hacker). If Heart and Stroke were able to properly recognize their Twitter audience, especially considering Twitter has a generally younger user-base than Facebook, they would be able to maximize their Twitter audience for the better. They already have successful campaigns such as the Jump Rope for Heart movement, so capitalizing on that by creating more promotional videos and generating clicks and shares would certainly improve their online presence.

If Heart and Stroke wanted to go a step further, a useful means of both promotion and sharing information regarding heart disease would be to develop an application that can be used on smart phones (Localytics). This would both be an interactive and practical way to get people involved in the movement, allowing users to perhaps share stories, to interact with games and videos that all revolve around the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Another idea for an application would be a daily physical activity application that tracks movement and notifies you of the benefits or your current physical exercise. Considering Jump Rope For Heart is aimed at children in primary school, designing an application that is accessible for young ages, with games and awards, would be a positive way to promote healthy lifestyles at a young age.

One final suggestion that I would make to fully maximize their social media presence is to utilize the story feature on Instagram to generate more traffic and more shares. An Instagram account called Canucks Autism recently released a video that promoted awareness and information regarding children with autism. They wrote in the description that every share that the post will gets will result in one dollar donated from Surrey Fire Fighters. Not only did they have to cap the amount of shares that result in donations because of the amount of traffic and shares, but it also resulted in large donations from other non-profits who wanted to promote the post. Heart and Stroke could certainly capitalize on this trend, sharing stories from survivors and using social media to gain both awareness and to attract donations for their cause. A study from 2012 demonstrates a strong relationship between social context and successful media campaigns. Combining the importance of cardiovascular health with a social trend, similar to what Canucks did with autism, would be a good way for Heart and Stroke to ensure that their campaign garners a great deal of traffic and discussion (Noort et. al).

Here is a link to the Canucks Instagram page where you can see the video that is referenced: https://www.instagram.com/canucksautism/?hl=en

Discussion

The Heart and Stroke’s social media presence is consistently active yet lacks homogeneity within the shared material creating an inconsistent brand. Each platform should be posting frequently, therefore it is not effective if Twitter is posting seven tweets a day while the Instagram account posts once a week all with inconsistent material and tone (Shane). According to various studies the ideal frequency for posting on social media looks as the fallowing; Facebook (1 post per day), Twitter (15 tweets per day), Instagram( 1-2 posts per day) (Shane). In order to create an effective brand and response through social media platforms the posts not only need to me consistent but also display the brands goals and create a positive reaction from the audience. The platform need to be more interactive while being educational, as they need to be communicative to further educate awareness. It is important to attract all demographics of audiences although older demographics are the individuals struggling with heart disease and stroke the younger demographics are those can make lifestyle changes and make preventive choices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the foundation is fairly active on the leading social media sites, with a clear portrayal of the Heart and Stroke brand as well as the foundation’s goals. The platforms are engaging, attractive and hold valuable information. There are a number of ways to improve their presence and generate more traffic and interaction from users, however they have built a strong foundation online. By utilizing the recommendations and analytics described in this report, the Heart and Stroke foundation will grow a greater social media presence that would benefit the organization as it will affect a larger and more diverse audience.

References

Adler, Bryn. The 5 Biggest Benefits of Running Personalized App Marketing Campaigns. Localytics, Retrieved from:

http://info.localytics.com

Kanter, Beth. Digital connectivity is a force for social good. Charities must harness it.

(2018). Retreived from: https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2018/jan/10/post-truth-world-charities-connectivity-social-good-media-chatbots-mobile-optimisation

Noort, Guda van et al. “Social connections and the persuasiveness of viral campaigns in social network sites: Persuasive intent as the underlying mechanism. Journal of Marketing Campaigns, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 39-53

Shane, Dakota. How Often You Should Post on Social Media, According to 10 Studies.

Retreived from; https://www.inc.com/dakota-shane/how-often-you-should-post-on-social-media-according-to-10-studies.html

Si, Sean. Elements of a Viral Social Media Campaign. Seo-Hacker, Retrieved from:https://seo-hacker.com/elements-viral-social-media-campaign/

Appendix

Figure 1. Pictogram showing heart condition statistics from the Heart and Stroke report

https://www.heartandstroke.ca/-/media/pdf-files/canada/2019-report/heartandstrokereport2019.ashx

Figure 2.  Image depicting the power of social media

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/social-media

Figure 3. Graph showing traffic statics of each platform