By Selina Seesunkur
Whether you are campaigning during an election or fighting for an ongoing cause, canvassing is generally a must-do. Here are some essential tips to help you whether you are knocking on doors or standing in your local town square.
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Stay hydrated
Speaking to people for a few hours can be thirsty work. It is important that you stay hydrated.
In the interest of being environmental, we recommend using a reusable water bottle
Take Notes
You will be asked to record key information, pen and paper is always handy!
Image: Engin Akyurt
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Pucker up
Dry lips can be uncomfortable, carry lip balm on you, especially on those cold winter days, after all, you need your mouth for talking!
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Weather-Ready
You never know whether it is going to rain or shine, you have a couple of options here
Carry an umbrella
Wear a cap
Wear a rain poncho with hood.
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Minty Fresh Breath
There is nothing worse than talking to a person with bad breath. Don’t let that person be you.
Hours of talking, lack of hydration or you might have simply eaten lunch, can all lead to bad breath, drink plenty and carry mints on you, just in case.
Be Bacteria Free
With the spread of flu in the winter months, hand sanitisers help to deter the spread of germs and illness-causing bacteria
A tissue is also a good idea in case you do get a cold while you are out.
Image: Xavier Vandeputte
Image: Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke
Stay Charged
There are a number of reasons for keeping your phone charged. The first is for your safety, if you are using a location tracker your teammates can find you if you get separated from them. But you may also find that there are Apps in the market that help you record the information you collect from your canvassing session. Finally, photos are a great way of showing how active you are and raising awareness for your cause. We encourage you to carry a small USB battery pack or power bank.
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Mind your back
Worn across your upper body to ensure you do not get backache, this bag is ideal for carrying campaign leaflets. You can also hang your water bottle from the strap.
Image: Tero Vesalainen
Let them know who you are
When approaching the public it is a good idea to let them know who you are and what group or cause you are campaigning for. Either carry business cards, a badge which identifies the group you are with or literature which outlines the nature of the organisation that you represent