By Darren Gilbert
Knowing this, four friends set out to do just that. Let me introduce you to No Danger Diaries, where embarrassment and fear has never been an issue. The brainchild of Daniel Becker, Grant Ross, Sebastian Davies, and Travis Stedman, the four friends are not scared to make a difference.
“This all started out as a passion project, done from home,” says Davies. It’s early Friday morning in Cape Town and we’re sitting in their new offices, unofficially dubbed ‘The Rocketship’. They have been here for the past four months. “In the beginning we used to go out and create a ruckus really,” smiles Davies as he reminisces. Of course, the quartet soon realised that it wasn’t sustainable and they set about changing their scope.
“We noticed that everything we did had an element of giving back,” says Davies. “So we decided to see where it would take us.” However, instead of taking an NGO/charity route, the friends decided that No Danger Diaries needed something more In order to stand out and make a difference, they first had to be different. “We decided that whatever it is we were going to do, we would make sure that there was a fun element as well as a give back element,” explains Davies.
It’s a unique filter if ever there was one. “Look, anyone can come up to us and suggest that we go skydiving for charity. But every man and his dog has done that. The same can be said of making sandwiches for the poor,” says Davies. Both are noble endeavours but they’ve been done before. What if you combine them instead? What if you make sandwiches for the poor while simultaneously skydiving? It sounds crazy. But that is No Danger Diaries for you.
“We will never just give back or have something that is [just] fun. We will always combine the two.” This has resulted in some interesting tasks being performed since they began. You only need to visit their website to see the list for yourself. Task #13: abseil off a building dressed as superheroes. The building happened to be the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. Task #19: play djembe drums in a secret cave overlooking the ocean. Task #21: take a homeless man to a sit down dinner. #42: clean an entire beach dressed in speedos.
“It doesn’t matter whether the difference is big or small,” points out Davies. “With No Danger Diaries, we hope to show you that you don’t need to start an NGO [to make a difference]. You don’t need to become a celibate monk either.” It is rather about the fact that you are attempting to make a difference.
Many hands makes light work, believes Davies. And so too when it comes to making a difference. The more people that lend a hand, the better the opportunity to make a bigger, more significant difference. “We believe that we can effect change throughout the world,” says Davies. Regardless of what task they set out to do, one thing is certain. They are not scared to make a difference.
For more information on No Danger Diaries, visit www.nodangerdiaries.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.