It's a dance event that's got the whole world groovin' to cultural beats all for a great cause and it's made its way into the online, virtual world of 'Second Life.' 'Dance for the World,' is a fundraising initiative by CUSO, an organization in more than 70 countries that has sent over 11,000 volunteers overseas. CUSO trains Canadian volunteers and sends them to help communities around the world, but that takes money and lots of it. Which is why CUSO created 'Dance for the World,' and why CUSO is going online for help. In the virtual world of Second Life, CUSO hosted seven events over a six-hour period while inviting people to join in, "...and dance to a different theme.""So it might be an African segment for two hours." says Erynn Lyster, Outreach Leader for CUSO West and North.
They celebrated 'Dance for the World' in Second Life and all of the regions CUSO places volunteers, including Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Money raised in both the real world and the virtual world will help create a Global Partnership Fund with the extra funds being applied to augment the work that CUSO is doing. Organizers are hoping 'Dance for the World' will become an annual event with more and more people strutting their stuff on dance floors in real life as well as the world online.