The Creative Activist Toolkit is a series of PDF booklets designed to help today’s youth impact the world through creativity and social entrepreneurship. Produced by the Global Youth Fund and the Creative Visions Foundation, the toolkit chapters are offered free to download. Email us if you would like to contribute a chapter. This chapter helps young changemakers create effective strategies for change through "asset mapping."

1. e
TAO
of
MacGyver
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

2. ENERGY, SINCERITY,
CLARITY OF VISION,
CREATIVITY...
Dan Eldon (1970-1993)
Creative Activist

3. in partnership with
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

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globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

5. the tao of macgyver
Superman, and Spiderman...
Like Batman,
M acGyver
is one of the
most popular
crim e fighters
in A merican pop
culture.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

6. the tao of macgyver
But unlik e them, he
possesse s no special
powers o r technology.
The only thing he
carries around is a
simple Swiss army
knife.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

7. the tao of macgyver
So what’s his
weapon?
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

8. the tao of macgyver
So what’s his
weapon?
His MIND
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

9. the tao of macgyver
So what’s his
weapon?
His MIND
=
knowledge
+
creativity
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

10. the tao of macgyver
In the hit TV
se ries tha t bears
his name,
Ma cGyver g oes up
ag ainst ba d guys
and alw ays gets
elf into life and
hims
death si tuations.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

11. the tao of macgyver
But he always
manage s to get
out of t hem by
I MPRO VISING
SOLU TIONS
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

12. the tao of macgyver Example 1
Magnifying Glass + Watch Crystal + Newspaper =
Telescope!
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

13. the tao of macgyver Example 2
Cut-up Umbrella + Rope (tied together) =
Grappling Hook!
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

14. the tao of macgyver Example 3
Headphone + Rubber Tubing (inserted) =
Stethoscope!
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

15. the tao of macgyver
In short, MacGyver...
1
looks at his
immediate
surroundings
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

16. the tao of macgyver
In short, MacGyver...
1
looks at his
2
sees what
immediate he has to
surroundings work with
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

17. the tao of macgyver
In short, MacGyver...
1 2 3
looks at his sees what and then uses
immediate he has to his mind to
surroundings work with come up with
a creative
solution.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

18. the tao of macgyver His modus operandi:
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

19. the tao of macgyver His modus operandi:
Do what you can
with what you have
where you are.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

20. the tao of macgyver
It’s how 14-year-old
William Kamkwamba
built his windmill at
his village in rural
Malawi.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

21. the tao of macgyver
It’s how Shailesh and
Ujala brought lighting
to 17 homes - using
tractor batteries.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

22. the tao of macgyver
Do what you can
with what you have
where you are.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

23. the tao of macgyver
It ’s ea sy fo r ac ti vi st s to
do th e oppo si te : to fo cus
on THE PROBLEM ... on
w hat th ey NEED. .. on
ho w to ge t w hat th ey
DON’T HAVE.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

24. the tao of macgyver
But many changemakers
now say, “We need to...
BE LIKE MIKE!”
Mac
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

25. the tao of macgyver
We need to set goals based on our ASSETS
- what we have - rather than our NEEDS.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

26. the tao of macgyver
There are three main reasons for this...
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

27. the tao of macgyver
Outside resources and
support are not easy to get.
You can have a great idea and a
talented team but that doesnʼt gurantee
youʼll get the funding or backing you
want. Often, youʼll need good timing
and luck... and those donʼt always
happen on your schedule.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

28. the tao of macgyver
You already have resources.
Why not use them?
Youʼd be amazed at the change you
can create with existing resources.
So why wait for legislation to change,
major funding to come through or
major partners to come on board?
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

29. the tao of macgyver
It builds “social capital.”
Youʼll find that “existing resources”
and “assets” usually mean other
people. Working with people
means you have to engage and
“empower” others. The
relationships you form will not only
help you but strengthen your
community in the long run.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

30. the tao of macgyver
Q: So... how
mig ht MacGyver
go about creating
so cial change?
A: Heʼd start with
Asset Mapping.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

31. the tao of macgyver
ASSET MAPPING 101
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

32. the tao of macgyver
What are
assets?
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

33. the tao of macgyver
All the people who
might support you.
What are
assets?
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

34. the tao of macgyver
All the people who All the skills they can
might support you. offer your team.
What are
assets?
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

35. the tao of macgyver
All the people who All the skills they can
might support you. offer your team.
What are
assets?
All the institutions
your people are connected
to - schools, churches,
charities, businesses,
government agencies, etc.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

36. the tao of macgyver
All the people who All the skills they can
might support you. offer your team.
What are
assets?
All the institutions All the associations
your people are connected your people are connected
to - schools, churches, to - sports leagues, clubs,
charities, businesses, bands, professional groups,
government agencies, etc. etc.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

37. the tao of macgyver
Let’s begin…
1.
Call a meeting of your team
members, volunteers, supporters,
and friends.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

38. the tao of macgyver
2. Ask each person to write down
all the people, skills, institutions
and associations that your project
can depend on. Write one item
per card.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

39. the tao of macgyver
3. Separate cards into four
different groups and lay them face
up so each card’s words are
visible.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

40. the tao of macgyver
4. Have everyone glance at all the
cards to see what others put
down.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

41. the tao of macgyver
5. Go around the room and ask
each person to quickly come up
with an activity for your project
that would involve 2 or more
cards.
Write them down. Keep going
until everyone has offered 2 or 3
ideas.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

42. the tao of macgyver
Example 1:
Jennie Jennie’s Mom Theater
Jennie, a teammate, says her mom
owns a movie theater in town.
Idea - organize a film night on
your issue.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

43. the tao of macgyver
Example 2:
José Filmmaking School
José, a friend, is already a talented
filmmaker and produces the school’s
TV newscast. Idea - produce a 30-
second public service announcement
(PSA) on climate change for newscast.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

44. the tao of macgyver
Example 3:
The Food Merchants
Lisa
Fare Association
Lisa, team leader, works at The Food
Fare after school and her boss is the
head of the Merchants Association.
Idea - work with businesses to enact
a town-wide ban on plastic bags.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

45. the tao of macgyver
6. Discuss the proposed activities
as a group and see which ones
people are most excited about... or
which ones will produce the most
outcome. (See chapter on Make It
Count.)
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

46. the tao of macgyver
7. Take a group vote to decide
which activity or activities to
move forward with.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

47. the tao of macgyver
I GUARANTEE you
will be AMAZED
at your existing
assets - the rich
connections you
already have.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

48. the tao of macgyver
After mapping
your assets, it’s
all about building
relationships
between them.
Build, build, build!
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

49. the tao of macgyver
One final note:
asset mapping
isn’t just an exercise.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

50. the tao of macgyver
It’s a whole mindset
you can carry over into
all areas of life, the way
MacGyver does.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

51. the tao of macgyver
Once you’ve mastered
The Tao of MacGyver,
you will never look at…
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

52. the tao of macgyver
situations like this...
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

53. the tao of macgyver
and only see poverty...
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

54. the tao of macgyver
you will see wealth too.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

55. the tao of macgyver
JU S T A S K YO U R S ELF
What would
MacGyver
do?
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

56. the tao of macgyver
Good luck! Share your story with us!
Click image to visit our community.
globalyouthfund Creative Activist Toolkit 006

57. the tao of macgyver
Check out other chapters...
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58. the tao of macgyver
if you use this toolkit...
tell us! post your macguyverism at
globalyouth.ning.com. ask for feedback. let us
know if this chapter helped you or how it can be
improved.
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59. about the author
Charles Tsai is the founder and Executive Director of Global
Youth Fund and also works for Ashoka’s Youth Venture as
Director of Virtual Program. Previously, he worked at CNN
as a reporter and producer. www.charlestsai.com
creative activist toolkit thanks
The Creative Activist Toolkit is a series of PDF The Creative Visions Foundation
booklets designed to help today’s youth The Vancouver Foundation
impact the world through creativity and social The Steve Nash Foundation
entrepreneurship. Produced by the Global
Youth Fund and the Creative Visions Jon and Amy Eldon Turteltaub, Joanne Marien
Foundation, the toolkit chapters are offered Elaine Munro, Debbie Riopel, Jaspal Lisa Rai
free to download. Email us if you would like Bruce Johnson, Brooke Kuhn, Serge Martin
to contribute a chapter.
Copyright ©2009 Global Youth Fund credits
Feel free to pass this booklet on but you may Amy Eldon Turteltaub Executive Producer
not alter the content or charge for it. You may Charles Tsai Managing Director
quote brief sections if you credit Global Youth
Fund and provide a link to John L. McKnight and John P. Kretzmann of
globalyouth.ning.com the Asset-Based Community Development
Institute
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60. Global Youth Fund
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Vancouver, BC V6Z 3G2
CANADA
Tel: +1 (604) 628-1807
www.globalyouthfund.org