World Venture Partners Overview
	Photos of the recent Nicaragua trip
	Peter Blomquist's trip report
	Observations of the Participants
	Steve Forman's Foundation News and Commentary article

World Venture Partners

Community Investment for Global Development

Introduction

World Venture Partners (WVP) offers customized trips for small groups to explore and engage in development work in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Trips have three primary agendas:

1. To become educated on effective grassroots development focused on poverty alleviation;
2. To identify and commit, as a group, to a project or community for three years; and
3. To explore personal service in a global context in an experience that is inspiring, powerful and motivating.

WVP provides detailed pre-trip preparation related to cross-cultural engagement. The trips themselves include in-depth conversations with local people about economic and political issues in-country, as well as visits to villages and locations well off the beaten track. It is expected that each group will continue to work together for three years.

The ultimate goals of WVP trips are to achieve real exchange-providing financial resources and skills to aid in development work, while listening to and learning from the strengths of local culture and tradition.

Possible 2001 trips include:

1. Nicaragua-exploring development in the coffee-producing mountainous regions in the north, then traveling to the islands of Solentiname in the far south of Lake Nicaragua.
   
   
2. Ethiopia-Christian, Jewish, Islamic and African influences converge in the high plateaus of the ancient land of Abyssinia. The striking beauty of the land and people is contrasted with the deep poverty of Ethiopia-still one of the poorest nations on earth.
   
   
3. Peru-the high altiplano to the north of Lake Titicaca is austere and poor. Visits to development projects around Puno will be followed by an adventure trek in the stunning Cordillera Blanca range in the central Peruvian Andes.

Mission

World Venture Partners (WVP) will inspire, broaden and deepen commitment to international service and community.

Need

There are many enterprises addressing global poverty and its attendant problems. These enterprises vary greatly in size, quality and effectiveness.

There are also an increasing number of people here who want to make a significant and sustained contribution to global issues, but do not have the information, analytical tools, and experience to make informed decisions on personal or institutional engagement.

Strategy

World Venture Partners will provide these commodities (information, analysis, and experience) to link people and resources here with programs overseas in long-term relationships that are mutually beneficial.

Partnerships will not only provide an opportunity to give of resources and skills, but also to learn from the enduring community values and cultural strengths of people around the world.

Goals

1. Foster leadership from the current and next generations in commitment to service globally.
   
   
2. Serve as a broker organization linking people and resources here with development programs overseas.

Activities

World Venture Partners (WVP) will focus on Education and Engagement:

1. Education: highlight ideas, opportunities and organizations in international development.
   • Produce articles and other materials to broadly publicizing international needs and service opportunities.
   • Create state-of-art interactive web site to link interests with opportunities.
   • Implement regular educational events exploring leading ideas and trends in international development, and introducing a range of organizations implementing overseas programs.
   • Establish links with educational and development institutions to add further opportunity for WVP members.
   
   
   
2. Engagement: match people and institutions with opportunities to provide service internationally.
   • Provide informational and referral services and direct linkages matching individuals and institutions with overseas service opportunities.
   • Organize interactive team travel experiences with teams of 6-10 people on overseas trips.
   • Explore ways to develop long-term, sustainable partnerships with communities overseas by developing balanced, mutually beneficial relationships.
   • Stimulate investment into target programs overseas.

Target Constituencies

Three constituencies will constitute the initial target markets:

1. The Baby Boomer Generation
   
   Business and civic leaders feeling desires for meaningful global citizenship, purposeful travel, and the opportunity to explore spirit and service in community.
2. Philanthropists
   
   Both existing, "new" and professionals in the field. Seminars and trips will be customized to respective interests.
3. The Next Generation
   
   Programs and trips will promote global perspective and leadership among young people.

Geographic Focus

World Venture Partners will facilitate connections and partnerships in Latin America, Africa, and Asia according to interest and need.