Philanthropic travel is booming, hence the existence of this grant. Recent estimates suggest that volunteering on vacation, or 'voluntourism', is growing at about the rate that cruising was in the 90's. It's hot; it's in vogue; it's what people want to do. But it's also under extreme scrutiny. Is this the best way to engage international development? Is this what community partners want? How do they see us? How are we affecting them? I want to step back and provide some perspective on our urge to do-good overseas by answering these questions for Canto Grande. In doing so, I hope to give voice to these Peruvians and to re-evaluate our position as well-intentioned westerns in the developing world.

This project will focus on bringing sustainable economic opportunity with socially conscious products inspired by traditional indigenous practices. Opportunities for meaningful and gainful employment are slim and hard to find for indigenous people in Peru, especially in the more remote regions. The indigenous people of Peru are expert craftsman; producing amazingly beautiful and functional products. The goal of this trip will be to harness these skills and provide opportunities for sustainable economic development that will in turn provide more opportunity for growth and advancement in the future. I appreciate you taking the time to hear about my trip idea. Please share this with your friends as well! ¡Saludos!

In part, that everything exists because of two overlapping spheres. The area where the spheres overlap creates the reactions of all that happens after. It is really interesting though when you realize that the two spheres actually formed, or divided from One sphere. I really like this idea where something good can happen for both spheres involved. That is really the only way we to survive is if there is a solution that works for everybody.

The overall goal of ITF Volunteers’s travel from Kenya to Rwanda to play a soccer game “a score for 100 Rwanda street children” is to raise awareness of increasing number of street children in Gasabo district. More specifically this journey or game is expected to advocate 4 specific aspects: - Mainstreaming of Street children issues - Abuse and exploitation of Street children - Health related problems of street children - Crime and deviant behavior

Creativity is extremely important in the growth and development of every child. My dream is to promote art in rural Nepal and through workshops give practical and affordable ways that it can be incorporated into schools. Most of the children have never even held a crayon or had the opportunity to partake in any type of art activity.

World Camp Clubs are student activism clubs that focus on solving locally-challenging issues. In addition to addressing pressing issues World Camp Clubs build the capacity of youths through skills training. These Clubs embrace and nurture the future leaders of rural Malawian communities, promote full community participation in local development, inspire students to think of themselves beyond typical expectations, provide another reason for children to stay in school, and encourage all community members to rethink the role of students in Malawi. The beauty of World Camp Clubs is that they focus on immediate needs while fostering the self-esteem and skill-building needed to shape the future.

We will provide sustainable animal husbandry training and resources to impoverished families. AMAR Haiti provides families in this community with goat production training and resources, empowering them to take on the role of skilled animal and public health community leaders. Eventually, they will cooperatively own and manage the goat business and train subsequent families, propagating the program and ensuring its sustainability. The project will support financial independence, provide a sustainable source of nutrition, improve Haitian goat genetics, and eventually become a novel training opportunity for veterinary students - their participation will inspire and equip them to seed additional AMAR projects throughout Haiti and beyond.

This project is about connecting people throughout the United States. It's about design, but it's also about collaboration and community. I believe this project can help anyone who needs inspiration, students looking to find a field of design to study, professionals, and those seeking out design professionals for work. The Pinpoint Method highlights creatives in a number of communities across the states. This can help communities by making them more aware of the creative talent in their own city or state that can be used when outsourcing talent or by helping students in search of direction by letting them know what all is out there and showing that success can be achieved anywhere.

Through GlobeMed's approach and the GROW internship, organizations gain a greater capacity to serve their community and a generation of young people are equipped to transform the world. The Rutgers and CSSD project will serve as an outreach program that will reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS infection among entertainment workers by promoting safe sexual practices. By being physically present and working directly with CSSD and the affected population in Phnom Penh, GlobeMed members gain valuable experience in grass-roots and non-profit work while CSSD will learn important managerial and operational skills. Both partners will gain a deeper understanding of global citizenship and solidarity.

Participants and people attending the events will have an opportunity to understand what living with a SCI is. The show will use positive images to shift attitudes and stereotypes of people with disabilities. By using an event as a social medium to educate people, BACKBONES will create a platform for people to interact, share stories and start conversations. * BACKBONES provides one-on-one support for people with spinal cord injury and their loved ones.

Connect Africa Foundation, a non-profit founded in 2005, helps people of Uganda invest in themselves and in the future of their community. Currently Connect Africa's new endeavor is to construct a library for the local community of Jogo, Uganda. In a country where education is limited to the wealthy, the desire to go to school is of utmost importance to families. A library filled with books will give the villagers an education which they so rightfully deserve. This will create a local meeting place where people can come and learn. It will enable volunteers to communicate with the locals through the universal language of books.

Feeding the bottled water industry has taken a toll on wells from homes in rural communities by draining aquifers, lowered lake levels, and hurt wetlands. It takes three times as much water than is produced. In addition, globally 2.7 million tons of water bottle plastic is used annually, the vast majority of which ends up as littler or in a landfill. Local communities cannot handle this trash.

Fear Not Now aspires to motivate social change. Anyone who watches the film will receive new insight into how other parts of the world view Americans and our culture. We will also be learning and sharing about progressive communities and projects now active in Europe and connecting them to the world (YOU) via our interactive media project. Documenting such a personal experience and sharing it with others is also a vulnerable process and we seek to inspire others to be fearless and open-minded about the world at large.

Firstly, the gumboot dancers themselves - for some, the gumboot tour will be their first trip on a plane and out of South Africa. They’ll have the chance to experience a whole new culture, and show off their talent to audiences, while taking pride in where they are from and what they stand for. Secondly, our hope is that the viewers of our documentary will be challenge to think of Africa and Kliptown in a different light – a positive light. We hope they’ll see the joy, hope, community spirit and potential of each of these dancers, and connect with the adventure the gumboot dancers are embarking on. Finally, the money raised through ticket sales and donations will go support KYP and other projects nurturing young people around the world.

Literacy is a human right. It lies at the root of our identity, and for every individual is both a symbol of dignity and the means of controlling our life. It is the path to human and social development. Without literacy, Haiti cannot rise above her misery. Our students know the daily humiliation of being illiterate. Beyond reading and writing, and basic math, they learn about human rights, Haiti's history, ecology, civics.... In a population which is chronically undernourished, often acutely malnourished, our food program is vital. We have to find a way to light those fires again. Our 300 Alfa students struggle on towards literacy and dignity. Now they seek the means to eat at least one simple meal a day.

In Brazil, ChildFund has a mobile reading program to give children the joy of reading and to promote literacy. The Cantinho dos Sonhos program in Brazil is not only helping children in rural communities learn to read, it’s also helping them discover their dreams. Reading is a great way for children and adolescents to develop good concentration skills, critical thinking, and to learn about the world around them. A mobile reading programs will greatly benefit children living in rural communities who may not have access to the libraries in towns.

Bringing art education and supplies to under privileged kids is an opportunity to give them a voice; showing their art in a public space would give them a megaphone. Traveling an exhibit of works from different communities would bring about awareness for the participants and patrons, but also perhaps a deeper sense of unity and hope through the art show's theme. To bring the art by the community to the community will benefit all. The fundraising aspect would most likely be minimal, but it could be empowering for a child to know that he gave back to the organization that is helping him or her. The ultimate goal would be to open doors for the individuals in empowerment and creativity, and to bridge gaps between social groups.

The students who live in the rural town where we serve as Peace Corps Volunteers stand to gain a lot from this project. Not only will they learn about geography and culture, but this project will also foster a sense of curiosity, encourage imagination, and improve the students’ applied thinking skills. Upon returning, the students will teach other community members what they learned, with the goal of increasing appreciation for all elements of Cambodia’s history and its diverse peoples.

Creating a series of murals with the residents of Zone 3 would not only beautify the area, it would consequentially foster a sense of ownership and pride for the people, something that is severely lacking there. It would draw community members of all ages together through a common project that all can participate in, and would leave a physical impact of beauty that would ideally promote a more peaceful region. Community members will be able to feel they have contributed to the development of their city, and build stronger ties with neighbors in the process. In the creation of something beautiful, the community would become more cohesive and a place that residents would be proud to be a part of.

WAVES for Development (WAVES) is a non-governmental organization that is changing old paradigms of the surf tourism industry by giving locals the knowledge, money, and skill sets required to control their own resources. Local staff and community members work with volunteers from all over the world to offer children classes in English, swimming, surfing, photography, board repair, social entrepreneurship, and environmental education. They are also experimenting with micro-credit and entrepreneurship programs for adults to jumpstart businesses in the community, with the goal to build the capacity of the people in Lobitos to develop their community in whatever way they decide.