IMHO Youth Forum Presentation on Service

Importance of ServiceImportance of Service

Why?Why? We find ourselves at a critical timeWe find ourselves at a critical time We have the unique opportunity to We have the unique opportunity to

draw upon our own ideas, resources, draw upon our own ideas, resources, and motivations to the benefit of and motivations to the benefit of othersothers

Need for the next generation of Need for the next generation of leadership with new ideas and leadership with new ideas and passionspassions

There are estimated to be between There are estimated to be between 100 million and 150 million street 100 million and 150 million street children in the world, and this children in the world, and this number is growing. Of those some number is growing. Of those some 5-10% have run away from or been 5-10% have run away from or been abandoned by their families. abandoned by their families.

There are approximately 50 million There are approximately 50 million uprooted people around the world— uprooted people around the world— refugees who have sought safety in refugees who have sought safety in another country, and people another country, and people displaced within their own country. displaced within their own country. Around half of these displaced Around half of these displaced people are children. Around 80% of people are children. Around 80% of refugees are women and children.refugees are women and children.

The majority of people flee their The majority of people flee their homes because of war. It is homes because of war. It is estimated that more than two estimated that more than two million children were killed in million children were killed in conflict in the last decade. Another conflict in the last decade. Another six million are believed to have six million are believed to have been wounded and one million been wounded and one million orphaned.orphaned.

Children in 87 countries live among Children in 87 countries live among 60 million land mines. As many as 60 million land mines. As many as 10,000 per year continue to become 10,000 per year continue to become victims of mines.victims of mines.

AIDS has killed more than 3.8 million AIDS has killed more than 3.8 million children and orphaned another 13 children and orphaned another 13 million. In the last five years HIV/AIDS million. In the last five years HIV/AIDS has become the greatest threat to has become the greatest threat to children, especially in countries children, especially in countries ravaged by war. In the worst affected ravaged by war. In the worst affected countries, it is estimated that as many countries, it is estimated that as many as half of today’s 15-year-olds will die as half of today’s 15-year-olds will die from the disease.from the disease.

An estimated 45,000 households in An estimated 45,000 households in Rwanda today are headed by Rwanda today are headed by children, 90 percent of them girls.children, 90 percent of them girls.

An estimated 1.2 billion people An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide survive on less than $1 worldwide survive on less than $1 per day. Half of them are children.per day. Half of them are children.

Ten million children under the age Ten million children under the age of five die each year, the majority of five die each year, the majority from preventable diseases and from preventable diseases and malnutritionmalnutrition..

““If your actions inspire others If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, do more and become more,

you are a leader.”you are a leader.”

Critical Questions to Critical Questions to Ask…Ask…

1.1. Why are children so vulnerable? What Why are children so vulnerable? What difficulties do they face when forced difficulties do they face when forced to deal with the realities of war, to deal with the realities of war, poverty, disease, disaster, or abuse?poverty, disease, disaster, or abuse?

2.2. What could you/we do to address What could you/we do to address some of these issues that children some of these issues that children face? Are you passionate about any face? Are you passionate about any of these topics? of these topics?

Education. Empowerment. Education. Empowerment. Entrepreneurship.Entrepreneurship.

A global nonprofit organization A global nonprofit organization based in Southern California, USAbased in Southern California, USA

MissionMission Visions seeks to change patterns of Visions seeks to change patterns of

inequality by supporting educational inequality by supporting educational initiatives for youth affected by poverty initiatives for youth affected by poverty and conflict. and conflict.

Focus is on Leadership & Life Skills, IT, Focus is on Leadership & Life Skills, IT, and English skills development.and English skills development.

About VisionsAbout Visions Volunteer organization, driven by young Volunteer organization, driven by young

peoplepeople

We work with underprivileged young We work with underprivileged young people, teachers, and others in developing people, teachers, and others in developing countries toward enabling them to become countries toward enabling them to become self-sufficient, leadership-oriented, healthy, self-sufficient, leadership-oriented, healthy, and capable of participating in a global and capable of participating in a global economy.economy.

Visions has operated in Sri Lanka (since Visions has operated in Sri Lanka (since 2003), Kenya (since 2007), and India (since 2003), Kenya (since 2007), and India (since 2008).2008).

Who is Visions?Who is Visions? Founded in 2003 Founded in 2003

Currently no staffCurrently no staff

Board of Directors (5 members)Board of Directors (5 members)

Over 85 international volunteers have spent Over 85 international volunteers have spent time abroad with us (many local volunteers time abroad with us (many local volunteers have joined us, as well)have joined us, as well)

Rely heavily on volunteers and on the goodwill Rely heavily on volunteers and on the goodwill of others, both locally and abroadof others, both locally and abroad

What We DoWhat We Do60%60% INDIRECT IMPLEMENTATIONINDIRECT IMPLEMENTATION: : Visions plays the role of Visions plays the role of

‘enabler’, working to implement various projects through local partners ‘enabler’, working to implement various projects through local partners who direct and mange the projects themselves. who direct and mange the projects themselves.

30%30% DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION: DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION: In the projects that Visions direct In the projects that Visions direct

implements, we research, design, and implement the projects ourselves. implements, we research, design, and implement the projects ourselves.

10%10% AWARENESS RAISING/CAPACITY-BUILDING: AWARENESS RAISING/CAPACITY-BUILDING: An important An important

part of what Visions does is to educate others not only about the need part of what Visions does is to educate others not only about the need for education and development globally, but also to provide for education and development globally, but also to provide opportunities for interested parties to take action themselves. opportunities for interested parties to take action themselves.

Visions EffortsVisions Efforts1. Visions Leadership Education Program1. Visions Leadership Education Program

*19 trainings held since 2003 across Sri Lanka, *19 trainings held since 2003 across Sri Lanka, Kenya, Kenya, & India& India

*Over 1,200 direct beneficiaries and *Over 1,200 direct beneficiaries and thousands more thousands more indirect beneficiariesindirect beneficiaries

*Leadership & Life Skills, Global & Local Issues*Leadership & Life Skills, Global & Local Issues

2. Kalagam Visions Learning Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka2. Kalagam Visions Learning Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka* Due to be complete mid-2010* Due to be complete mid-2010

3. Local Empowerment Efforts3. Local Empowerment Efforts

Other EffortsOther Efforts Placed 3 girls from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka on 3-year dance Placed 3 girls from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka on 3-year dance

scholarship in Chennai—India (2003)scholarship in Chennai—India (2003) Donated funds to Student Leadership Committees in Donated funds to Student Leadership Committees in

Batticaloa & Trincomalee and oversaw progress—Sri Lanka Batticaloa & Trincomalee and oversaw progress—Sri Lanka (2005)(2005)

Rebuilt Dilapidated Rural School in Keliyapura—Sri Lanka Rebuilt Dilapidated Rural School in Keliyapura—Sri Lanka (2005)(2005)

Built & Developed Rural Community Center in Keliyapura—Built & Developed Rural Community Center in Keliyapura—Sri Lanka (2006)Sri Lanka (2006)

Gave scholarships to 10 boys at Hindu Board of Education Gave scholarships to 10 boys at Hindu Board of Education Children’s Home in Jaffna—Sri Lanka (2007)Children’s Home in Jaffna—Sri Lanka (2007)

Implemented Effective English Teaching Program for English Implemented Effective English Teaching Program for English Teachers—Sri Lanka (2007)Teachers—Sri Lanka (2007)

Other Efforts, cont.Other Efforts, cont. Donated Multimedia Room to Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam Donated Multimedia Room to Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam

in Colombo—Sri Lanka (2007)in Colombo—Sri Lanka (2007) Donated approx. 2,000 books to Saiva Mangaiyar Donated approx. 2,000 books to Saiva Mangaiyar

Vidyalaym for youth in Colombo—Sri Lanka (2008)Vidyalaym for youth in Colombo—Sri Lanka (2008) Gave 1 Visions scholarship to Jaffna youth—Sri Lanka (2009)Gave 1 Visions scholarship to Jaffna youth—Sri Lanka (2009) Donated sound equipment to rural school in Theni—India Donated sound equipment to rural school in Theni—India

(2009)(2009) Donated approx. 1,300 books to Chinmaya Organization for Donated approx. 1,300 books to Chinmaya Organization for

Rural Development (CORD) for youth in Jaffna—Sri Lanka Rural Development (CORD) for youth in Jaffna—Sri Lanka (2009)(2009)

Donated approx. 2,800 books to Chinmaya Organization for Donated approx. 2,800 books to Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development (CORD) for youth in Northeast—Sri Rural Development (CORD) for youth in Northeast—Sri Lanka (2010)Lanka (2010)

Thank you for being Thank you for being here…here…

www.VisionsForTheFuturwww.VisionsForTheFuture.orge.org