2009 Summer Trip Descriptions
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on an NGO below to learn more about the trip. Clicking on a link will open a separate window.
Cai
> Beijing, China
The NGO: Cai ("talent" in Mandarin) is a non-profit that focuses on youth development for underprivileged children in China. To accomplish this goal, Cai partners with existing schools to give them the tools they need to implement sports and arts programs for at-risk youth. Cai's current efforts are concentrated mostly in the Beijing area.
The project objective: While in Beijing, PIBV will develop a comprehensive marketing plan for Cai. Areas of interest include fundraising and obtaining corporate sponsorship, attracting and retaining volunteers, and raising general awareness. To this end, other possible deliverables include a newsletter and print and online advertising.
Students with a background in marketing are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should also enjoy interacting with children as there will be opportunities to visit local schools. Mandarin ability is preferred but not required.
Dates: May 14 to June 6
Costs: Approximately $1640 (flight + room and board).
Wokai
> Beijing, China
The NGO: The mission of Wokai is to raise loan capital for various MFIs in China to help the poor of the area better themselves. They do this by working with MFIs to identify a potential microloan recipient, creating a blurb about that recipient and his/her microenterprise on their website, and securing donations from wealthy philanthropists on a per-project basis.
The project objective: Primarily, students will focus on services that support the expansion of an internet platform that empowers individual contributors to provide Chinese micro-entrepreneurs with loan capital. The group will focus on marketing, PR and branding, specifically building Wokai in the online social media realm, reaching out to media and getting coverage to build Wokai's presence and contributor base, and optimizing the face of the site. What the group would exactly work on would depend on the number of people and duration of their stay. There will be collaboration with US offices before departure.
Dates: May 14 to June 13, possibly a second trip in August 8 - August 29
Costs: $1450 (flight + room and board)
Disaster Volunteers of Ghana
> Ho, Ghana
The NGO: For the past five years, Disaster Volunteers of Ghana (DIVOG) has worked to improve the well-being of the vulnerable and the deprived in Ghana through a variety of volunteer programs. Although a relatively small organization (with only 4 employees), DIVOG has sponsored a variety of projects, from building schools, to offering free medical care to locals. For more information, please refer to www.divog.org.
The project objective: Help develop a business plan, explore new avenues of marketing, and better integrate technology within DIVOG’s everyday business operations. DIVOG has requested that PIBV send 2 groups of 5 students in May and August. Students will have the option to travel in either Session 1 or Session 2.
Dates: 2 trips are available: May 14 to June 13, August 8 to August 29
Costs: Airfare will likely fall between $1500-$2000.
Lotus Children's Center
> Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The NGO: The Lotus Children’s Center provides basic care, including food, lodging, health care, and education to orphans and other children of troubled homes. The basic goal is to transfer skills and knowledge to make any child capable of self-support. Currently, the Lotus Center houses around 150 children and works with 500~600, relying on a staff of about 40.
The project objective: Student consultants can choose from a variety of potential projects. One possibility relates to Lotus’ hopes to create a summer camp for about 100 children, located in the countryside surrounding Ulaanbaatar—they would like to develop an operation manual to plan. Another potential project involves developing a business plan to turn a hostel and a themed youth café into a revenue generating source for the NGO. Other deliverables can include revitalizing brochures and other marketing materials, improving organizational structure and in-house efficiency, and teaching basic computer skills to the children and employees.
Dates: Two trips are available: May 14 to June 13, August 8 to August 29
Cost: Accommodations at hostel would be roughly 15 USD/day. However, students may also stay in the center free of charge. Meals range from 1-5 USD per meal, and transportation ranges from 0.4 USD to 5 USD. Translators are available at 30 USD/day, because many staff at Lotus Center cannot speak English.
ProWorld
> Cuzco, Peru
The NGO: The mission of ProWorld is to empower communities, promote social and economic development, conserve the environment, and cultivate educated compassionate global citizens. We will be working in Cuzco, Peru with the Peruvian division of ProWorld. Cuzco is the archaeological capital of the Americas and the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent. Many of the city streets are lined with original Incan stone walls and crowded with Quechua- speaking descendants of the Incas. According to Inca mythology, when Manco Capac, the first Incan emperor saw the lush Sacred Valley, he struck a staff into the ground and declared the spot Cuzco, which is the anglicized spelling of the Quecha word Qosqo, meaning "navel of the universe".
The project objective: There is still great diversity the potential projects to explore with ProWorld, and the student team will have flexibility to define the project scope. Examples of consulting focus include: organizing an ecotourism business and environmental education in the village of San Isidro de Chicon; creating operational plan for a women and children's family center; assisting the community of Chichubamba in the creation and promotion of agrotourism
Students should have fluency in Spanish.
Dates: Two trips: May 14 to June 13, August 8 to August 29
Costs: Approximately $1500 (airfare, food, living, and extra travel costs).
Travel for Change
> Njombe, Tanzania
The NGO: The main activities of Travel for Change include working with communities to promote ecotourism programs and build eco-lodges to accommodate visitors. Their goals are to establish ownership, development and profit at the local level; to encourage ecological and sustainable development; and to invite travelers to really experience the culture of the places they visit. They are currently working with the community of Njombe, Tanzania on plans for their first initiative called Lukelo Lodge.
The project objective: This project will be twofold, consisting of an off-site and on-site component. (However, please note that the application deadline for the off-site component has already passed. Thus, only applications for the on-site component are being accepted at this time.) PIBV’s work would help to make their first initiative both successful and scalable, so that Travel for Change can apply the strategies we develop to planning and building future successful initiatives.
To participate in the off-site consultation, students are not required to take part in the summer trip. The off-site project will include: conducting of case studies of similar organizations which focus on community based tourism; analyzing the marketing strategies of companies such as Stonyfield Farm, New Belgium Brewery, and Honest Tea with the intention of creating a plan for marketing to potential tourists; designing a fundraising strategy for the organization that is unique and geared toward obtaining financial sustainability.
The on-site consultation will include: extensions of the off-site project; designing a plan to measure the long-term impact of TFC’s initiatives on the local community; developing a detailed project management strategy that is scalable and can be adapted to other locations. This will include designing a management strategy that will facilitate the proper use of income generated by Travel for Change’s tourism initiatives. PIBV will create a plan for managing each initiative at the local level, a plan for oversight of each initiative, and a protocol to follow if profits aren't being fairly distributed.
Students should be familiar with management strategies, and have an interest in/knowledge of alternative marketing and creativity. The ability to present the final product in both verbal form and through interactive workshops is also important for the Tanzanian and American staff.
Dates: The trip will take place during the month of August.
Costs: Approximately $2500 (airfare, food, living, and extra travel costs).
If you have any questions or concerns, please take a look at our General FAQs or you can e-mail us at pibv.applications@gmail.com.
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