1. Provide micro-lending to enhance and expand local industry
2. Build a school/business center in order to provide a core curriculum for children as well as supplemental education for kids and adults
3. Host interns and volunteers
The micro-finance program will lend to individual entrepreneurs as well as offer village loans. Village lending serves to improve, enhance, and expand an industry that has been identified as one that will provide broad benefits to all involved. The ratio of individual lending to village lending will vary with each community. Our team will examine the econometrics, industry specifics, as well as the cohesiveness of each community in order to identify the most appropriate and constructive approach to lending.
The education component of our mission will be achieved through constructing a schoolhouse/business center in each community. One for One will provide elementary to high school supplemental and foriegn language education for everyone in the village. The business center will give micro-entrepreneurs the resources and counsel they need to put together business plans for their specific trade or enterprise.
The school will not only serve the core needs of both children and adults but will also offer (depending on interests) alternative classes and instruction that will contribute to the artistic and cultural capital of the communities we are working with. Past examples include: Language studies (Portuguese, English), art classes and music.
The third point of our model is to host individuals and students from various backgrounds to come stay, research, learn and study. The purpose of hosting volunteers and interns is to promote unity and inspire service through hands-on, personal involvement in community development. We understand that seeing, feeling, and understanding a great need up close, ignites a fire within us that leads to a shift from awareness to action.
