A Catalyst for Global Citizens and Social Entrepreneurs

www.global-visionaries.org

Be a Part of Global Sustainability

United States Programs

global vision. local action.

GV o�ers a multi-year program that provides participants the opportunity to develop leadership skills and to work on projects addressing social justice and environmental issues. GV also trains community volunteers to act as mentors to improve retention of at-risk students.

First Year Leadership ProgramParticipants in this program receive training in social justice, environmental, and cross-cultural issues.  They also volunteer on local work teams through partnerships with non-pro�ts including EarthCorps, Local Roots, Youth Venture, and Bridges to Understanding.  The program culminates in a 15-day cultural-immersion trip to Guatemala where students volunteer alongside our Guatemalan teen participants, live in homestays, and study Spanish with a private tutor. 

Youth BoardUpon graduation from the �rst year leadership program, students may chose to apply for a position on the Youth Board. Members of the Youth Board receive advanced leadership training and work directly with �rst-year students in positions of leadership as they lead retreats and teach class sessions. They also work closely with GV sta� and the Board of Directors to provide organizational support and assist with strategic planning. Youth Board members also serve as mentors to students in the �rst year leadership program.

In School Global Leadership ClassesSeveral Seattle-area high schools o�er semester-long social studies classes using the Global Leadership Curriculum, a social-justice based curriculum developed by GV in collaboration with teaching professionals. The Curriculum emphasizes learning though community service and hands-on leadership skill building exercises, teaching students about 21st century problems and empowering them to bring about change. Upon completion, select students from the global leadership classes will join the GV �rst year leadership program.

Annually, nearly 400 U.S. and Guatemalan high school students are selected to participate in our leadership programs.

Our MissionTo educate and empower youth to

become active leaders and global

citizens who promote social and

environmental justice through commu-

nity service at home and abroad.

What Sets Us ApartGlobal Visionaries (GV) is committed to building socio-economic, racial, ethnic,

and geographic diversity among program participants. Our scholarship fund enables us to include representa-

tion from all income brackets—�fty percent of our students receive �nancial aid. GV strives to teach young people to

accept and respect those who are di�erent from them, building solidarity among diverse groups of students. The

year-long programs o�ered by Global Visionaries provide the context for

youth to become powerful agents of change. Program participants impact

their local community through service and social venture projects; they also

partner with communities in Guatemala to support micro-�nance businesses,

improve access to education and healthcare, and advance environmental

protection e�orts. Nearly 400 U.S. and Guatemalan high school students

participate in our programs each year.

Architects Without Borders-Seattle is excited to be partnering with Global Visionaries in Guatemala. We've been impressed by their collaborative approach to empowering youth and the communities in which they serve. They've been enthusiastic collaborators in envisioning sustainable and sensible design strategies for the project. With a group of our volunteers heading to Guatemala, we're looking forward to continued success together.

–Brian Gerich, Board Member, Architects Without Borders, Seattle

A Catalyst for Global Citizens and Social Entrepreneurs

In Numbers• Total number of years GV has worked in Guatemala 14• Total number of International trips 36• Total number of U.S. youth participants 702• Total number of Guatemalan youth participants 495• Total number of Guatemalan and U.S. youth board leaders since 2004 198• Total number of students enrolled in GV’s global leadership class in Puget Sound public high schools 420• Total number of adult trip (life-long learner) participants 16• Total number of trees planted since 2005 12,395• Total number of of school rooms built since 2004 16

Since joining Global Visionaries, I have learned to see things beyond what they seem, whether good or bad. Now I can project short- and long-term goals, consider the consequences of every action I perform in my life, and respect people with the simple fact that they are people and deserve it. In short, I'm a better person and I see the world in a much more positive light.

–Billy López, GV Guatemalan Youth Board

A Catalyst for Global Citizens and Social Entrepreneurs

School Construction Guatemala has a total population literacy rate of sixty-nine percent. This rate is signi�cantly lower among indigenous populations where communities typically lack the basic capital and infrastructure needed to educate their youth. U.S. and Guatemalan GV participants, with the help of local village residents, have built sixteen classrooms in four Guatemalan villages since 2005. This collaborative e�ort will result in a total of fourteen additional classrooms for grades K–6 by 2017.

Reforestation Today, only twenty-six percent of Guatemala remains forested. Of the forest that remains, �fty percent is classi�ed as primary forest and is home to a number of endemic or threatened species. Since 2005, U.S. and Guatemalan youth have contributed to reforesta-tion e�orts by planting and tending to over 12,500 trees in three regions of Guatemala. GV has set a goal of planting an additional 3,000 trees in 2010.

HealthcareA signi�cant number of Guatemalans lack access to basic health care services. Guatemala has the highest infant mortality rate and one of the lowest life expectancies at birth in Latin America. Through GV, students have procured and donated over 10 tons of medical equipment to villages most in need. Students also volunteer their time in Guatemala by assisting nursing sta� at a long-term care hospital facility.

Micro-businessApproximately �fty-six percent of Guatemalans live below the extreme poverty line, which is de�ned as lacking the means to purchase a basic basket of food. GV is committed to �nding sustainable solutions that enable those in need to support themselves and their families. In 2006, GV began a fruitful partnership with As Green as It Gets (www.asgreenasitgets.org), a Guatemalan organization that supports small, independent co�ee producers and promotes environmentally responsible agriculture.

Since 2004, GV has created 16 school rooms providing access to education

to 210 new students.

Guatemala Projects

Global Visionaries-trained U.S. students provided a micro-loan to entrepreneurial Guatemalan youth, former GV Guatemala participants, to start Espresso de Esperanza, a small co�ee roaster and exporter.

Unwavering demand for their product has made this a successful business, providing su�cient revenue to cover infrastructure costs, to gain legal status as a corporation, and to acquire export licenses, green co�ee purchasing licenses, taxpayer ID, and a sanitation certi�cate. Espresso de Esperanza has even issued stock. The �ve owners of the company are now furthering their education as university students in Guatemala.

A Guatemalan Corporation: A True Youth-run Business Success Story

global vision. local action.

A Catalyst for Global Citizens and Social Entrepreneurs

www.global-visionaries.org

Get InvolvedAdditional opportunities for involvement include the Gap Year Program for young adults and the Life Long Learner program for adults. For more information on how to become involved, visit us online at www.global-visionaries.org.

Join Our Campaign!

Be a Part of Creating Global Youth Leaders

Any amount you donate is greatly appreciated.With your help we can train our Guatemalan and U.S. youth for a lifetime of leadership, providing them with knowledge of ecological and social justice issues, as well as an understanding of how the choices they make a�ect the world.

$50,000 provides scholarships for 30 low-income students to participate in the GV program$25,000 funds the salaries for two full-time and several part-time contract sta� in Guatemala to coordinate GV projects, trip logistics and coordinate the 100 Guatemalan participants.

$12,400 builds one classroom $7,200 will pay for the roof and �oor $4,000 will pay for 1,500 cinder blocks to form 4 walls. $1,200 will pay for the windows

$2,500 funds our technical support needs for the coming year $2,000 pays a partial scholarship for 1 low-income student traveling to Guatemala to build 1 classroom$1,500 keeps our Seattle o�ce open for one month

To keep all these programs running in Seattle and in Guatemala,a little goes a long way...

Global Visionaries2524 16th Avenue South Room 305Seattle, WA 98144, USA

phone 206.322.9448web www.global-visionaries.orgemail gvinfo@global-visionaries.org