Visions_a_global_nonprofit

Visions Efforts

Featured Project: Kalagam Visions Learning Centre (Colombo)

Working in partnership with Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam, a Sri Lanka-based nonprofit, construction and development of the KVLC will begin in early 2008. This multistoried learning center will house a Visions office, ample space for student groups and activities (including aesthetics) from the adjacent school (Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam), halls for special trainings and English, a computer lab, a multimedia room, and a Montessori nursery. Over 400 refugee children from the Northeast will benefit from this project, as well as countless other disadvantaged and deserving youth and teachers!

Financial Estimates for the KVLC

Land: US $400,000
Building: US $320,000
Total Estimated Cost: US $720,000

Donations Received to-date: US $570,000

Amount Still Needed: US $150,000

Please make your tax-exempt donation by sending a check payable to 'Operation USA'[ Tax ID#953504080 ],
clearly specifing 'Visions' on the front of the check,
and mail to:

Visions
1621 Barry Ave. #PH1
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Visions Leadership Camps

In a continuing effort to build upon the Visions (Leadership) Tainings, NINETEEN of which have been held across three countries in the last six years, these youth camps will remain a crucial pillar of the Visions organization but will certainly not remain the sole focus. In the coming months we hope to institute a new program, more broadly known as the Visions Leadership Education Program. Under this new program our intent is to target both students and teachers on a much larger scale.

For the traditional leadership camps, international volunteers conducted youth trainings during academic breaks. However, we now hope to train and build the capacity of local volunteers who will assist the Visions Camp Director in implementing the trainings for students during periods of school holiday. These trainings typically range anywhere in length from 6-10 days, starting at around 8:00am each morning and finishing around 5:00pm. It is an intense program that forces students to look critically at issues, think for themselves, and step outside of their traditional comfort space. With local volunteers themselves implementing the Visions Leadership & Empowerment Camps, the experience becomes that much more meaningful and culturally relevant.

We also hope to target teachers, providing trainings for them on the weekends, so as not to conflict with the academic calendar. Visions staff and local/international volunteers will implement these trainings. As such, we hope to run these programs year-round: working with students during academic breaks in April, August, and December, and working with teachers on weekends throughout the year.

The Visions Leadership curriculum is also currently being revised and expanded. Building upon our existing materials and activities, we hope strengthen our programs as we continue to learn and grow from our own experiences. Our leadership curriculum will now be broken down into Leadership and Life Skills, Human Rights, and Global & Local Issues.

The expected amount of funding necessary to keep this program up and running throughout 2009 is $40,000. Please help us make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged young people and teachers from destitute communities, and donate today!

The Visions Leadership Curriculum incorporates:
   *Leadership Lessons & Activities
   *Lessons in Life Skills
   *Discussions on Global & Local Issues
   *Setting up a Student Leadership Committee
   *Small Group Planning & Events
   *Readings and Exercises in Citizenship & Human Rights
   *Professional/Academic Planning
   *Local Speakers
   *Discussions/Critical Thinking & Current Events
   *Cultural Exchange Sessions
   *Special Lessons: Environment, Sexual Health, etc.
   *Sports, Dance, Art
   *Yoga
   *Field Trip & Service Visit

Participating Homes:

	Children's Home/School	Location	Country
1	St. John's Boys Home	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
2	St. John's Girls Home	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
3	Herman's Girls Home	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
4	Samuel Boys Home	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
5	Kiran Children's Home	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
6	Jeeva Jothy Illam	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
7	Ramakrishna Mission	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
8	Sarada Girls Home	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
9	Manickavasagar Boys Home	Santhiveli	Sri Lanka
10	Vipulanandar	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
11	Vivekananda Home	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
12	Hindu Board of Education Children's Home	Jaffna	Sri Lanka
13	Grace Home	Trincomalee	Sri Lanka
14	Sivananda Tapovanam	Trincomalee	Sri Lanka
15	Anbu Illam Girls Home	Trincomalee	Sri Lanka
16	Sarada Siruvar Illam	Muttur	Sri Lanka
17	Thilagavadiyar Home	Batticaloa	Sri Lanka
18	Galwewa Community Center		Sri Lanka
19	Dunga Non-Formal Centre	Dunga	Kenya
20	Agape Children's Ministry	Milimani	Kenya
21	Various Rural Schools	Ahero	Kenya
22	Karaikalmedu High School	Karaikal	India
23	Various Schools	Nairobi	Kenya
24	Various Rural Schools	Kitale	Kenya
25	Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam	Colombo	Sri Lanka
26	Dhanalakshmi Srinavasan Women's College of Arts & Sciences	Perambalur	India
27	Government Higher Secondary School, Silvarpatti	Theni	India
28	Government Higher Secondary School, Ammayanayakkanur	Dindigul	India