LiveLearning believes that a service-learning organization needs to explicitly address the interests of both the learners with whom we travel and the communities we visit, treating both as equal partners. For this reason we view our work as drawing together two disciplines: those of a development organization and those of an educational one. The differentiating element of our approach is our commitment to long-term relationships with our community partners, through which we can grow our understanding of their goals, culture and community.
This approach allows us to offer a high level of assistance in implementing projects that may have a longer life span than a single student expedition. An example is our work with the Dominican non-profit CREAR: our ongoing relationship allows them to plan on a reliable income source which pays the tuition of Dominican students.
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How we Select our Community Partners:
In seeking our community partners, we look first at a number of criteria including geographic accessibility and political stability and safety. After identifying grass-roots organizations whose work is in the arena of sustainable development and whose leadership and goals are exemplary and inspirational, we use the following criteria to provide an indication of the organization's legitimacy and suitability as a long-term partner:
- A clearly defined mission, vision and goals that are aligned with sustainable development.
- A working project that has been at least a year in operation.
- At least one source of funding, which may be in the form of a government or foundation grant, an individual donation, or a revenue source from operations.
- References (personal and/or organizational) that can attest to the organization's activities and mission and the integrity of its leadership.
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Our In-Country Community Partners
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THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
CREAR: Centro Regional Estudios de Alternativas Rurales
In the Dominican Republic, we are proud to be in partnership with CREAR, the Centro Regional Estudios de Alternativas Rurales, located in Rio Limpio, Dominican Republic. This non-profit organization teaches biodynamic and organic farming in a two-year certificate program to Dominican youth of both genders. CREAR is located in a ecologically sensitive area, the rural/agrarian zone of the Artibonito watershed, the largest on the island of Hispaniola, and the source of water for a reservoir which provides drinking water, irrigation and power for about 90% of the population of Haiti.
CREAR was founded in 1984 by Mark Feedman, a former Peace Corps volunteer. CREAR has been entirely run by Dominicans for many years.
For the last three years CREAR was dormant as their budget was slashed by a new, federal administration. With the recent help of LiveLearning, The Gailer School, and a private donor, they now have a plan for sustainable operations and initial funding for their revitalization; they have taken the first major steps towards being operational, and will soon be opening their doors again to students.
LiveLearning has already scheduled four expeditions of American students and teachers to study and work with CREAR in the next academic year; each visitor helps pay the tuition of a Dominican student.
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PERU
LiveLearning has relationships and continued possibility of projects with two organizations in Peru.
The Village of Lambraca
This remote community of perhaps 30 families, well off the beaten tourist track, has no formal organization supporting it except for the efforts of a small number of its residents who have moved to the city of Cusco and are trying to help develop economic and educational opportunities for the town, as well as improved medical care. They seek ways to help these farmers of organic potatoes and beans to distribute their produce. Educationally, the closest school is poorly equipped and staffed, and is an hour walk down a steep valley trail. Medical aid of any kind is sporadic. LiveLearning is exploring ways to help primarily with educational equipment and to work through the Peruvian government to stimulate the funding of a school in the community.
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ANIA: (Asociación para la Niñez y Su Ambiente)
One of the leading non profit organizations in Peru, ANIA’s
(Asociación para la Niñez y Su Ambiente) mission
is to promote the development and identity of local children
in harmony with nature. ANIA believes a society without values
and social responsibility will not be sustainable. As these
values are formed when we are children, ANIA provides the
environment for children to work with nature and learn to
conserve our natural resources. |
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OTHER
New project to be identified by 2009
LiveLearning is currently assessing organizations throughout Central and South America to begin development of a third full-fledged partner in a geographically and culturally distinct region.
You can Help: if you know of any organizations with which we should consider working, please e-mail us at info@livelearning.org.
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