One Village
Because not everyone has the means to visit remote highland villages, nor can we as an organization sustain inviting many visitors into a community, we aim to build an online portal that allows people from all over the world to 'virtually travel' to & experience life in Agros villages.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Agros
Last Name
International
Website
Organization
Agros International
Country
United States
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Agros International
Organization Website
Organization Phone
206-528-1066
Organization Address
2225 4th Avenue 2nd Floor Seattle, WA 98121
Organization Country
United States
Your idea
Are you a traveler or travel company?
Yes
Name Your Project
One Village
Country your work focuses on
Guatemala
What is the likely impact of your idea? (150 words max)
By allowing people to virtually travel into a village and meet the people who comprise the community, this project will raise awareness around the people and cultures in Mexico and Central America and the myriad of challenges that still face many communities today. Through compelling narrative from the people themselves, the visitor is invited to know these people intimately as they drink a cafecito with them in their kitchens, reading with them at school, or tending the crops with them in the fields. Our aim is to foster an environment where communities of people, regardless of their geography, can learn to know and support other communities as they work themselves out of poverty, and gain confidence in their abilities. Both communities of people will take part in and see firsthand what it takes to build thriving communities for generations to come. Through an interactive exchange online, each community of people (those visiting the village virtually and those people who live in the village) grows to know and have respect for the other. Seeing that so many people, from differing cultures themselves, care enough to know about their story is particularly powerful for the villagers.
Why is promoting global travel and engagement important? What makes your idea innovative? (200 words max)
Travel and experiencing other cultures lends itself to greater understanding, tolerance and empathy. Our idea, while perhaps not as impactful as stepping foot in and living within a village, is innovative in that it values the importance of this cultural exchange and removes the hindrance of travel logistics (whether it be cost, or otherwise) so that every person with Internet access has the ability to make those kind of relationships and gain that understanding. It is important that this knowledge and engagement across borders take place; both to celebrate another cultures differences and to demonstrate how similar we are in so many ways.
Describe Your Idea
Because not everyone has the means to visit remote highland villages, nor can we as an organization sustain inviting many visitors into a community, we aim to build an online portal that allows people from all over the world to 'virtually travel' to & experience life in Agros villages.
What would it take to launch or spread your idea? How much would it cost to make your idea a reality? (150 words max)
First and foremost, we aim to build a web site portal to showcase our villages in a visually and aurally compelling way (through Flash, video interviews, photos, sounds from the field, and more). To build a site of this caliber, it will require upwards of $10k. To spread the word, we will start with grassroots initiatives through our existing advocates via viral and social media channels, and then expand to online and offline channel buys where we know interested affinity groups already congregate (those interested in sustainable agriculture, housing, etc). At a minimum, we will plan for $7k media buy to raise awareness around launching this program.
Describe your work as a social innovator (150 words max)
Our work is socially innovative because we support each individual's pursuit to implement their own entrepreneurial endeavors. Through a unique holistic development model, taking aim at the systemic causes of poverty, we seek to empower not only the individual but entire villages to literally work their way towards land and sustainable business ownership. With ongoing training and support to achieve those goals, we empower the people with the vision and ingenuity to plan their own community and self development. True ownership of both ideas and assets engenders great pride and inspiration to innovate and improve upon going forward. Our mission is to see rural poor families own agricultural land, attain economic self-sufficiency, realize their potential, and pass on to future generations the values and resources that enable them to flourish. We are innovative within the region as land ownership for the rural poor is the fundamental cornerstone of our work wherein land title is shared equally by both the men and women.
Please send me more information about Conde Nast Traveler and special offers
Yes, I would like more information about Conde Nast Traveler and special offers.
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 | 145 weeks agoa. b said: TEAMWORK exists, even when we're 'knot', working as one... ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 145 weeks agoJerry R Reynolds said: While I know we are competing in this competition, I want everyone to understand how crucial Agros is to changing lives of those in ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 146 weeks agoAgros International updated this Competition Entry. |
| 146 weeks agoAgros International updated this Competition Entry. |
| 146 weeks agoAgros International updated this Competition Entry. |
| 146 weeks agoAgros International updated this Competition Entry. |
| 146 weeks agoAgros International submitted this idea. |
