Vision/Visión:
Volazo will be a leader in sustainably spreading the popularity and availability of high-quality flying discs in Latin America.
Volazo será un líder en la difusión sostenible de la popularidad y disponibilidad de discos deportivos de calidad en América Latina.

Mission/Misión:
Promote the culture and spirit of flying disc sports, and facilitate the distribution of quality sport discs in emerging markets. As a social enterprise, Volazo strives to create and expand opportunities for professional development, community action, and increased well-being through partnerships with volunteers and youth development organizations working in Latin America.

Promover la cultura y el espíritu de los deportes de disco volador, y facilitar la distribución de discos deportivos de calidad en nuevos mercados. Como una empresa social, Volazo se esfuerza por crear y ampliar las oportunidades del desarrollo profesional, la acción comunitaria, y el aumento de bienestar a través de colaboración con voluntarios y organizaciones de desarrollo juvenil trabajando en América Latina.

Volazo began as a secondary Peace Corps project that aimed to positively engage youth in Panama using sport disks. Inspired by the near instant popularity of the ‘platillo volador’ or ‘flying plate’, the Ultimate Development Project was organized to introduce flying disks and the ‘Spirit of the Game’ to communities around the country. From September 2010 to June 2011 the 'Panama Frisbee Tour' achieved the involvement of 47 Peace Corps volunteers, 60 community leaders and more than 600 Panamanian youth. Volazo is now on a mission to sustainably promote disk sports and youth development in Latin America.

Volazo comenzó como un proyecto del Cuerpo de Paz que tuvo como objetivo conectar positivamente con la juventud en Panamá por medio del platillo volador. Inspirados por la popularidad casi instantánea del ‘Frisbee’, el Ultimate Development Project se organizó para introducir los discos voladores y el "espíritu del juego" a comunidades por todo el país. De septiembre 2010 a junio 2011 el "Panamá Frisbee Tour' logró la participación de 47 voluntarios del Cuerpo de Paz, 60 líderes comunitarios y más de 600 jóvenes panameños. Volazo se encuentra ahora en la misión de promover de forma sostenible los deportes de disco volador y el desarrollo juvenil en América Latina.

Volazo Values/Valores:
Opportunity, Education, Teamwork, Health, and Integrity
Oportunidad, Educación, Trabajo en Equipo, La Salud y La Integridad

Problem

Situation 1: Sport is a popular and powerful tool for youth development. In Latin America alone, there are thousands of community-based organizations using sport to teach life skills, promote healthy lifestyles, and prepare youth for the workplace. When sport-for-development programs are well managed and financially sustainable they can achieve outstanding results. Situation 2: Flying disks appeal to just about everyone because of their simple design and the brilliant ease with which they can be thrown. Ultimate, a sport that requires nothing more than a 175-gram plastic disc, is growing fast in Europe and the U.S. but not in Latin America… not yet. Problem 1: Most sport clubs and youth programs in the developing world struggle with funding and rely on donations from politicians or larger NGOs to acquire basic equipment and supplies. Problem 2: In most of Latin America, the only way to purchase a professional flying disc is to order one online. After shipping, the price of a high-quality disc can be $30.00 or more. $30.00 is way too much money for 175 grams of plastic.

Solution

A sport-for-development enterprise that will 1)Partner with other volunteers and youth organizations to facilitate the creation of new Ultimate clubs in Latin America; 2) Train young adults on the sport of Ultimate, business management, and community leadership, and 3) Provide clubs with the opportunity to earn money and gain professional work experience by selling and distributing affordable, high-quality sport discs. Una empresa de deporte para el desarrollo que 1) Colaborar con voluntarios y organizaciones juveniles para facilitar la creación de nuevos clubes de Ultimate en América Latina, 2) Capacitar a los adultos jóvenes en el deporte del Ultimate, la gestión empresarial y el liderazgo comunitario, y 3) Proveer a los clubes la oportunidad de ganar dinero y adquirir experiencia de trabajo profesional con la venta y distribución de discos deportivos que son asequibles y de alta calidad.