Vision

Here are some thoughts from The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier and our project. Some very interesting things are in that book I highly recommend it to anyone that has a passion to help the poverty stricken people in this world.

• Administrative costs are not necessarily a bad thing in the nonprofit or NGO world. Collier says that many organizations are nibbling this cost on their bottom line because sooo many people donate to organizations with low administrative costs. Collier also says that this is not necessarily a good thing because what much of the Bottom Billion needs is people on the ground and high administrative tasks.
• Infrastructure...Collier talks about the need for infrastructure in contrast to other aid. He says that infrastructure is sorely lacking in the Bottom Billion and with a better infrastructure other things would be effected including but not limited to exports which is a very important statistic in bringing a country out of poverty.
• Transparency...With the corruption in these countries being so rampant and at many times and places accepted, Collier stresses the need for transparency and better bookkeeping.
• People, People, People...Collier talks about getting trained and educated people on the ground and working in these countries as it helps in so many areas. To me this validates what WTW has always stood for, getting our hands dirty! Picture our IV-Hopewell filled to capacity year round with international people...how do you think this will improve the Barut community?

So here are some thoughts about our project and how it relates to our project.

I think we need to be completely transparent with the costs and expectations of our project. As soon as the land is acquired (we need roughly $20,000 to purchase the 5 acres wanted) we need to set up a "project sign" on the site and post the project prints, what is being bought, for what price, when it will be done and everything that we know about this project should be on that board. It will be our way of communicating with the community around us. It will also show that transparency is expected and may encourage other entities to do the same.

Again once the land is acquired we will need to look at the labor needed to run the IV-Hopewell and the fair wages for the work that will be required. Next we will need to set up standards and a system of work for our workers that show how IV-Hopewell will be different from any place in the world. These would include but are not limited to: hygiene, language, services offered, etc. Next what we need to do is make the IV-Hopewell the absolute best place to work in the area. With fair wages already established their need to be "developmental perks" set up for our "community" of workers. Things that this may include but are not limited to: microloans, performance bonuses, catch you being good bonuses, leadership award, benefits for training others are your position, and possibly an award for getting a better job at another place other than IV-Hopewell to encourage a development into the community at large to improve the lifestyle and spread the Hopewell mission.

Let's go back to transparency for a minute...I would like to take that "project sign" and keep it up when the building is completed. Let's be transparent by posting the accounting numbers for IV-Hopewell as far as gross receipts, costs, and net income for each day, week, month, quarter, and year. In addition, lets post a number that shows our "account" hopefully in the positive and continuing to grow. So everyone will know that there is money accumulating in the account and the IV-Hopewell is being profitable. Than on the same sign we will have 3-5 next projects, either improvements of IV-Hopewell or other projects that will improve the community...a garden, vehicles, a commerce or trading area, school classrooms, etc. These projects will be carefully selected and a price will be set on each one...as the account gets close our "community" will vote where they want the money to go. In essence empowering them to make the decisions with the money that they are making at IV-Hopewell. This should create more jobs, help more people get trained, bring more money into the community, and so much more.

Here are some highly recommended books: The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier, Volunteer Vacations: Short Term Adventuresthat will benefit you and others, VolunteerL A Traveller's Guide to make a difference around the world