Peace Villages Foundation - Aldeas de Paz

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The Aldeas de Paz Vision & Mission

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We have grown volunteer by volunteer over the past ten years

Our Vision

We believe that through our initiatives we can create a culture of peace to empower young people and preserve indigenous cultures. We believe that learning through service prepares our local and international volunteers to be role models for change worldwide. We believe that as a community, we are stewards of peace, tolerance, and change across cultural divides. We believe that what we have started in Venezuela can be successfully replicated in other countries and we look forward to helping other enthusiastic individuals accomplish this with our know how and practical support.

Our Mission

Our Mission is to create a platform of cultural exchange between local youth, their family, their community and worldwide volunteers.

Registered NGO

In 2001 the foundation became legally registered as the NGO Fundación Aldeas de Paz. Since then it has received international volunteers who now run and finance its programs. The idea of a self-financed and run foundation is one with great potential for promoting volunteerism, humanitarian service, and cross-cultural exchanges all over the world.

How we are financed

The most fundamental point to the Aldeas de Paz Concept is that it is a Non-Profit Franchise financed by a Rotational Credit which was initially granted by its founder who in fact financed Aldeas de Paz until 2006 primarily from his own personal life-savings. This was paid out in the form of a rotational credit and complemented by a small monthly donation from local, private sector donors. These days Aldeas de Paz is exclusively financed through our paricipating volunteers financial contribution.

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What Makes Us Different

Our focus: Individual Empowerment

We focus on small communites, individuals within these communities, and the personal growth of volunteers into future leaders. We grow change from there. Our focus is to supply information, language skills and resources for each volunteer to create transformative experiences in themselves and in the progrmas where they choose to focus their energy. This leaves both the volunteer and beneficiary with tools to drive change in their futures.

I leave with the conviction that I want to do more, see more, and learn more. This has been a jump start for me.
˜ Adam Ley-Lange / Edinburgh, Scotland

Our Volunteers

Aldeas de Paz is operated by long and short-term volunteers from both Venezuela and overseas. Our Volunteers are of all ages, races and nationalities and don't have to speak fluent Spanish as we provide full support and 24 hour back-up from our local staff. Every week we provide 16 free Spanish language classes. Volunteering with us is a great opportunity to work side by side with locals, learn new skills, study Spanish and immerse oneself in the Latin and indigenous culture. We host between 5 and 12 volunteers at any given time throughout the year. We enjoy a great community atmosphere at our cooperative living Volunteer Guesthouse in a spectacular natural setting.

This feeling of working together, inventing projects together, having influence in future decisions, all in all a very horizontal structure......I took a lot of opportunities which I wouldn’t have taken at home. The stay here opened my mind, made me more sensitive for other people and cultures and also changed me......
˜ Jakob Zscheischler / Horkenweg, Germany

What makes Aldeas de Paz unique?

What is crucial to the success of our organization is that it be very malleable, serving the interests of both the community in which it exists and the volunteers who help to form and run it. Aldeas de Paz has a horizontal management structure and has focused on transparency. This is to say anyone who comes to volunteer is invited to propose new programs, look into the Financial Reports of the Foundation, and help inform the overall direction of Aldeas de Paz. ADP is not affiliated with any religious, governmental, corporate or other outside structures. Aldeas de Paz depends on people who are open to organizational change and horizontal leadership. Individuals must be committed to the concept of Aldeas de Paz and willing to invest themselves completely in their work.

Our Future

Our next step in the overall plan is to produce a new location in South America. Aldeas de Paz is now self-sustainable, and the initial rotational credit will go toward the creation of a second Aldeas de Paz location in Colombia.
(i.e. once one location is developed and able to pay off all program and volunteers costs, the initial investments can be gradually invested in the creation of a new Aldeas de Paz location elsewhere in the world.)

Permanent Residence

One of the keys for the Aldeas de Paz Concept to continue to function and grow will be finding committed and highly motivated volunteer staff.
These individuals work full-time and in return receive a monthly stipend, room and board. Volunteer staff can be attracted by a number of factors, including an interest in promoting a “Culture of Peace” and international cultural exchange.

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