What makes Aldeas de Paz unique?

The most fundamental point to the Aldeas de Paz Concept is that it is a Non-Profit Franchise financed by a Rotational Credit. Until 2006 Aldeas de Paz was primarily financed from the personal life-savings of its founder Manfred Mönnighoff. This was paid out in the form of a rotational credit and complemented by a small monthly donation from "local private sector donors". Since 2005 the first ADP location in Santa Elena, Venezuela, legally registered as the NGO Fundación Aldeas de Paz (ADP), has received international volunteers who now run and finance its programs. ADP Santa Elena is now becoming self-sustainable, and part of the initial credit will rotate and go toward the creation of a second  location, and so on, indefinitely (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 ADP location elsewhere in the world). This idea is based on the success of micro credit programs, which are able to give out loans to new borrowers using the profit generated through collecting interest from original small loans. Such programs can often become fully self-sustainable mediums of community development.

Also crucial to the success of such an 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 has a right to propose new programs, look into the financial records/data 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.

The idea of a Non-Profit Franchise like Aldeas de Paz, although still not commonly practiced, is one with great potential for promoting volunteerism, humanitarian service, and cross-cultural exchanges all over the world.

The future of Aldeas de Paz

The next step in the overall plan of Aldeas de Paz is to slowly mobilize the start-up investments and to use these to produce a new ADP location in Brazil and Guyana. Theoretically this process could be repeated over and over, as long as each new location is built up slowly and carefully responding to the local situation and the interests of volunteers. One of the keys for the ADP Concept to continue to function and grow will be finding committed and highly motivated volunteer staff. These individuals work full-time for Aldeas de Paz receiving  a monthly stipend, room, and board. ADP volunteer staff can be attracted by a number of factors, including the advantage of grassroots development, creative freedom, the desire to put professional skills to work in the Non-Profit sector, and an interest in helping to promote a "Culture of Peace".
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ADP locations must be careful to only work on a very manageable scale in local programs which do not require large amounts of capital to run. 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. If these people can continue to be found, it is entirely possible that Aldeas de Paz sites could spring up all over the world.

Fundación Aldeas de Paz
Lomas de Piedra Canaima via Sampai, Santa Elena de Uairén,
La Gran Sabana, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela
Phone: 0058 - 289 - 4160718  Email: info@peacevillages.org
We are a registered charity: RIF J-30872287-1 (Vz)    
 

Copyright © 2010
Fundación Aldeas de Paz
 

last update: 11/25/2009