Visions in Action is committed to achieving social and economic justice in the developing world through grassroots programs and communities of self-reliant volunteers. This is accomplished through our classic volunteer program, which supports NGOs in our program countries, and through our supported volunteer program, which staffs our development programs … (full text Homepage).
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Address: Visions in Action, 2710 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA;
Contact.
About / History: Visions in Action was founded by Shaun Skelton in 1989. While lecturing on management at the University of Nairobi during the 1988-89 school year, Shaun discovered that nonprofit organizations in Kenya had a great need for different types of volunteers; ones who worked in an urban setting, at a computer in an office, designing brochures and writing funding proposals, as opposed to the more traditional rural field work.
Also, there was a need for volunteers in nontraditional sectors of development, such as human rights, democratization and journalism. For almost two decades, Visions in Action has fulfilled this need by sending volunteers to the developing world to work for grassroots organizations working in these sectors.
The US office opened in September 1989 in a large group house in northwest Washington DC. In setting up its housing in urban Africa, Visions followed the community group house model of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in US cities. From an initial 15 volunteer placements in Kenya, over the years more than 800 volunteers have participated in Visions in Action programs overseas. Revenue comes from program fees, individual donations, in-kind support, foundation grants and special events.
Visions in Action currently has classic volunteer programs (based on the original volunteer model) in Africa (South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda), as well as one in Mexico. In addition, Visions runs its own development programs in Liberia and Uganda. Supported volunteers are placed in these programs.
Certifications & Affiliations:
Visions in Action is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization registered continuously with the District of Columbia and the U.S. government since 1989. It has no religious affiliation. Visions in Action is a
registered NGO (nongovernmental organization) in each of its overseas countries: Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Liberia and Mexico.
Visions in Action is a PVO (Private Voluntary Organization) registered with the United States Agency for International Development, and as such, is eligible to receive U.S. government funding for work in the international development field. Visions is also registered with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.
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