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ARGENTINA
We have helped to strengthen the continuing
development and institutionalization of democracy in Argentina
through technical assistance, training and consulting. These
services have increased citizen participation in non-governmental
organizations that solve serious social problems. The Foundation's
advocacy of effective third sector management and private
sector participation on social responsibility helped to coordinate
local councils that are addressing these issues.
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BOLIVIA
We have worked with local non-profit organizations,
corporate leaders and the governments in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba
and La Paz. In Bolivia, we brought together a coalition of
non-profit, corporate and governmental leaders to develop
volunteer strategies to help reduce poverty and the marginalization
which broadly affects Bolivian society, especially women and
children.
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BRAZIL
We served as the strategic planning consultant
to Programa Voluntarios, Brazil’s national effort led
by First Lady Ruth Cardoza. This effort, which built 40 state
and local Volunteer Centers in three years, launched major
training, public awareness and youth engagement programs.
With our help, they have promoted corporate volunteering and
have trained Volunteer Centers to work effectively with businesses.
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CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
In partnership with the Open Society Foundation
(OSI), the Moscow Charity House, Places in the Heart and several
other NGOs, we provide training and consulting to build volunteer
infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe. Our staff trained
non-governmental organization leaders from 22 countries who
gathered in the Czech Republic to strategize on building a
civil society through comprehensive volunteer systems. In
partnership with OSI, we also launched an initiative that
helped representatives from 10 countries develop the expertise
to start their own Volunteer Centers in their countries. The
Eastern European Volunteer Center Internship Program included
Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Yugoslavia,
Romania, Hungary and Ukraine.
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CHILE
With a research team supported by the Fulbright
Commission of Chile and the Points of Light Foundation, the
Chilean Benchmarking Group (CBG) was created in January 1998.
This group identified, studied and promoted good practices
of corporate community involvement initiatives in Chile. To
accomplish this objective, CBG brought together leading national
and multinational companies from different industries and
sizes. The companies included Shell Chile, 3M Chile, Asociacion
Chilena de Seguridad, Empresas Interamericana, Gener and Chase
Manhattan Bank Chile.
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JAPAN
For the seventh year, Points of Light Foundation
and Aichi Shukutoku University are helping Japanese college
students gain hands-on volunteer experience in U.S. The Aichi
Shukutoku University Student Internship Program focuses on
developing the students'; competencies in work related to
the goals of voluntary organizations. Japanese students visiting
the Washington, D.C., area are fully immersed in both the
US non-profit sector and local communities and culture. This
unique opportunity gives students practical leadership skills
that prepare them to pursue successful roles in the voluntary
sector as members of the global community. It also allows
them to experience firsthand the role of volunteer service.
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NIGERIA
We provided three days of skills-based volunteer
management training to a group of practitioners. This group
was convened by the Youth Advisory Center and IAVE Nigeria.
The community leaders have begun the process of planning an
initiative to strengthen and enhance volunteering and philanthropy
across Nigeria.
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PORTUGAL
Through funding provided by the Fundação
Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD) and Fundação
Bissaya Barreto, we partnered with the Fundação
da Juventude in Porto, Portugal to help young Portuguese professionals
in social service agencies. These professionals acquire the
skills and training they need to build new volunteer programs.
Each year, through innovative internship programs in agencies,
six participants learn the skills they need to mobilize volunteers
to meet the needs of their communities. In addition, participants
receive over 50 hours of tailored, interactive volunteer and
non-profit management training. Previous program participants
have built volunteer management structures in agencies addressing
issues of domestic violence, education and human needs.
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VENEZUELA
The Venezuelan Federation of Private Organizations
with Attention to Children, Youth and Family (FIPAN) was founded
to help build and strengthen management capabilities for the
third sector. Several years ago, we began a long-term business
partnership to assist FIPAN in becoming one of the leading
non-profit institutions in Venezuela. We were instrumental
in the success of the IAVE Regional Conference held in early
1998 in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela.
For questions or further information about international
initiatives contact dstyers@pointsoflight.org.
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