4 The World identifies and collaborates with communities across the globe to empower them to identify and solve the most pressing needs of their communities within the areas of health and education. By partnering with the communities in these areas, we provide critical support and capacity-building initiatives to ensure these communities are capable of continuing to grow and thrive in the future.
Direct Contact
Each region has a local 4 The World office that is responsible for collaborating with community leaders, prioritizing needs, and providing real-time feedback on the challenges every village and community in our target regions encounter.
Collaborative Partners
As these needs are communicated to our North American office, we seek out willing businesses, organizations, suppliers and individuals to partner directly with these communities to solve the identified needs in a collaborative manner.
Awareness - We work with communities to develop greater awareness of health care issues by bringing medical professionals to test and educate community members. Training - Hospitals are often few and far between. That is why we provide training to adults and family members who care for the elderly, the sick, children or pregnant women. Equipment - We collect gently used equipment and unused medical supplies and distribute them to clinics and medical staff that have little access to such items.Health
Teachers – Great teachers can do incredible things – not just for students, but for entire communities. We believe educators are the foundation for an empowered community, and aim to provide them with the resources necessary to greater serve their communities. Students – Regardless of how great the educators may be, many children in our target communities may not have the opportunity to even attend. Education always has a cost, and we aim to provide students with scholarship opportunities that allow children to begin or continue their education to become an empowered member of the community. Infrastructure – Some of the largest issues facing education systems today are facilities and access to technology. We aim to provide students and educators with a safe learning environment, while also providing them with the modern technology needed for collaborative and progressive learning.Education
4 The World On Location™ services connect volunteers, businesses, educators and medical professionals with communities in a variety of locations globally.
We arrange several excursions to different communities throughout the year for specific projects. We welcome all individuals or small groups to join us on these excursions. If you are a business or large group interested in an excursion, we use our expertise and intimate connection with communities to tailor a custom excursion around the skill sets and interests of your group.
We help medical professionals deliver aid to developing countries, without the long time commitments required by other programs. We work around your schedule, and can accommodate individuals or teams. If you’re interested in receiving more information, use the contact form below and include “On Location: Medical” in the subject line.
A Reason to Belize
See how our services helped Dr. David Martell offer medical care in Belize.
Our newest program is specifically designed to help educators train other teachers in developing countries. This includes everything from preparing lesson plans to teaching valuable computer skills that can help improve the live of the children they serve. If you would like more information, please contact our Education Director, Shea Kerkhoff Vessa: shea (at) 4theworld (dot) org , or fill out the contact form below with the subject line, “On Location: Education”
Beginning with our first partnership with Phenomenex, and continuing with organizations like Jamba Juice and Flynn Canada, 4 The World works with dozens of businesses looking to expand their philanthropic efforts in a truly meaningful way. If you are interested, we encourage you to speak with our Founder and Executive Director, Robert Keith Froom about ways your business can get involved: robert (at) 4theworld (dot) org , or fill out the contact form below with the subject line, “On Location: Business”
Partners
Establish a presence in a new community.
Ideal for businesses and larger organizations with annual contributions of $2,000 to $5,000+
- Establish a new community health center
- Help build a new primary school
- Send a doctor to a remote village
- Set up a computer training center
- Establish a water purification system for a village or school
Sponsors
Build a sustainable influence in a new community
Ideal for small to mid size groups and organizations with annual contributions between $500 and $2,000
- Help a young woman through school
- Sponsor a scholarship for school children
- Sponsor the operational expenses for a primary school
- Sponsor an volunteer for 1-3 months abroad
- Sponsor a healthcare, construction, or IT worker for a week abroad
Donors
Expand and empower established communities
Ideal for individuals, families and small groups with annual, monthly or one-time contributions of $50 to $200
- New library books for a local community
- Environmental health workshop for adults
- School uniforms for young children
- HIV/AIDS training program for young adults
- Internet access for a school for a month
Our Projects
4 The World supports collaborative, sustainable and effective community development projects within each of our 4 The World communities through partnerships and individual programs. All 4 The World projects are based on partner community self-identified need. 4 The World Community development projects are a part of all programs. The collaborative projects serves as a major component of the experiential and academic program. 4 The World matches the skills and interests of each group with the appropriate community proposed project.
4 The World is a project driven organization. Our mission is to promote health and education development in the communities in which we serve. This requires an earnest assessment of the needs of each community and the execution of well thought out, responsible projects. A high level of community integration, a strong management team, and well organized paths of execution offer volunteers a great deal of safety, experience, and project responsibility.
Health
From medical teams in communities that hardly see a doctor to a teams that teach school children about good health practices, 4 The World’s health projects help communities throughout the year, including:
- Medical Clinic Team
- Health Education
- AIDS/HIV Awareness
Education
Setting up a computer center for communities that have little or no access to computers or creating a library or feeding center for a school without books or resources to provide nourishing meals to its students. 4 The World’s education projects can even involve providing safe water for students throughout the year. Since these schools also serve as hurricane shelters our projects provide safety to entire communities during natural disasters. Our education projects include:
- School Expansion & Refurbishing (computer lab, feeding center, library or latrine)
- Teaching ESL
- Computer Learning
Our Project Model
Projects are selected based on the needs defined by our host communities and the various project stakeholders. Projects are executed in collaboration with a cross section of the host community, with project ownership and overall leadership ultimately resting on the community members themselves. Teams of 4 The World Project Coordinators work with our host communities assessing needs, thinking creatively, and setting long-term goals for sustainable development projects.
Project Planning Steps
- Listen to community leaders and assess their needs and project proposals.
- Work with community to create a budget, assess and agree on the community collaboration
- Assign 4 The World funds and match individuals or groups of participants with the project
- Establish a project timeline and begin work
- Thoughtfully execute and evaluate the work
- Unveil completed project
Current Projects
Belize
- Calla Creek School Expansion –ongoing
- La Gracia School Computer Lab -Spring 2013
- Belize Medical Mission -July 2013
About Belize
Belize is a peaceful and intricate country abundant with cultural diversity and amazing natural beauty. About 3 hours away from the U.S., an English-speaking country that offers unforgettable experiences. Belize is located on the Caribbean coast huddled between Mexico and Guatemala. Belize is an captivating mix of, grandiose mountains, tropical forests, mysterious Mayan temples, and excellent opportunities for scuba diving and sport fishing on the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.
A Disadvantaged Country
Although a beautiful country with beautiful people, about one third of the country’s population lives below the poverty line. Today’s population of 356,600 is a mix of Maya, Mestizo, Creole, Mennonite, and Garifuna. Belize scrambles for a sustainable way to develop its natural resources, given the widespread poverty and complex vast natural resources, and growing international pressure to exploit their resources. Additionally, limited education, insufficient health services, and a lack of available job opportunities hold back Belizeans from breaking free of being a third world country.
San Ignacio
4 The World’s programs are based in Cayo area also known as San Ignacio and the surrounding communities. A major tourist center of Belize, Cayo, is located 2 hours from Belize City along the Western Highway. The town and the surrounding communities contain a diverse population of Maya, Mestizo and Creole. Cayo is also an attractive tourist center and market town set among lovely tropical hillsides. The good natured people of Cayo enable productive development projects and splendid cultural exchanges.
Guatemala
- Christian Futuro School Refurbishment
- Puesto de Salud Medical Clinic Support
- Petén feeding project
About Guatemala
Guatemala is a traveler’s delight for history lovers and nature buffs. Guatemala is one of the most bio-diverse and historically significant countries in Central America. Guatemala is bordered by Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Belize. Guatemala has a predominantly mountainous landscape, with narrow coastal plains and limestone plateaus. The unique blend of the country’s ancient Mayan ruins and its colonial ancestry combine with expansive landscapes decorated with colorful plants and diverse wildlife to present the traveler with breathtaking beauty and gorgeous landscapes.
Guatemala Poverty
Rural Guatemala exhibits one of the most extreme combinations of poverty and illiteracy in the hemisphere. The indigenous people that inhabit these regions suffer from malnutrition (rates among the worst in the world), poor health outcomes, extreme racism, illiteracy, and low levels of educational accomplishment. Together, these conditions virtually guarantee that future generation will not improve.
Petén Region
4 The World operates from San Andres and does the majority of its work in Petén which is a department of the nation of Guatemala. Petén is geographically the northernmost department of Guatemala, as well as the largest in size. Make a commitment to share your kindness and compassion with needy children and adults by volunteering in Guatemala. You’ll have the chance to get to know one of the richest cultures in the world, and you’ll have a choice of different service projects. While you’re giving of yourself, the people will be giving to you as well, a lifetime of memories, friendship and gratitude. 4 The World’s volunteer Guatemala projects offer you the most affordable international humanitarian experiences available.
