Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Presented by: Mike Cosby and Ami Thomas Image courtesy of: http://charitablewords.com/

Education and Nicaragua

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Headshot and background images courtesy of: seeds of learning.org2008-2012 Nicaragua Stats Source: http://www.panmissions.org/Facts-About-Nicaragua.page

65% primary aged children enrolled in

school; 22% of these finish grade six

rural schools offer one to two years

only

77% of population is literate; 25% of

rural population is literate

takes an average of 10.3 years to

complete the mandatory six years of

schooling

What is Seeds of Learning?

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Image courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

Non-Profit Organization

Dedicated to Improving Educational Opportunities in Rural Latin America

Build and Equip Schools in Nicaragua and El Salvador

Building Bridges Between Cultures

Constructed or Remodeled 152 Classrooms in 55 Communities

Developed Three Learning Resource Centers

Scholarships

Literacy Programs for Rural Communities

Encourages Academic and Enrichment Activities

What We Stand For

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Vision

“A world in which all persons have access to quality education, where cross-cultural experiences promote understanding, and where people are

empowered to effect positive change.”

Mission:

“To promote conditions for quality learning in developing communities of the Americas and educate North American constituents about the rich cultural diversity and the educational and social needs of poorly resourced communities in Central America.”

Image courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

Where We’re Going

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Image courtesy of: seedsof learning.org

Visi

onM

issi

onG

oals

Access to Quality EducationCross Cultural Experiences Which Promote Understanding

People Are Empowered to Effect Positive Change

Promote Conditions for Quality Learning and Developing Communities

Educate North American Constituents About the Rich Cultural Diversity & the Educational & Social Needs of Poorly Resourced Communities in Central America

1. Retrofit Existing Sites2. Expand Latin America Programming 3. Develop & Pilot Innovative Educational Approaches Including 21st Century Tech

Exploring Most Effective Way for Cross Cultural Education

Attract New Human and Financial Resources to

Accomplish Plan

Strategic Planning Team

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Site Managers (Nicaragua)

Executive Director

The Board

Headshot and background images courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

“People” image courtesy of: http://cliparts.co/cliparts/yTk/A5A/yTkA5A8Lc.png

Current Landscape

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Strengths Weaknesses

OpportunitiesThreats

• Integrity of programs• Respect from people with whom we work and communities• Mature organization• Passionate and invested staff, domestically and abroad• Effective, proven model • Strong work group fee income• Reserve funds

• Co-founder bottlenecking, cap of growth in Nicaragua• Dependent in large part on fee income• Targeting communication with people in database• Executive Director doesn’t spend enough time looking at the overall organization.• No formal marketing plan• Board size and diversification

• Partnership with organizations interested in funding• Business support/partnerships• Expansion into other countries and areas within the countries we are already• Replication of project in other countries• Growth in programs, particularly vocational education

• Expanding faster than we can support administratively or financially • Partnerships that are not well thought through• Co-founder not able to let go

Image courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

Consolidate the knowledge and experience gained over the last 24 years, to inform us how to grow most efficiently and effectively

Strategy #1: Create and apply standards and measures for quality education

Strategy #2: Assess current programs and progress towards quality, refocusing towards quality goals

Strategy #3: Develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation plan

Short-Term Goal #1

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Image courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

Strategy: Harness 21st century technology in service of quality education

Retrofit existing sites to conform to newly established program model, standards and measures of success

Strategy: Assess current programs and progress towards quality and REFOCUS work towards quality goals

Develop and pilot innovative educational approaches, including 21st century tech

Short-Term Goal #2

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Short-Term Goal #3

Image courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

Expand Latin American programming while exploring the most effective way for cross-cultural education

Strategy #1: Open a third site in Nicaragua, then building on that, launch a fourth siteStrategy #2: Review and redefine purpose of work group program

Attract new human and financial resources to accomplish this plan

Strategy #1: Increase revenue by hiring consultant, focusing on major gifts, & adding human resourcesStrategy #2: Redesign SOL’s management and organizational structure Strategy #3: Increase operational capacity by adding and investing in staff in North and Central AmericaStrategy #4: Make Board recruitment one of the Board’s top priorities

Long-Term Goal #1

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Long-Term Goal #2

Image courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

Values Statement

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

➨ Alignment of Values

➨ Empowered to Effect Positive (Social) Change

➨ But... how ?

Image courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

Reconnecting to the Vision for a Brighter Future

Vision:People Are Empowered to Effect Positive Change

Image courtesy of: seeds of learning.org

You!

Give/Get Program$10K each for a total of $110K

You’re Empowered