TakingITGlobal: Inspirer, Informer, Impliquer

EcoVentures International (EVI) supports the understanding of sustainable development through developing and implementing environmental enterprise education programs for youth. EVI teaches, trains, supports and inspires young people worldwide to become environmental entrepreneurs. Youth are...
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EcoVentures International (EVI) supports the understanding of sustainable development through developing and implementing environmental enterprise education programs for youth. EVI teaches, trains, supports and inspires young people worldwide to become environmental entrepreneurs. Youth are guided through discovering environmental challenges and finding appropriate business solutions. In this way youth develop not only an appreciation for environmental challenges and appropriate life style and mindset changes, but simultaneously develop their own sustainable livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurial potential.
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Through researching and testing effective training methodologies, curriculum, learning approaches and support models, EVI runs youth development programs directly and builds the capacity of other organizations to run similar programs through facilitator training and access to appropriate...
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Through researching and testing effective training methodologies, curriculum, learning approaches and support models, EVI runs youth development programs directly and builds the capacity of other organizations to run similar programs through facilitator training and access to appropriate curriculum.

EVI identifies and implements best practices in the field of environmental enterprise education. Methodologies used are participative, experiential and youth-orientated. Youth leadership, mentoring and the building of self-confidence, motivation and self-esteem are core components of the program. EVI assists youth programs to identify the most appropriate curriculum for their training programs, and designs tailored curriculum to meet specific program needs.

EVI encourages and guides the development of practical, participative, environmental enterprise projects among young people, allowing young people to actively engage in sustainable development issues. This is achieved through the development of experientially-based tool kits that can be used by organizations worldwide working with young people. The management of environmental entrepreneurship projects with youth in both developed and developing countries and the management of a support and capacity building network connects young environmental entrepreneurs around the world.

EVI focuses on the development of entrepreneurial skills for young people by taking them step by step through setting up and running their own environmental enterprises with the participation of the community. Environmental projects have traditionally focused on clean up and compliance projects. EVI focuses on moving youth from these projects onto prevention projects. (For example: from recycling projects to renewable energy projects.) EVI focuses on developing the life skills necessary to operate in a sustainably-orientated environment: co-operative decision making; planning; managing; effective communication; and holistic thinking.

EVI uses already-established youth programs as delivery partners. EVI accredits and supports teachers and youth workers around the world who are already working with young people to incorporate environmentally focused entrepreneurial projects into their programs, through the provision of toolkits, curriculum and teacher training. EVI manages the networking and partnering of these projects, to allow youth to participate in larger scale, on-going environmental enterprises, rather than simply once-off projects.
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EcoVentures International has a minimum 20% youth representatoion on their Board of Directors and a 100% Youth Advisory Committee. Youth are trained as peer mentors in environmental enterprise creation projects and are integrally involved in the design and delivery of programs.