Exploring Sustainable Partnerships: Venture with Impact's Collaborations with Social Organizations

In the realm of meaningful travel and social impact, partnerships play a pivotal role in driving positive change and fostering sustainable development. Venture with Impact is dedicated to facilitating impactful travel experiences for remote workers, actively collaborates with various social enterprises and organizations worldwide. In this blog post, we'll shine a spotlight on some of Venture with Impact's esteemed partners.

CIMAC – Empowering Women Through Communication and Information

In the pursuit of gender equality and women's empowerment, CIMAC ORG – Comunicación e Información de la Mujer emerges as a beacon of advocacy and social change. Based in Mexico City, CIMAC ORG is dedicated to promoting women's rights through communication, education, and grassroots activism. Through its partnership with Venture with Impact, CIMAC ORG provides participants with valuable opportunities to engage in advocacy campaigns, educational workshops, and community initiatives aimed at advancing gender equality.

Venture with Impact participants have the chance to collaborate with CIMAC ORG on various projects, including media campaigns, research initiatives, and capacity-building workshops. By supporting CIMAC ORG's mission, Venture with Impact contributes to the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender-inclusive development in Mexico and beyond.

La Casa del Mestizo: Providing Sanctuary for Over 120 Dogs

Venture with Impact also partners with a local dog shelter in Mexico City that serves as a home to over 120 dogs in need. These dogs are provided with food, shelter, and care while the shelter works tirelessly to find them adoptive owners who can provide them with loving forever homes. Through its collaboration with this shelter, Venture with Impact participants have the opportunity to volunteer their time and support efforts to care for these animals, contributing to their well-being and increasing their chances of finding permanent families. This partnership underscores Venture with Impact's commitment to supporting animal welfare initiatives and creating positive impact in local communities.

APAV - Support for Victims of Crime in Portugal: Providing Essential Support Services

APAV - Support for Victims of Crime in Portugal is a crucial organization providing support to victims of crime and their families. With a mission to promote and support victims' rights and to prevent crime, APAV offers a range of services including psychological support, legal advice, and assistance navigating the criminal justice system.

Through its partnership with Venture with Impact, APAV offers participants the opportunity to contribute to their mission by volunteering and supporting their various programs. Venture with Impact participants can engage in initiatives aimed at raising awareness about victims' rights, providing support to those in need, and contributing to the prevention of crime in Portuguese communities.

Fruta Feia: Fighting Food Waste and Promoting Sustainable Consumption

Fruta Feia is a social enterprise based in Portugal that is on a mission to fight food waste and promote sustainable consumption. They rescue "ugly" or misshapen fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste due to cosmetic imperfections and sell them directly to consumers at affordable prices.

Through its partnership with Venture with Impact, Fruta Feia provides participants with opportunities to engage in sustainable food initiatives, including volunteering at their distribution centers, raising awareness about food waste, and promoting sustainable eating habits. By supporting Fruta Feia's efforts, Venture with Impact contributes to the reduction of food waste and the promotion of sustainable food systems in Portugal and beyond.

Venture with Impact's partnerships with organizations like La Casa del Mestizo, CIMAC, APAV, and Fruta Feia exemplify its commitment to fostering sustainable development, cultural preservation, and social impact around the world. Through these collaborations, Venture with Impact participants not only have the opportunity to engage in meaningful travel experiences but also contribute to positive change in communities across the globe. As we continue to strive for a more sustainable and inclusive world, partnerships between social enterprises and organizations like Venture with Impact play a vital role in driving progress and creating a brighter future for generations to come.

An Interview with Venturer Fran Scarlett

About Lisbon…

I love history and I love old -  Lisbon with its history and cobblestone streets, and a castle right in the city! The people were great and gracious and kind, one of the things I loved the most was the approach to life.

Nobody walks around with their coffee, they sit and sip their espresso.  The parks have cafes, and people just sit, relax, and enjoy.  People take their lunch - everything stops at 1 pm for the lunch break, and that is how it is, there is no debate.  Work is just a piece of life, it isn’t life. I loved the pace, the real connection piece that we don’t have as much in the U.S.

I loved the public transportation, I used the metro, and didn’t need my Google Maps by the end of the month. For 5 weeks I wasn’t behind the wheel of the car, which is incredible.  Walking is such an integral part of life in Lisbon. I could just pop out of my apartment and walk anywhere.

About My Volunteering…

I felt that I was really able to offer value to APAV, my partner organization, which was focused around finances and fund-raising.  I created a financial model that was based on population size, incidences of domestic violence in that community, staffing model and other factors so that they could plug the numbers in to see the cost of what it would be to run a center in a given municipality.  

I worked directly with the executive director, Carmen, such a wonderful and lovely person and so dedicated to the work.  They were also looking to raise money from the U.S., so I worked with them on a fund-raising strategy for how to approach US donors.  

Favorite experiences and activities outside of working and volunteering…

I honestly didn’t do a lot of sightseeing in Lisbon, because I felt like I was living life!  I went to popular places, but also many places where tourists don’t go. For example, we spent a night at an afro-beat pop-up club that we went to together as a group, and had a ball! There was an immersive light show at Convento Carmo, and we had dinner during the show. I also met some people through a Facebook group that I signed up for, and had lunch with them various times.

I did a lot with the cohort! One of my favorite things was going to Praia Ursa, a stunningly beautiful beach just 45 minutes from Lisbon!  One of the other cohort members had picked an art gallery/vegan restaurant, and we sat for over 3 hours enjoying lunch.  

When we went to a vineyard in the Douro Valley and the winemaker served us!  Usually the winemaker is sitting on high somewhere, but no, he poured the wine, he brought the tapas and he took pictures.  He wanted to be with us, which I felt was the spirit of the people that I encountered in Portugal. So generous.

Final Thoughts?

I have traveled a fair amount, however one of the cohort members had never traveled internationally by herself before, and I thought, what a great experience, Venture with Impact is a great way to travel for the first time!  You have a framework, it’s structured, someone is watching out for you, and you have other people in the program to hang out with.  For me as someone who is fairly experienced in international travel, it was really about digging into the local culture and  living like a local.

I think that wherever you are on the spectrum of travel and giving back, or whatever it is that is your driver, the program allows that to happen.