Photo:HanneEngelstoft

ProjectZambiaProjectZambiaisaprojectofbuildingandoperatingasportsanddevelopmentschoolinZambiaforyoungZambiansthroughoutasustainablesetup.TheZambianpupilswillstayattheschoolthroughouta40‐weekperiod,whereeverythingwillbefreeofcharge(accommodation,food,teachingetc.).Thestartupcostfortheprojectisestimatedtoapp.USD430,000.Toobtainthisfunding,thenon‐profit‐organization“Eventure”hasbeenestablishedinDenmark.FoundersGlennMottandThomasVesterNielsenwillcontributeUSD250,000ofthestart‐upcostoftheproject,whereasresidualfundingwillcomefromvariousprivatedonations.Essentiallyanadventureoperationwillbesetup,formingasecondandsustainableincomebasefortheproject.Thiswilltargetyoungwesterntouristsbetween18‐30yearsofage,whowillexperiencea4or7weeksventuretourismprogramallaroundZambia.Theventuretourisfollowedbyanobligatory5weeksofvolunteerworkatthesportsanddevelopmentschool.Furthermore,mostvolunteerswilltakepartinthecommunityprojects,whicharecarriedoutonceeachsemester.Thecommunityprojectsareacontributiontodevelopmentinthesurroundingcommunities,wherethepupils,teachersandvolunteersdedicate6weekseachsemestertosocialdevelopment.Thefirst4weeksofacommunityprojectisfocusedaroundplanningandpreparations,wherethe2followingweeksarehighlyactiveandtheactualprojectiscarriedout.Everyoneinvolved,pupilsasteachersandwesternvolunteersareequalpartnersinthisact,andeveryonesharesthesamevisionandunderstandingwithintheproject.Suchprojectsareessentialforthewholeoperation,astheywillcreateastrongandlifelongintegrationofdevelopmentintothelocalcommunities.AnothervitalpartofProjectZambiaistheecologicalcomplex,whereproducingcropsandfarminganimalswillensuregoodnutritionforourpupilsandinadditionenableustomakeecologicalfarming,whichisoneoftheintendedsubjectsattheschool.GlennMottandhisfamilywilldedicatefullattentionontheupbringingofthepsychicalprojectbysettlinginZambiafromtheendof2010.Thefamilywillliveonthelandplot,sidebysidewiththeschoolanditsdormitories,thevolunteerhousehold,thesportsfacilities,theecologicalcomplexandthefamilypremises.Theareacovers50hectareslocatedinnorthernZambiaattheshoreofLakeTanganyika.Anareaofthissizeenablesthenecessaryseparationbetweenschoolandcamparea.Thelandissurroundedbybeautifulmountains,andtogetherwiththelakethesesurroundingswillformanoptimalbaseforthisproject.AREASKETCH:

SportsanddevelopmentschoolIngeneral,Zambianpublicschoolsarelimitedintheirfacilitiesandmaterialresources,butrichonnumbersofchildrenrepresentedineachclassroom.OurobjectivewiththeschoolsetupinZambiaistohavelocalyoungsterswithintheagerangeof14–16years,livingatandattendingtheschoolfora40‐weekperiod,freeofcharge.BychoosingthisagegroupwewillhelpyoungZambiansandfamilies,whodonothavetheeconomicalmeanstoattend8thand9thgradeofpublicsecondaryschool.Boysandgirlswillberepresentedinequalnumbers,butkeptseparatebetween9PMand6AMeachday.Theteachingstaffattheschoolwillbeacombinationoflocalteachers,professionalteachersfromWesternEurope,andyoungwesternvolunteerworkers.

Theschoolfacilitieswillbebasedonasetupwiththreemainclassrooms,adininghall,ateacher’sroom,anoffice,andabigauditoriumandoutdoorsportsfacilities.Thethreeclassroomsaredesigneddifferentlyfromoneanother:oneshouldhavecomputers,projectorandsmart‐boardtoensurevisualclasses.Anotherclassroomwillhavethemeanstoteachphysics,biology,anatomy,math’s,andsoforthwhichmakesitthemoretraditionalclassroom.Thethirdroomisdesignedtobeaprojectroomwithhightables,mobilewhiteboards,andtoolsforworkshops.Thecapacityofeachclassroomisplannedtobeamaximumof18pupils,attendedbyoneprofessionalteachersupportedbyminimumtwoco‐teachers.Centralpartsoftheteachingwillbeofinternationalrelevanceandsomeclasseswill,incombinationwiththeactiveclasses[sports],focusonhealthandphysiology,whereinwewillmakegreatefforttosupporttheawarenessandhabitsneededtopreventthecontinuanceofHIV‐AIDSrisksinAfricanlives.Theschool‐dietweofferthepupilsisgoingtobeaverywholesomeandvarieddiet.Ourbioorganiceco‐projectwillprovidefreshvegetables,meat,chicken,cheeseandfish,whichinapositivewaywillaffectandoptimizethephysicalconditionsofthepupils.Asgenerallyknown,apoordietcanalsoreducephysicalabilities,therebyleavingtheindividualwithlessendurance.Inshort,ourdietprincipleswillfullysecurewhatisessentialtohavehealthy,focused,andhappypupilsattendingtheschool.Whenwesaygoodbyetothepupilsafter40weeks,wehopetosendoffyoungZambianswithgreatconfidence,strength,goodhealth,andlotsofinspirationforthelifetocome.Hopefullytheyaswell,willseethevalueofgiving,cooperatingandsharing,andhaveadesiretoalwaysdoso.Forsomeofthepupils(wetargetatleast25percenteachyear)theschoolwillhavetheopportunitytofindthemajob,assoonastheyfinishtheirschoolyear.ThesejobsmustmeettheZambiangovernment’sstandardsofsalaryandreasonableprinciplesandstaffpolicies.BypresentinganobjectiveandprofessionalevaluationofsomepupilsskillstoacompanyororganizationwecanhelpsecuringlonglastingrelationshipsbetweentheyoungZambianandhis/herfutureprofession.

Photo:HanneEngelstoft

SportsareaTheoutsidefacilitiesareimportanttotheschoolideology.Facilitiesthatweputintopracticeareafootballpitch,basketballcourt,volleyballpitchandmeanstoteachgymnastics.ThenwetakeadvantageoftheopportunitiesthatLakeTanganyikaensuresandherefromcreateavarietyofwatersports.Wewillintroducesportsonadailybasisandhopetoseeaninterestgrowinthesurroundingcommunities.Thepupilswillbetaughtandtrainedindifferentsportdisciplinesinordertogainknowledgeandtalentwithintheworldofsportsandself‐discipline.Thefacilitieswillbeavailableforthenearbycommunities,andtheywillbefreetousewithincertaintimesoutsidetheactivehoursoftheschool.Hopefullythestructuredtrainingofferedtoourpupils,willcreateadesiretotrainmembersfromtheirvillages,whenhavingfinishedschool.

CommunityProjectsTheschoolsetupisbasedonaone‐yearperiod,whichmeansthatwithinarelativelyshortperiodoftime(10months)teacherswillreceive,experience,andcommitthemselvestothepupilsandviceversa.Bothpartswillknowthatthisisalimitedperiod,andthereforefullyappreciateit,whileithappens.Thesetupisdesigned,sothatvolunteersareeitherpartofacommunityprojectortheyexperiencethelastpartoftheschoolyear,whichwillbemarkedbyagreatevent.Beingapartofeitheronecreatesagreatintensityandasensationofhavingdonesomethingmeaningfultogether.Inacommunityproject,everyoneinvolvedwillbefocusedandfilledwithexcitement,whichcreatesastrongbondbetweenthetwoculturesPhoto:HanneEngelstoft

EcotoursTheEco‐Ventureprogramhasadesignbasedonexperiencefrom5yearsofcommercialoperationsinVenezuela.Fortheprogramwetargetgroupsofwesterncitizensbetween18‐30yearsofage.TheideaofthisconceptistopresentthecharacteristicsofZambiainanunfilteredandhonestway.Thebasisofourprogramisa4‐weekEco‐tour,whichcanbefollowedbyanadditional3weeksofcross‐countryadventuresafari.Duringthistimewegivethetouristsareflective,activejourney,leavingthemwithskills,experiencesandinspirationthatreachdeep,andmotivatingthemevenfurtherforthevolunteeringperiodsincetheircommitmentandexperiencewithinthecountryisbasedonpersonaldevelopmentandfun.ThroughoutthisventureprogramthetouristwillexperienceZambiainvariousways:Byfoot(trekking),rivercanoeing,horseriding,mountainbiking,sports‐fishing,rock/tall‐treeclimbing,teambuilding,riverrafting,andpendulumjump.ThejeepandboatsafarisaroundZambianNationalParksareinevitableandveryenjoyable;manysightsofsplendourwillpleasetheeyesinceZambiaholdsallofthemostfamousanimalsofAfrica.Duetothekindnessofthepeople,andthewonderfulunspoilednature,theparticipantswillcertainlygainmanyhighlightsandprofoundexperiences,manyprobablynotexpectedinadvance.Hopefullythiswillhaveapositiveinfluenceontheapproachtowardstheprogram,andresultingreatdesiretosharejoyandappreciationtowardsZambia,itsnature,anditspeople.Havingbeenthrougha4‐or7‐weekZambianVentureexperience,weexpectparticipantstohaveagreatapproach,motivation,anddesiretostepintocharacterasanenergeticvolunteer.Thispartoftheconceptisintroducedtotheprogramasabasis,whichmeansthatallparticipantshavealreadypaidforthisexperiencewhenpurchasingthebasicoftheprogram.Inthe“Eventurebasecamp”inVenezuela,SouthAmerica,therehavebeenmorethan400youngEuropeansthroughthe2‐3monthVenezuelanVentureprogram,sincethestartin2005.SincethebasecampoftheventuretourismprograminZambiawillbesituatednearbytheschool,theupcomingvolunteersareenabledtogainabetterunderstandingoftheconditionsandnaturearoundtheZambianpupilsattendingthesportsanddevelopmentschool.Operatingtheschooltogetherwithaventureprogramisideal,asitmakestheprojecteconomicallyself‐sustaining.However,beforereachingthisstageofoperations,fundingisneededtodeveloptheschool.

EcologicalComplexEventure’sentiresetupisbasedoneco‐development,andweintendthroughouttheventuretourismtocontributeto,andpreservenaturebyallmeans.OntheremotelandinthenorthofZambia,weholdhectares,whichhaveareasoftherightsoiltoproduceecologicalcropsandtofarmanimals.Onageneralbasiswemustfeed50pupils,8teachers,20volunteers,26touristsand20membersofserviceandventurestaff.Sincewerequireasubstantialamountoffooditisessentialtobeself‐supplyingtoacertainextend.Weareaimingtoproducearound50‐60%oftheneededsupplies.Thereasontotherelativelylowself‐sufficiencyisthatwedependonimportantadditivesfromsomeproductsaswellasconservedfoodthroughouttheventure‐touraroundZambia.Regardingelectricity,hotwateranddrinkablewater,weintendtousesolarcellsforpowersupplies,solarwaterheatersforhotwaterandbiologicalfiltersfordrinkingwater.However,dieselgeneratorsareneededforbackup.Itisdeterminedthateveryonepresentatthefacilities‐leaders,staff,tourist,volunteersandpupils‐mustmanageanareaofcultivation,whichiscalculatedtocoveronepersonsneedsonadailybasis.Weestimate10‐20minutesofcultivationeachdayperperson.Herebyitisourhopethateveryoneinvolvedwillachieveunderstandingandrespecttowardsnaturalresources,andexperiencehowhealthyandtastyoutcomeproducedinabiologicalmethodistherightambitiontohaveforeveryonearoundtheworld.

FamilyVillageThisareawillaccommodatesomepermanentmembersofthestaffandthedirectorGlennandhisfamily.TheFamilyVillagewillalsohousefamilieswhodreamofhavinganauthentic“familyexperience”bydoingsomethinggoodandmeaningfultogether,helpingpeoplewhohavefeweropportunitiesthanthemselves.Thefamilieswillliveamongotherwesternfamiliesinasafeenvironment,andhavetheirownprivatebungalow,throughoutthewholeexperience,wheretheycanbeaprivatefamilywhenneeded.Therequirementwehaveinordertocreatethisopportunityisthattheadultmembersofthefamilybringaprofessionalabilitytoparticipateintheorganization,inonewayoranother.Itcanforinstancebeintheschoolsetupbyteachingandbytakingactivepartintheadministrationoftheschooletc.Withregardstotheyoungmembersofthefamily,thiswilldefinitelybeanexperienceofalifetimewithnumerousactivities,natural,andculturalexperiencesinaconstantflow.TheywillhavelotsofyoungpeoplearoundthemandgoodpossibilitiesforlearningEnglish,altogetherofferingthemawholenewperspectiveontheworldaroundthem.Eachfamilymustdesiretocommitthemselvestoacompleteschoolyear(10months)inordertobegiventhisopportunity.Bydoingso,they,asafamily,willbetakenwellcareofwhileexperiencinganenormousvarietyofculture,nature,challenges,sportsandgoodfunwhilebeingtogether.Insuchanexperienceyouwillhaveachancetocontributetofurtherstepsorideasintheongoingdevelopment,andyoumayevendiscoverthatyouhavepersonalorprofessionalrelationswhomightbeveryinterestedincertainelementsorpossibilitieswithintheorganization.Whoknowswhereopenmindswilltakeus?

ThewarmthoftheZambianpeopleisamazing.ThispicturewheretakenthefirsttimeGlennvisitedanearbyvillagefromourlandplot

ProjectTimeline

BudgetTheprojectinZambiaoutlinedinthispresentationisinallaspectsaself‐sustainingproject‐thisisbothinregardtoeducationalaspects,ecologicalaspects,healthaspectsaswellaseconomicaspects.Naturally,togettheprojectstartedthereisaneedforfinancehowever,it’sonlyexpectedtobeaninitialneed,sincetheprojectwillbeabletobeself‐financing.Thefinancingneedisestimatedtobe430,000USD,ofwhich250,000USDisfinancedbyGlennMottandThomasVesterNielsen.Hence,thereisyetaneedof180,000USDbeforetheprojectcanberealized.The250,000USDdonatedbyGlennandThomasisdepositedinZambia.Thisisrequiredinthecountrybeforepermissiontocarryouranyconstructionscanbegiven.Once250.000USDhasbeendepositedandadetailedinvestmentacthasbeenwrittenup,theprojectwillbeapproved.

ContributionSupportcanbemadetotheDanishnonprofitorganization“Eventure”.Theminimumcontributionis50DKK(approx8USD‐ifthecontributionisbetween500DKKand15,500DKKtheamountwillbetaxdeductibleforDanishcitizens).AllfundsdonatedtotheorganizationEventurewillbe100%usedfortheupbringingoftheschoolandforthecommunityprojectscarriedoutbytheschool.NOTHINGwillbeusedforadministrationinDenmarkoradministrationinZambia.Theguaranteeofhowthedonationsarespendonlyontheschooliswrittenindetailsonthewebpageoftheorganization:www.eventure.dkIfyouwanttomakeacontributiontothefundwritetoforening@eventure.dkandinformusaboutyourintentiontosupport,andwewillgetbacktoyou.

Regardlessoftheformofsupportwereceive,wefeelthatweareabletoofferastrongvaluepropositionforpotentialsupporters.Whenlookingatourbudgetitisclearthatsupportintheformofcashisveryhelpful,asitenablestobuythethingsneededfortheprojectinaprioritizedway.However,wearealsolookingtogetsupportintheformofmaterialsandequipment,whichispartofourbudget.

ThegoodpeopleontheEventureBoard

Dr.GregMillsMemberoftheboardandadvisorforEventure

ManagingdirectoroftheBrenthurstFoundationinSouthAfrica.GregisaformerdiplomatintheSouthAfricanForeignMinistry.GreghasthroughoutthepastfewyearsbeenadvisorforthepresidentsofZambia,Rwanda,Mozambique,etc.FurthermoreGregwasadvisorforthecoalitionforcesinAfghanistan.TogetherwithJanet,GreghasthechildrenBeatrice,Amelia,andWilliam.

GlennMottManagerandfounderofEventure

FounderofthefirstEventureoperationinVenezuelain2005.Hassince2005runtheoperationinVenezuela,includingthecreationofseveralvoluntaryprojectsinthelocalarea.Glennhasastrongbeliefinthebestinallpeople,andevenmoresointhewillingnesstodogood.Glennaccelareteschangeanddevelopmentthroughhisdedication,andthrivesinanenviromentofhighpaceandahighenergylevel.Creativityandmentalchallengesareamongthemainstrengths.MarriedtoJulieandtogethertheyhaveWillum&Alberte.

ThomasVesterNielsenChairmanoftheboard,Eventure

SeniorportfoliomanageratBankInvest.ResponsibleforaportfolioinvestedinAfrica,Asia,LatinAmerica,theMiddleEast,andEasternEurope.ThomasisontheadvisoryboardoftheBrenthurstFoundation,apartoftheE.Oppenheimer&SoninSouthAfrica.Mostimportantly,Thomaswishestodothingsinlife,thatwillmakethechildren,hewishestohavewithNete,proudandhappy.

JohannesEdwardMusaeusMemberoftheboard

ChairmanofthecharityorganizationAarhusMotion,managerandcoordinatorofseveralrunningevents,includingthelarge’DHLStafetten’inAarhus.OwnerofProspeak.Athletewithagreatpassionforsports,peoplewithinspiringambitions,andthewilltomakeadifference.Keystrengths:Communication,projectmanagementandphotography.Johs.IscurrentlylivinginMadrid,Spain,butintendstomovetoZambiawithhisgirlfriend,PazMenendez,tohelplaunchtheprojectin2010.

JanneBonde Memberoftheboard

SeniorAssociateatKPMGTransactionServices,whereJanneadvicesonbusinesspurchases.JanneisinvolvedinKPMG’sCSRprogramme,whichamongotherthingshelpsrelieforganizationswithmattersoffundraisingandmanagement.HasthebeliefthatweintheWestareverypriveleged,andthatthisgivesusthecommitmenttohelpandsupportthosewhoarenotasfortunateindevelopingcountries.Valuesfamily,friends,agoodhealth,andlifeinit’ssimplicity.

JacobVind MemberoftheboardInnovative”rubberduck”attheVIAUniversity;consultant,teacher,projectmanagerandfundraiser.AsfundraiserJacobhashelpedseveralcompaniesandorganizationsinraisingthenecessarystartingcapital.MarriedtoSine,withwhomhehasOliviaandsoonthenewlittlesister.Passionsincludechili,HomerSimpson,JohnnyCash,andagoodhonestpint.

Eventurebackground

Accomplishmentwithinthisprofessionwasintroducedtoourhistoryinthebeginningof2004,asEventurearrivedtoVenezuela.WehadagreatchallengeaheadofusasVenezuelaisfairlycorrupted.Wesettledandconstructedourownfacilities,andprivatelyfoundedouroperationsintheearly2005.OurbusinessinVenezuelais100%commercialandinthiswaydifferentfrom“projectZambia”whereanessentialpartis“noncommercial”.WehavebeensuccessfulwhilegainingmuchexperiencefromourprojectandtimeinVenezuela.Min.430venturetouristshavestayedforaperiodof3monthsormore,andmanyhavecarriedoutvoluntaryworkinthespiritofEventure,andinthiswaygivensomuchbacktothelocalcommunitiesororganisations.5yearsofdevelopmenthasledustogreatexperienceandhighervisions.

WhyZambia?Wedesiretobeinvolvedinameaningfulprojectbasedonsustainableconditionsanddrivenbythisaspirationwehavebeensearchingforacountrywiththestabilityandenvironment,whichenableustopursuethisdream.

EssentiallythecountryhadtobebelowacertainGDPpercapita,havepoliticalstability,andnorecenthistoryofarmedconflicts.Furthermorewesearchedforadestination,whichisrelativelyunknownasatravellingdestinationforEuropeans,acountrythatoffersmagnificentnatureandwildlife,relativelygoodinfrastructure,andlowcrimerates.Mostimportantly,thecountryshouldbecharacterizedbyfriendlypeoplewhoalwayswelcomeforeignersinawarmandopenway.Allthis,andsomuchmore,wefoundinZambia.

Zambiaisbyallmeansabigcountrywithtremendousvariety.InoursearchwithinZambiaitbecameapparentthatthenorthernpartofZambiaisthemostsuitablefortheproject.Firstly,itisoneoftheleastdevelopedregionsofZambia,i.e.inregardstoalackofinfrastructure,limitedsuppliesofimportantnecessitiessuchaselectricityandmedicineandmostimportantly:thisregionischaracterizedbyhavingapoorlydevelopedschoolsystem.Therefore,webelievethatbuildingaschool,whichcommitsitselftodevelopmentinthesurroundingcommunities,willbeoftremendousimportanceintheNorthernProvinceofZambia.NorthernZambiaischaracterizedbyhavingfantasticnature,mountainsforclimbing,untouchedwildlifeforsafaris,riversforcanoeing,kayakingandrafting,abiglakefordiving,fishingandsailing,amazingwaterfalls,horseriding,andforestsforremoteadventures.

ThefourcornerstonesofProjectZambia

1)Sportsanddevelopmentschool2)Eco‐tourism3)Communityprojects/development4)Ecologicalagricultureandresponsibility

PleasecontactusatEventureon:forening@eventure.dk