About VISION Trust
VISION Trust is an initiative enabling VISION people to make a meaningful and significant contribution to society.
It is a response to the feelings of powerlessness faced by many communities who have not benefited from economic growth.
As it encounters new challenges, VISION Trust adapts to provide solutions to counter difficulties faced by the underprivileged and vulnerable, wherever they may be.
Orphaned children in Zimbabwe, handicapped children in Jamaica and Nicaragua and the homeless in Ireland - regardless of the cause, if there is a need and VISION can identify that its intervention will bring about real change - then VISION Trust will respond.
VISION Trust's core aim is to develop entrepreneurial skills in those who have lost or never had them, and build successful businesses where none were thought possible.
Force for change
VISION Trust sees business as a powerful force for change. Business can generate great economic prosperity, but this momentum can have a dark side. Wealth can marginalise those who do not directly benefit from its creation.
At the periphery of a materialistic society live those who are unemployed or employed in low-paying jobs because of a lack of skills. Their long-term prospects are bleak.
VISION's interpretation of the underlying dynamic of such communities is that the 'trading instinct' is missing.
People have lost, or never had, the ability to identify opportunities in life and in business. They see themselves in a perpetually worsening situation and feel resigned to failing if they attempt to escape its cycle.
Reaching out
These are the individuals VISION Trust reaches out to, people who can be supported as they rise and who can be equipped with the skills and the belief to be the best they can be.
This section of the website explores some of the projects undertaken by VISION Trust.
VISION Trust welcomes feedback and ideas on how we can make a difference.
Email us on look@vision.com
Main Projects at Present
The two main projects VISION are supporting are The Mustard Seed Communities and Young Social Innovators.
The Mustard Seed Communities
Founded in 1978 in the depressed community of Mona Common on the outskirts of the city of Kingston, Jamaica, Mustard Seed is a non-profit, community development organization. Mustard Seed works primarily with disadvantaged children and has expanded over the years since 1978 to work with some of the poorest children in a range of communities across Jamaica, Haiti, Domican Republic and most recently Zimbabwe. VISION are in close contact with the people in Mustard Seed.
VISION remain in close contact with the people at Mustard Seed and meet twice yearly to review our past six months and plan the next six.
www.mustardseed.com
Young Social Innovator (YSI)
Young Social Innovators (YSI) invites young people between the ages of 15 and 18 to work together to make radical, innovative suggestions and actions for change that can make a real difference to people's lives, including their own.
To date, over 20,000 young people have taken up the YSI challenge. These young social
innovators have helped create change in how we live, think and care for others in
society - now and in the future. Their enthusiasm and commitment is inspiring, as
is the dedication of their Guides. A YSI Guide refers to a teacher, educator or
other mentor. This is someone who believes in experiential learning, empowerment
and, of course, in the value of plain good fun. VISION is proud to support YSI and
take real pride in the development of this great initiative. www.youngsocialinnovators.ie