Foundation for Sustainable Development
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I am in complete agreement with the mission of FSD, looking for sustainable solutions to community issues based on involved and indepth local needs assesments. This however is a very hard mission to accomplish in the small time frame that FSD allows for its volunteers. You cannot sucessfully create and carry though a sucessful needs assesment and sustainable project in two months (when you enter as an untrained intern). Also the organization, while supporting projects that are locally based and based on the COMMUNITIES needs, is very centralized as an organization not allowing flexability in the local chapters, not acknowledging that like local communities, different countries are different and you can´t stick to the same formula for all of them. The local teams need to have more flexability, or the organization itself does not adhere to its own mission. Over all however, I find the work that FSD VERY important and it does have a strong impact in the areas it works in. The mission and the goal are incredible, there are just a few minor flaws in the exectution which could be improved.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
It has improved the lives of many community members in La Plata, where I worked with the organization. In my personal experience I have seen children on the edge of repeating school years not repeat and gain an enthusiasm to continue studying or even go back to school. I was also involved in a project that brought more doctors to a local neighborhood and improved local medical knowledge and community mobilization.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Give more flexability to the local site teams, allowing them to access the needs of the local community/program and allowing them to respond to those needs. Less hierarchical rigidity.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The community network that it has created which provides local NGO´s the oppurtunity to network, interlink, and work together. The personel at the local FSD site in Argentina where a charm to work with, provided EXCELENT support both with the internship, in learning about sustainable developement and in adjusting to a new culture.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
The personel at the local FSD site in Argentina where a charm to work with, provided EXCELENT support both with the internship, in learning about sustainable developement and in adjusting to a new culture. The volunteers have all been well selected and motivated people, giving alot to the communities that host them.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Expand into more sites, in more third world communities.
Ways to make it better...
The organization had been more flexable with parts of my internship.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
The specificity of their mission and the dificulty in maintaining and developing programs in the local communities. The job position unfortunately are very specific and when personel turn over it is very hard to replace them, which is very valuable because they value there personal, but is also very difficult because they can´t find people that specifically qualified.
One thing I'd also say is that...
I would also like to see them pay their local host families better, since it is a hard job and a big and very important sacrifice and service that the host families do for the interns. More and better quality host families could be found if the job paid what it was worth.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
The programs offered by FSD do a fantastic job of both assisting sustainable development organizations overseas and providing individuals with the ability to gain development experience while making a direct impact. FSD staff is full of excited, energetic individuals who are a pleasure to work with. My experience with FSD was a vital step in my education and I appreciate the all that it taught me.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
how many people they guide into the world of development and the great support they provide through intellectual capital (interns) to their partner organizations. FSD always earns a general appreciation from those associated with them.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
increase the focus on communication with partner organizations. The impact of interns sent to host organizations could be much improved with accurate knowledge about the interests and needs of the organization.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the learning experience provided to me. Their opportunity will help me plan my career.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
all very skilled, motivated, and pleasant to work with.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
implement a program to take hundreds of thousands of students overseas to expose them to the world abroad, giving them a chance to be more informed and hence contribute better to society.
Ways to make it better...
FSD had provided more guidance and structure to the initial stages of my time with my host organization.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
keeping their efforts focused as they grow.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I worked as a microfinance and livelihoods intern with an NGO in Udaipur, India through FSD. Unlike other organizations, FSD's whole approach from recruitment to placement and on-going training was extremely involved. The organization has evolved organically and its core beliefs of sustainable development keep its operations true to its cause, heavily involving the in-country nationals as partners in their work. My program in India was extremely immersive and very expansive in the range of learning and 'doing' opportunities given to me. Their standing as a well-respected NGO in the field allows the partner organizations to form meaningful work and cultural relationships for their interns.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the quality of interns/volunteers it places within NGO, and the resulting work they produce.
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The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
incredibly diverse in professions and motivations, but bound together by a common set of ideals.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
issue more grants to volunteers, to reduce the cost of their program fees, especially for longer assignments.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2008
All in all this was an amazing program and provided me with an incredible experience. There were some issues with my placement but FSD handled them well and had excellent staff in country to provide assistance.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the freedom the organization provided me with. They were hands-off and allowed mt time in Africa to take it's own path. I made the decisions and was ultimately responsible for my own experience but I always knew that FSD was there if I needed help or support.
Ways to make it better...
FSD had changed my placement when it became clear that the clinic I was supposed to be doing HIV work in was going to be significantly delayed. Instead my HIV counseling skills were wasted since I spent my days vaccinating children.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2006
FSD puts all of its energy toward making sure that its interns have a positive experience in the field, that they have the support they need to be successful, that it is receiving constant feedback on how to improve its support and placement services, and that its local partner organizations and the communities they serve are involved and invested in the process. My experience with FSD changed my perspectives on a lot of things, and I am thankful that they are around to provide this opportunity for collaboration and growth.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the appreciate of people in the community who have seen the results of proactive past interns.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
offer more extensive support to the partner organizations to help them with the stresses of supporting interns and to help mitigate the waves of financial input and external influence as interns come, stay and go again. I think interns are rather demanding on their host organizations, and there may not always be mechanisms in place to support them effectively.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the personal growth I achieved.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
understanding, supportive and motivated. The fellow volunteers were just like me - young and trying to find their way through the confusion of international community development.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
expand to serve more communities, provide more extensive local support to its volunteers, develop its educational materials to help interns better learn how to successfully implement projects, provide a greater base of funding for grant proposals so that more than $1000 could be requested, and help to fund the volunteers so that no one is inhibited by the cost of the program.
Ways to make it better...
the local organization I worked with better understood the problems of culture shock and how to help interns find their way around the organization.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
differences in business practices between Westerners and locals in the field that may slow down progress on a project for a short-term intern.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2008
As an new intern for FSD I am amazed by the organization and efficiency of the non-profit. The interns are all great people with very interesting backgrounds and the FSD staff is top-notch. I've had exposure to numerous non-profits and FSD easily takes the cake for its vision and quality contribution to sustainable development, particularly in the space of promoting a more green planet.
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If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
drastically change the face of poverty in Latin America. This organization is well run and has a great vision for the future.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
As an intern at FSD's San Francisco office, I have been privileged to see a broad range of what it is that FSD does. As of late I was going through different projects that previous interns have contributed to a wide variety of partner community-based organizations. It was so inspiring to to see all the ways in which each part was making a difference no matter how big or small; and each one of those tied into the bigger picture of creating a sustainable development model.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the chance to broaden my perspective and learn great amounts.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
do great things for the world at large.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
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