Sustain

Lift Kids Villages are economically, environmentally and socially self-sustaining. Lift Kids has developed a comprehensive model for sustainability, where progress is measured not only in economic terms; environmental, cultural, health and social factors are also considered. Sustainability is viewed as an integrated whole consisting of these five interdependent components: Economic, Environment, Culture and Community, Health and Security.

Economic -

In economic terms, self-sustaining means that the village creates enough revenue through diverse business opportunities to pay the village's operating expenses for schools, orphanages, medical clinics, and other services essential to breaking the cycle of extreme poverty.

A key differentiator of Lift Kids, and a major contributing factor to our success, is our business based approach.  Many of our volunteers and board members have executive managerial experience at Fortune 500 corporations, hold advance degrees in related fields, or have years of on the ground development experience.  By leveraging the experience of our professional volunteers we methodically analyze projects to ensure they are strategically competitive in the local economies.

In addition to strategic consulting, Lift Kids also provides debt financing, managerial oversight and local training to launch projects in the villages.  We design each project to be cash flow positive by a specific target date, and author the loan terms around these projections.  This disciplined approach demands specific measurable goals, in turn drives responsibility and empowerment from the local entrepreneurs, which in the long run will give these emerging business people the skills needed to participate in the global economy. 

Environment -

Lift Kids understands their responsibility to the environment, because it's the environment that will, in turn, sustain the people of the village.  The greatest contribution Lift Kids can make in this regard is to identify and manage environmental risks by facilitating the transfer of environmentally clean technologies, designs and practices.  Whether it's organic farming in Guatemala or naturally ventilated chicken coops in Kenya, Lift Kids is focused on helping villages protect their environment by assisting them in implementation of leapfrog green technologies.

Culture and Community -

Lift Kids respects the culture and traditions of the communities where we work. Local communities are engaged in development. Projects are village-driven, based on buy-in and ownership by the community. For example, in Rabuor, Kenya, the initiative for local economic activity came from the villagers; from the women's group, the youth group and the men. All were involved. All assumed responsibility. Poultry and egg production was their idea. Lift Kids assisted the local community leaders with market analysis, planning, coop design, financial projections and funding.

 
The Rabuor example illustrates how Lift Kids' ascribes to sustainable development principles such as those expressed by Stuart Hart in Capitalism at a Crossroads.

 "New business models must not be disruptive to the cultures and lifestyles of local people.  An effective combination of local and global knowledge is needed, not a replication of western systems.  This combination requires the development of a new native capability to complement competencies in global efficiency, national responsiveness and learning transfer" (Capitalism at a Crossroads by Stuart L. Hart)

 

 Health -

In much of the developing world, the ability to work depends on an individual's health.  Lift Kids understands this situation and works to ensure that the development of the village includes or provides for sustainable healthcare. Either we ensure that health organizations are already available or we partner with those that will attend specifically to the health of the community. From clean water and immunization to clinical and hospital facilities, we know that basic heath is the foundation for all development.

Security -

As a basic precondition to investment, Lift Kids requires a minimal level of security and stability.  Security in this regard is used broadly and refers to personal, physical safety, absence of war and the existence of political stability.