Last summer, College sophomores Elena Stein and Bryant Williams visited Guatemala, armed with entrepreneurial drive and creativity, to learn how they could help the Hogar San Francisco Xavier orphanage become self-sustaining.
The trip was part of a pilot project for Ties to the World, a nonprofit organization that helps Latin American orphanages become financially independent through the creation of social-entrepreneurial businesses. These businesses reinvest profits in the orphanages, which often suffer from scare funds and donor fatigue, in order to decrease their dependence on donations.
Inspired by their experiences, friends of Stein and Williams helped start a Penn chapter of Ties to the World - now recognized under the Civic House Associates Coalition - which is holding its first benefit tonight at Marbar. Proceeds from the event, called "Fuego," will be used to develop the businesses.
Ties to the World is currently sending students to Guatemala to study the feasibility of social-entrepreneurial businesses. The organization will create and oversee the businesses, which will be run and staffed by community members.
"Reliance on charity creates dependency," Stein said. "We help the orphanages help themselves."
Once a standard business model is established, Ties to the World plans to expand programs across Latin America.
Students will continue to visit Guatemala to set up the project, as well as meet with community leaders and interact with children and staff. Ten Penn students plan to participate in a trip this summer.
Wharton and College sophomore Tina Yu and College sophomore Molly Doran, two students who traveled there over winter break as part of the ongoing project, said it was a very rewarding experience.
"We came back with a lot of insight regarding the best type of business to start," Yu said.
"It was amazing to hang out with the kids and meet so many people who really believe in the orphanage."
Yu added that because Ties to the World is so new, participants have many opportunities to do meaningful work that shapes its direction.
The organization was founded in 2006 by longtime activist Ibis Schlesinger and is predominantly run by students. One of two university chapters nationwide, Penn's group currently has about 15 members.
Williams said Ties to the World's mission is easy for Penn students to latch on to because it integrates business resources and insight with tangible changes.
For example, they are collaborating with Wharton and Penn International Business Volunteers, which will send participants on the summer trip to do market analysis and help set up programs.
"It's a great opportunity to combine business that we learn here with the drive for social impact," Williams said.
Stein added that Penn has "really intelligent, passionate students and it's incredible to do something that's a little outside of ourselves."
