Through service, authentic experience and active exploration, VISIONS creates new perspectives and dynamic learning while serving cross-cultural communities that lack financial and other development resources.

VISIONS offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. VISIONS believes that knowledge is gained not only through academic disciplines but also through personal experience. We can only understand our world by being in it and by sharing in others' lives.

As national and global citizens, teenagers can make a productive difference in their and other communities. By living and working in another culture, our participants gain important knowledge about the realities of different lives in the world around them as well as practical tools for living in a community of others committed to a common goal. They also gain a deeper understanding of themselves and of what it means to be human.

Our underlying objective is to introduce teenagers, through construction-based and other service work and on-site living, to cultures very different from their own, and to challenge participants to mature thoughtfully and reflectively within a community of peers and adult mentors. The work we accomplish is our thank you gift to our hosts who welcome us into their homes and lives.

VISIONS's objectives are achieved through assisting organizations that serve populations in need, or sometimes assisting individuals directly, through construction or renovation of substandard housing/buildings or other community structures. We add labor and provide materials for projects designated by local organizations and/or governments as beneficial to their communities.

The budget for each VISIONS program site includes a line item for materials. Depending on the length of the program and enrollment, VISIONS's contributes from $3,000 to $6,000 per program site.

Underlying our philosophy are firm beliefs about young adults:

• Teenagers, like adults, need and seek opportunities to make positive contributions to the world in which they live. A summer experience that combines work, learning and play is an embraceable option for many teens.
• Teenagers have tremendous energy, empathy and enthusiasm, and are willing to transform these rich resources into effective action.
• When given the opportunity to learn concrete skills in a supportive community, teenagers will feel confident and successful about their abilities, and will acquire a foundation for continuing to make effective contributions.
• Teenagers become better listeners, communicators, and more empathetic people by participating regularly in a dynamic forum for open communication.

Out of this philosophy, we have established goals for a VISIONS summer:

• To accomplish direct service for communities and people in need.
• To connect participants with opportunities to make meaningful contributions to another community.
• To create a cooperative and trusting program community.
• To promote cross-cultural learning.
• To encourage leadership, technical and interpersonal skills which will build self-confidence and empower teenagers to impact society positively through work, thoughtfulness, respect.
• To encourage informed awareness of communities and cultures on a grass-roots level and to help instill in participants a life-long commitment to responsible community service.
• To provide a safe forum for participants to learn how to communicate effectively by expressing thoughts and feelings, listening with sensitivity, and responding unselfishly to other community members.