Making A Difference. Now.

Making a Difference. Now. 

We are standing at the cusp of historic changes in the global economy, international relations and how we see our individual roles in development, humanitarian relief and intercultural exchanges.  We didn’t ask to be here, but it’s been handed to us, and we have two choices: wait and see, or take action.

 

When we think about making our world a better place, most of us believe we have to hitch our wagons to large international relief organizations or mission-focused non-profits operating overseas.  What if you can take action through short and simple experiences that creates a deeper level of wisdom?

 

At People to People International, our mission is simple: Peace through understanding.

 

The hierarchy of understanding is a model that depicts the levels of understanding our brains move through to reach the pinnacle of understanding.  Where we stop along the way is a result of our own choices and actions.

 

Imagine a pyramid.  At the base is data; facts without meaning or relevance.  We are overloaded with data from around the world daily, and without context it’s easy to dismiss the vast majority of it as having nothing to do with you.

 

Next up the pyramid is information.  We turn data into information by simply adding some context and organizing it into something that has meaning.  Most of the information we store in our brains validates or supports our own beliefs and biases and does not challenge us.

 

We acquire knowledge through critical thinking, which is questioning the information we have in front of us, arranging information in a way that we can relate to on a more personal level and seeking to learn more about something.  If you’re here on this page, it’s because you have an interest in learning about another culture or you’ve been part of one of our global education programs at some point. When it comes to acquiring knowledge about things that are different from what they know, most people have stopped before arriving at this level of the pyramid. Being exposed to people, beliefs, values and customs that create friction against your own comfort zone creates knowledge and that’s a valuable commodity right now.

 

But what about wisdom, and how does it relate to peace?

 

The elusive element of wisdom is the highest level of understanding.  It is also the only element that relates to the future.  Simply put, it is the accumulation of your experiences, knowledge, personal ethics and beliefs. 

 

While social media and television can give us facts and information about other cultures, we truly only begin to turn that into knowledge when we challenge ourselves to experience tings outside our comfort zone and get to know people from different cultures on a deeper level.

 

That’s where being part of People to People International comes in.

 

Through our global education and chapters programs, we’re creating more opportunities to act in ways that are deeply meaningful to you and that create life changing experiences for everyone involved.

 

Our chapters are the backbone of PTPI.  Chapters around the world are engaged in projects locally every day that positively impact the future of their communities.  From vocational training for young refugees to human trafficking awareness campaigns in South America to hand washing stations at schools in Africa, we are providing micro grants, sustaining grants and fundraising opportunities for people around the world to get involved.  These projects are vetted by a panel of experts and all of the funds you donate go directly to the chapters.

 

Our chapters are also supporting classroom projects around the world by participating in virtual exchange programs that bring students together to learn about the daily lives, customs and beliefs of vastly different cultures.  They’re also the core of our plan to reinvigorate our very popular homestay program that places our members and travelers into the homes of members around the world, to experience new people and places on a very person level that the vast majority of travelers never have an opportunity to be part of.

 

Finally, those chapter projects that are making positive impacts on their communities - we’re bringing our members out to put their hands on these projects and help make an impact on the communities they’re visiting when they travel. 

 

We believe now, more than ever, it is critically important to open paths to wisdom by creating more ways to bring us closer and making you part of projects that improve the lives of others. Wisdom is what will create a lasting impact on our world.

 

This is your time to take action!