FALL 2007 JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CLASSES ARE BEING FILLED NOW

RVC SIFE continues to support the Rock River Valley Junior Achievement to teach educational outreach programs to grades K-12. This program will be hands-on activities with an emphasis on the values of business and economics.

RVC SIFE shares the mission of Junior Achievement of educating and inspiring young people to value free enterprise and understanding business and economics to improve the quality of their lives. This will be a productive partnership beyond expectations.

Junior Achievement is making an effort to provide economic education to every student in Winnebago, Boone, Stephenson and Ogle counties – RVC SIFE will continue to assist Junior Achievement in that mission.

RVC SIFE's goal for the 2007-2008 academic year is to educate 1,500 elementary school students through teaching market economics curriculum through Junior Achievement. Each RVC SIFE team member should invest a minimum of one hour a week for five to six weeks educating students. 

Contact Tam H. Nguyen (Project Manager), Cynthia Garcia (Co-Project Manager) to sign-up now!

For more information on how you can support Junior Achievement in the Rock River Valley and its programs, visit http://rockford.ja.org/home.html

http://www.thearcbeadware.com/

RVC SIFE was awarded the Arc of Illinois 2006 President's Award for outstanding efforts to include people with developmental disabilities in the community life through its work with the Arc of Winnebago, Boone & Ogle Counties Beadware Micro-Enterprise

RVC SIFE is working with the The Arc of Winnebago, Boone & Ogle Counties to create an entrepreneurial experience for men and women with disabilities. RVC SIFE is committed to helping showcase the extraordinary abilities of people who have been diagnosed with disabilities.

BEADWARE is one of a kind beaded jewelry and table art handmade by the Arc's Project Art Artist. These unique one of a kind pieces were featured at local art shows. RVC SIFE assisted BEADWARE in expanding into an internet-based business.

        Artist have all been diagnosed with a developmental disability

        Focus of the project is to assist an underserved population with independent living

        Directly Educated the Arc's Project Art Artists and support staff on how to run an internet business

        Educated on ethical business practices for eCommerce

        Website designed and maintained by RVC SIFE

        Sustainability ensured by SIFE funding first year of website

RVC SIFE has spearhead an international project with The Sisonke Bead Working Co-Operative. The Sisonke project is organized through The Family and Marriage Society of South Africa (FAMSA Western Cape).

The Women of Sisonke have all been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and most of their children are HIV Positive as well. However, with their limited resources, The Women of Sisonke cannot afford enough of the medications required to prolong the lives of themselves and their children. The intention of this project is not so much to earn a vast of amount of money as to make enough to ease the lives of the women.

SIFE is helping FAMSA Western Cape build hope while caring for their vulnerable HIV health condition and supporting them and their families.  It is a hybrid model combining welfare and income generation rather than a small business enterprise. 

RVC SIFE will assist the entrepreneurial efforts of the Women of Sisonke and educate both the women and program supporters of Sisonke on the U.S. Markets, international trading laws, and assist in website design and maintenance. RVC SIFE will ensure that this organization will become self-sufficient in their entrepreneurial efforts and empower these women in their quest for independent living and Life. RVC SIFE will fund the first year of the Sisonke international website.

RVC SIFE is in communication with several individuals to form strong partnerships in order to assist with the HIV positive project which will help fight the devastating effects of this pandemic in South Africa, on both the human and economic fronts. RVC SIFE is working with Rae Wolpe, Manager of Trade Promotion in the South Africa Economic Development & Tourism Directorate.

To accomplish life-changing goal, RVC SIFE will need to acquire funding. It is estimated that the cost to travel to South Africa for a week to complete this project will range from $2,500 - $2,700 per SIFE Team member. If you or your business is interested in providing finanical resources for this project, please let RVC SIFE. You may complete the Information Request form provided here on RVCSIFE.org.