Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation

Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation (CCJF) was established as a 501.c3 public foundation in 1998 to promote global awareness and foster sustainable development in the countries where Cross Cultural Journeys travels.

The mission of CCJF is to “help create sustainable economic, environmental and social development in underdeveloped countries of the world”. Since its establishment, CCJF has developed programs and provided support to impoverished peoples in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Tibet, Nepal, Myanmar and Nepal.

For ten years, 100% of all contributions have gone directly to programs in country.

Quest for Global Healing Conferences
In 2004 and 2006, CCJF organized and helped fund a series of gatherings in Indonesia entitled, “Quest for Global Healing”. The purpose of the Quest for Global Healing initiative was to address the interrelated global challenges of extreme poverty, human rights and social justice abuses, and environmental degradation. Over 1,000 people from forty countries joined in Indonesia in December 2004 and August 2006 to explore these issues and to determine actions to address them. The first conference was co-led by Wilford Welch, co-chairman of the Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation and a former U.S. diplomat in Asia, and Carole Angermeir, Founder of Cross Cultural Journeys and Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation. Both initiatives were led by Wilford Welch, with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu of South Africa as the chairman of the initiative.
See www.questforglobalhealing.org

Grants were received from the Ford Foundation, The Fetzer Institute, and the John E. Fetzer Foundation, the Sister Fund, Rudolph Steiner Foundation and the Seva Foundation. CCJF worked collaboratively with foundations to award numerous scholarships for the 2004 and 2006 Quest For Global Healing conferences.

In June 21-25, 2010, Wilford Welch, through Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation, organized a third gathering entitled “Beyond Sustainability”, to explore the principles and practices of indigenous peoples that may help move us towards a sustainable world.

See www.BeyondSustainability.org.

CCJF’s budget was $102,811 in 2009, and $238,399 in 2010. Most of these funds came in the form of grants to CCJF from the following well known U.S foundations: The Charles Engelhard Foundation, The Christensen Fund, the Fetzer Institute, The Hawaii Community Foundation, The Pohaku Fund, The Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation, and the Watson Family Foundation. Many of the sixty leaders of U.S. NGO’s and other civil society organizations who participated in the Beyond Sustainability initiative received scholarships from CCJF.

Days of Community Service
In 2003 we piloted Days of Community Service on many of our journeys which provides an opportunity for our travelers to donate a day of service in a village or community that we visit. Our goal is to foster people to people interaction and understanding.

We are now piloting a Worldview Literacy travel program with the Institute of Noetic Sciences to explore the world view of the people we visit, and our own, fostering understanding amongst global citizens. This curriculum is incorporated into our philosophy of travel.

Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation has been granted a Uniteed States Government license to take U.S. citizens legally to Cuba on People-to-People educational journeys. Learn more

The need is so great, and it takes so little to make a difference in the lives of the many friends we have made over the years in the countries we visit. Joined by an excellent volunteer Board of Directors, numerous donors and volunteers, we continue working to promote self sustainable livelihoods through grants, micro lending, education and health projects, particularly in Ethiopia.

For the past 12 years the foundation has given grants and assistance to grass roots projects (described on this page) and groups of women in a number of countries in Africa and Asia.

Some of the projects have included:

• An embroidery co-op for young women to earn funds for their education and teach their craft to younger girls so that they might become employed.

• Local crafts are purchased from subsistence level craftswomen and brought to the U.S. for sale; the proceeds are used to purchase more crafts.

• Funding a rural community medical clinic in Northern Ethiopia staffed by a local health care nurse with basic medicines and a visit monthly from a doctor from Addis Ababa.

• A micro lending project overseen by local community elders with all re-payment funds going back to the loan pool.

• 10 year committement for scholarships for young girls in India so they can complete their schooling.

Earlier projects:

Ethiopia:
• The foundation provided a small grant to fund the roof of a Tea House being built by a nine-woman co-op. The women were destitute widows or had been abandoned by their husbands. Each year travelers from Cross Cultural Journeys visit the now highly successful Queen of Sheba Tea House. The co-op of women are now saving to start a grocery store.

• A grant was given to a 17 year-old woman to sponsor her tuition and living expenses while she attended a six-month tailoring training in Addis Ababa. Upon her return to Lalibella she established a tailor shop and taught 8 other young women in Lalibella tailoring skills. Their most recent grant was given for rent to open a store front shop.

• A grant was made to fund the start up of a small restaurant where a number of local members of the community are employed. The proprietor has applied for a grant for a new refrigerator so that she can serve cold beverages to her patrons.

TANZANIA
A grant was given to a Maasai woman who was starting a school for rural Maasai children to learn in their own language. The school is now self supporting.

KENYA
A grant was made for a program to help build wells in villages where women traditionally have walked ten miles for daily water.

TIBET
On-going support for children at a Tibetan orphanage which teaches the children the traditional craft of paper making.

Numerous scholarships have been given to young people in a number of countries to study at school, learn a trade, or study English.