Learning for Good - A New Model for Personal, Business and International Development

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) June 17, 2010 - Nebaj, Guatemala is the home of the Ixil people, one of the most distinct Mayan cultures. The Ixiles are world famous for their stunning and intricately woven clothing. A wonderful opportunity now exists for leaders, manager and  travelers to visit a place where the culture feels both traditional and vibrant at the same time- and to do well by doing good. 

The Acacia Group – Socially Responsible Leadership Experiences provides individual participants, business leaders or corporations with an opportunity to see social responsibility not as an obligation to be managed but as a path to growth.   They use a model that shows that cultural immersion, leadership development and social responsibility are interdependent and can lead to an improved personal or business advantage.     While many people wish to do more, or companies are analyzing their corporate social responsibility strategies – The Acacia Group works with individuals, groups and companies who are ready to shift from concept to action. Using an international residency as their lever for change and insight, The Acacia Group consults and assesses participants in advance of departure, and then uses that information to support individuals through personalized and team coaching experiences while engaged in short-term international development work. “The ability to see someone in a different setting, where they are stripped of their status, communications devices or tools –often allows them to use different levels of innovation and to grasp insights that might elude them in a more familiar setting” says Christine Bonney, one of  the three partners. The Acacia model then continues to provide coaching support to all individuals for up to three to four months upon return home to help establish transformative change and to revisit the lessons learned while overseas.   In Guatemala, The Acacia Group works with locally owned businesses and a local partner Social Entrepreneurs Corps (www.socialentrepreneurcorp.com).  Participants will have the opportunity to engage in service, working alongside Ixiles, providing after school care, helping in the Centro Explorativo – a resource library with community programs, or help a local entrepreneur develop and deliver their goods to market as part of an international award winning program of micro-consignment.   Special pricing is in effect for the November 26^th – December 5^th residency to Guatemala, but space is expected to fill quickly, “$2500 covers all services with the exception of travel to Guatemala City”, says Penny Lane – the Partner responsible for International Relations. “It really is a fantastic opportunity for folks to engage in their learning in different way. The G 20 will talk at length about the Milllenium Development Goals – this however is a practical way to shift to action and to long term transformative change for the people who participate and of course the people of Nebaj.”    The Acacia Group - Socially Responsible Leadership Experiences offers trips throughout the year to Guatemala, Kenya and Mexico for the above residency or other programs contact info@theacaciagroup.ca or call  1-877-313 8822.   AG7490