#TravelWithPurpose. Welcome to the Immersion Programme, a group volunteer programme for business professionals who love to travel. You share your specialist skills with entrepreneurs tackling issues in their community, whilst travelling with purpose and having an incredible adventure!
What we offer This is a volunteer programme for business professionals who are seeking a career break overseas. Our Immersion Programme is a 6 week structured programme, that matches you with an entrepreneur who is doing great work in their community. As well as matching you, we provide support in the form of: • Arranging safe & secure accommodation • Pre-Programme: Useful materials to read , a Facebook group for you to join with your group, information about the programme experience • In-country check-ins, workshops & support from our local partner(s) • A copy of our Consultancy Guide & StartUp Manual, created by leading industry experts. • A Location Guide: where to eat/drink/play plus packing, flight and visa tips.
“Because I chose to take every opportunity that Social Starters created for us and squeeze every little bit of learning and experience I am now heading down a pathway I never dreamed possible one year ago!” - Participant, May 2016
Matching you with your client Depending on the business experience you have i.e. marketing / finance / product development etc, we’ll find you a client who requires your experience, to carry out a specific voluntary consultancy project.
Finding your client India We work with the social enterprise incubator - UnLtd India, based in Hyderabad. Brazil We currently work with EixoRio who are playing a role in the cultural and youth development legacy of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Programme & Admin Fees 2016 Travel Dates: £2080.00
2017 Travel Dates: £TBC
Fees inclusive of VAT, plus matching, admin, support.You are responsible for your flights, visas & living costs.
For more feedback, examples of consultancy assignments and the impact our volunteers have made visit our website.
Rio de Janeiro is one of the
most beautiful and vibrant cities in the world, surrounded by the natural beauty of its green mountains and beaches and rich with its own unique history and culture.
Rio de Janeiro is full of young creatives shaping their communities through arts, culture & sport. You can join a number of these inspiring individuals on their journey from delivering a successful project to scaling it into a sustainable business venture. These aspiring entrepreneurs are passionate, bright and dedicated to make a difference in the lives of those who need it.
Previous Clients: Bicão FOODPARK: the re-purposed car park space which was transformed into a food truck park to stimulate the local economy and educate the community about their impact on the environment.
Livreteria Popular Juraci Nascimento: an education project based in Zinco - a favela in the Rio’s central.
UmRio: A sport for development project using rugby as a tool to equip children and young people with skills, knowledge and awareness that will support their development on and off the field.
Click HERE to see more examples of clients in Brazil.
You’ll collaborate with influencers, active in their communities and keen to address the social issues they see around them. Often from lower income communities, your client will have been supporting themselves from a young age and are the pioneers of social change in their generation. Key issues faced in Rio are racism and negative stereotyping, violence, domestic abuse, children’s education and unemployment.
Example excursions: Hike / Trail to the top of the ‘Dois Irmãos’ mountains. Known as the ‘two brothers’ in English, the hike is to the peak of the tallest of the two mountains enjoying stunning 360 degree the city which include Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf mountain and Ipanema and Copacabana beaches.
Visit to a social business in Santa Marta, one of the first pacified favela communities in Rio.
Live samba at Pedra do Sal in Rio’s port district steeped in Afro-Brazilian culture and history as the point at which thousands of African slaves arrived in the city.
Hyderabad is a buzzing tech city in India, winning best city in India in terms of quality of living for two years in a row. Also soon to be home of the largest Google Campus outside of the US.
India is a country of many contrasts; on the one hand it’s now the world’s fastest growing economy and on the other hand poverty imposes an oppressive weight Social Entrepreneurs incubated by UnLtd Hyderabad, tackle issues at the grassroots through community outreach & education programmes, or through technology products or services.
Previous Clients: RideIT is a tech start-up bringing the sharing economy to Indian cities, changing the way people travel.
Allika is a grassroots organisation which addresses two problems; the lack of employment opportunities for women in his community and the issues of troublesome water hyacinth which attracts water born disease.
vRemind is committed to reducing low child mortality rates. They help parents with timely SMS reminders about their child’s vaccination schedule, thus help in protecting their children from various life threatening diseases.
Click HERE to see more examples clients in India.
Typically they will be 1-3 years into their social impact start-up journey, they will have already demonstrated impact in their communities and will have established a business model and be generating revenue or funding. They scale with UnLtd’s support, utilising the funding and training provided. Issues faced in Hyderabad include lack of income, air pollution, public transport safety (particularly for women), environmental issues, and access to health services.
Example excursions: Bollywood Dance Class. It’s all about letting go, having fun and having a go at learning a basic Bollywood dance routine.
Indian Cooking Lesson. You’ll be guided through making some of India’s most popular dishes by a local chef and by the end will be able to practice and take home your new culinary skills. And eat your hard work!
Golkonda Fort Hike One of India’s most magnificent ancient fort complexes, Golkonda dates as far back the 14th century and is breathtakingly beautiful.