I believe that every job is worth investing time and dignified particularly when approached with the proper work ethic and attitude.
David Glenwinkel is the CEO and the founder of Village Care International, an organization based in Auburn, California. He founded this organization with the aim of changing the conventional African aid programs. David had spent many years working with numerous African relief agencies where he came to a realization that these traditional aid programs were a big failure. The outside world endures to pour millions of dollars as aid to the African continent. However, instead of being a solution to the African crisis, these billions of cash have changed nothing. Currently, death, sickness, and poverty continue to prevail in the continent while Africans have become entirely dependent on humanitarian aid from foreign countries. Therefore, David created a program that was entirely out of the box, radical and backward. According to Glenwinkel, Africans are the only people who can solve their challenges by using their resources and with no any dependence on humanitarian aid. He believes that these resources are enough for African people to create improved lives for themselves. He accomplishes this goal by equipping societies across Africa and their leaders with values and practices which empower vulnerable people to thrive. David has achieved a remarkable milestone with over 800 communities across ten African countries being presently engaged as Village Care members. Village care International has a unique and revolutionary technique to assist others help themselves.
In 2016 David has been honored for being a true philanthropist having given remarkable gifts to countless vulnerable Africans. The honor was for the best nonprofit organization in Africa.
Where did the idea for Village Care International come from?
I quickly discovered that Africans have solutions to their challenges. Having worked with countless humanitarian African aid organizations, I realized that these programs brought little or no change to Africa. I decided to pursue a different technique and founded Village Care International based on a strong belief that only Africans can change their lives.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
Notably, my days are somewhat unscheduled and ultimately depends on upcoming activities. I am productive only when I communicate and coordinate with all our team members who currently resides in Africa. Communication is important because I am fully involved in the management of this program.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I help motivate people of Africa to solve their problems. I start by helping villagers to achieve better health practices, education, and sanitation. After a while, I return to the same communities and evaluate their progress based on the knowledge they acquire. I constantly remind villagers that their lives is ultimately dependent on their mindset.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I am excited to see progress made by Africans in a bid to eradicate illiteracy, death, diseases and poverty. Village Care International continues to reach thousands of vulnerable societies with an aim to help them solve their challenges. We equip African populations with values needed to achieve sustainable development and healthier lives.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Working for the benefit of humankind. I work hard from the highly effective and unorthodox standpoint that only Africans have solutions to their challenges by utilizing resources they already have and with zero dependence on foreign aid. It is my desire to see a prosperous Africa.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I believe that every job is worth investing time and dignified particularly when approached with the proper work ethic and attitude. Consequently, I cannot refer to one job as being worse than any other.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Nothing. My approach to establishing Village Care International worked perfectly. I would still use the same method to help Village Care members better their lives.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I remind myself every new day that no matter the achievement or challenges we face at Village Care, there is still a lot of work that needs our attention. I have to work even harder to reach my goals.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
I am personally dedicated and involved in problem solving across the African continent. It is through dedication that I learned how well African populations could derive more benefits from using their resources to address own problems. I visit African occasionally, to witness changes in the lives of different communities.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I believe that I did not consider potential expansion of the Village Care International program. We only based the program in Africa. Lately, we have received countless appeals that we should extend the programs even to the third world countries of the rest of world. I am always working to see how this can be implemented.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Understanding other people’s cultures is interesting. I would encourage entrepreneurs to design businesses founded on cultures of the rest of the people worldwide. This could also promote peace of the world.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I gave a small boy in one of the countries in Africa a gift worth $100 for having organized and started a football club where he and other boys can spend their leisure. According to the kid, he is visionary that the program will help nurture their talents. He used the money to purchase football kits which is in line with Village Care International philosophy.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
Facebook. It is readily available to most of the village care members and hence we can communicate easily using this social media platform.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“My Love for the Poor” by Mother Teresa. This book inspires me to continue giving to the less fortunate.
Connect:
Village Care on Twitter: @Village_Care
David Glenwinkel on LinkedIn:
David Glenwinkel on Twitter: @dglenwinkel
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.