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TrailofSeeds
anintroduc1onto
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MissionandVision
Mission:
"TopromoteCulturallySustainableDevelopmentincommuni1esaroundtheworld.
Vision:
Amul1-na1onalgroupofcommuni1esandchangemakersthatstrivesforculturallysustainabledevelopmentandseesthe
importanceofinterconnectednessandsharedhumanity.
CulturallySustainableDevelopment:
Anincreaseinqualityoflifebasedonmetricsfosteredthroughconnectedcommunityknowledge.Itallowssocie1estoinclusively
determinewhatisbestforthemselvesandtobuildathrivingcommunity.Ratherthanwealth,culturallysustainabledevelopment
considershowindividualsconnectwithoneanother.
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Ac1vi1es
Introspec1onand
Connec1onWorkshops
CommunityAc1vism
GrantsAdvocacyandPromo1on
TrailofSeedsundertakesthreeproject-centeredac1vi1estoaccomplishthemissionandvision.Foreachprojectasmall
subsistencefarmingcommunityischosen.Thechoiceinloca1onisbasedonthepresenceoflocalcontacts,theprevalenceof
ac1vismtakingplace,andrelevantskillsorpreferencesoftheTrailofSeedsteam.Ineachprojectof5to6weeks,Trailof
Seedsconductsvariousintrospec1onandconnec1onworkshopswithcommunitymemberswhothenassistinselec1ngpre-
exis1nglocalini1a1vesthatTrailofSeedsfundsthroughmicro-grants.Throughouttheprojectandmoreprevalentlyin-
betweenprojects,TrailofSeedsdoesvariousadvocacyandpromo1onworkfocusedonbothindividualprojectac1vi1esand
culturallysustainabledevelopmentingeneral.
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ThepurposeofTrailofSeedsintrospec1onandconnec1onworkshopsistofosterconnec1onamongcommunitymembers.
Weleadpar1cipantsinreflec1ngondifferentpartsandaspectsoftheircommunity(onrela1ons,challenges,ac1vi1es,and
more).Throughtheworkshops,thecommunitythenformstheirownvisionofdevelopmentthatiscenteredontheirunique
percep1onofqualityoflife.
Wewantpar1cipantstoengageinwhathashelpedthem,whathavebeenproblemsandwhy,andtogenerallyunpacktheir
communityandhowitfunc1ons.Throughtheworkshopspar1cipantsfosterconnec1onswitheachother-theycometogether,
begintoseewhatisnecessaryforthehealthysustainabilityoftheircommunityandgenerateanagencyforculturallysustainabledevelopment.
Tohavetrulymeaningfulreflec1onandintrospec1onontheseissues,theworkshopsarenotbluntorobviouslypointed
towardsdevelopmentandculture,butratherusecrea1veandinnova1veapproachessuchas:par1cipatoryphotographyand
film,skitwri1ng,dancechoreography,drawing,etc.Thepar1cipantsarefromallgenera1onsandlifestylessothata
community-wideunderstandingcanbeestablished.
TheTrailofSeedsteamdoesnotpretendtohaveanyofTheAnswers-andactssolelyasfacilitatorstothecommunitys
journeyintakingownershipofdevelopmentandculture.Throughouttheworkshopsweareabletotakepartinameaningful
culturalexchangesandrela1onshipsthatteachusaboutourowncultureandabouttheartofcommunityorganizing.
Introspec1onandConnec1onWorkshops
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AZertheworkshops,TrailofSeedsinterviewsanddiscusseswithcommunitymembersandselectspre-exis1ngini1a1vesthat
fosterconnec1onsandforwardthecommunitysdevelopment.Theseini1a1vesthenreceiveTrailofSeedsmicro-grants,thesize
ofwhichdependsonneed,availability,andthesizeoftheothergrantsgiven.AZerreceivingthegrants,thecommunity
organiza1onsandac1vistsaremorelikelytoadoptotherCulturallySustainableDevelopmentini1a1vesinthefuture.
Themainpurposeofthemicro-grantsistopromotecommunityac1vismthatisculturallysustainableandfostersconnec1ons.
Weonlygivegrantstopre-exis1ngini1a1vesbecause)thegrantsaretoosmalltoreallyjumpstartsomethingnewand2)ithas
beenconsistentlyproventhatthoughexci1ngatthebeginning,communi1esdonotmaintainnewlyformedprogramsfrom
grants.3)Variousorganiza1onsmaybepromo1ngculturalvaluesindifferentways,andtheworkshopsactasacri1callensinto
thoseini1a1ves,causingcommunitymemberstoaskthemselves"whatismyculture?howdoIconnecttomycommunity?And
whichini1a1vesarereallyservingtopromotethis?"
Thechoiceofthegrantsislargelyuptothecommunity.TrailofSeedsaimstohaveli_lepre-conceivedno1onsofwhatthe
communityneeds,butalsoholdsthatpriortointrospec1onthecommunityisnotsureitself.Byworkingtogetherinthe
workshops,TrailofSeedsandthecommunitymembersselecttrulyculturallysustainabledevelopmentini1a1ves.Thusnogrants
aredeterminedbeforeeachprojectbegins.Tohelpourside,wehaveexperienceinandagoodunderstandingofgrantgiving,and
haveastudentofactuarialsciencesonourteamwhowillhelpassessthefutureandrisksofthegrants.
CommunityAc1vismMicro-Grants
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Apartfromprojects,TrailofSeedshasvariousac1vi1estopromoteandadvocateforCulturallySustainableDevelopmentand
fosteringconnec1ons:
WebsiteandblogTrailofSeeds.organdYoungGlobalCi1zen.comaretwoofthemostprominentwaysthatTrailofSeeds
spreadsthewordonCulturallySustainableDevelopment.Thewebsitecontainsinforma1onabouttheorganiza1onand
thebloghasbothstoriesandinsightsfromtheprojects,andgeneralpostsondevelopmentandtravel.Togetherthey
receivearound40-50visitorsaday.
VideosandphotosbecausepartofTrailofSeedsac1vi1esintheprojectsaremediafocusedwithphotosandfilm,these
areusedtopromotetheworkbeingdone.Specifically,adocumentaryonCulturallySustainableDevelopmentandTrailof
SeedsisbeingmadethissummerinVenezuela.
TalksbothformalandinformaldiscussionsaroundTrailofSeedsworkanddevelopmentingeneralareahugeformof
promo1onoftheissues.Oneofthelargestimpactshasbeeninspiringotherstudent-ledini1a1ves.
Academicsvariouspaperswri_enbyteammembersandadvisorsaboutdevelopment,theprojects,andotherrelevant
issuesaddtoourpromo1on.Also,academicaffilia1onsspreadourreputa1on.
AdvocacyandPromo1on
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TheoryofChange
Introspec1onand
Connec1on
Workshops
ImpactOutcomesOutputsAcvies
Par$cipantsreflectdeeply
aboutculture,development,
qualityoflife,and
interconnectedness
Ac$vistsini1a1vescatalyzed
andgivenincreasedcommunity
approval
Audiencelearnsabout
CulturallySustainableDevelopmentandthebenefit
offosteringconnec1ons
Micro-Grants
AdvocacyandPromo1on
Increasing
reachandripple
-effect
Indailylifeandthrough
fundedini1a1ves,the
communitybeginstosee
theimportanceof
fosteringconnec1onsand
consideringqualityoflife
asdevelopment
Ac1vistsandaudience
buildnewmindsetsabout
developmentandthe
importanceofcultureand
connec1ons,andbeginto
understandthebenefits
andshareitwithothers.
Atrailofconnecongrowsas
CulturallySustainableDevelopmentisadoptedas
bothamindsetandasa
processincommunityand
largescaleiniaves.
MakeitworkSee/Knowitworks ThinkitworksTolditworks
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History
2010
March200:SalLavallocomesupwiththeideaofTrailofSeeds
June200:Tanzaniaischosenasthefirstprojectloca1on,andplanningcommences
October200:TrailofSeedsisformallyincorporatedinNewYorkStateasTrailofSeeds,Inc
2011
April20:FundingissecuredfortheTanzaniapilotproject
June20:ShannonSmithjoinsasVicePresident-Projects
July/August20:SalandShannonconductpilotprojectwithcommunitypartnersinTanzania
2012
January202:Venezuelaischosenasthesecondprojectloca1on,localcontactsaremade
March202:FundingissecuredforVenezuelanproject
April/May202:Theteamgrowstosevenstudents
August202:ProjectinVenezuelabegins!
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Biosofkeymembers
ShannonSmithVicePresident-Projects
ArisingJunioratReedCollege.ShehasspentsemestersawayatSarahLawrenceand
theUniversityofHavana,Cuba.Heracademicinterestsincludeenvironmental
studies,economics,anddevelopmentstudies.AtReed,sheisamemberofboththe
SustainabilityCommi_eeandthestudent-ledsustainabilitygroupGreenBoard.A
passionforexploringotherculturesandlandscapesledhertoUWC-USA.Shannonstrivestouseherskillsandcrea1vitytofostersustainablecommuni1eswhereverher
travelstakeher.
SalLavalloPresidentandFounder
SalwillgraduatefromNYUinDecember.There,heholdstheMar1nLutherKingJr
ScholarshipandwasarecipientoftheNYUPresidentsServiceaward.Hehas
workedfortheBavarianMinistryofEconomicDevelopment,BoozAllenHamilton,
andDalbergGlobalDevelopmentAdvisors.Inaddi1ontosemestersabroadinAbu
DhabiandTelAviv,Salhastraveledtonearly50countries.Hisconstantexposureto
theworldhasins1lledthethoughtinhimthatourdifferencesmakeusfascina1ng,
andthatwecanlearnfromanyoneandeveryone.
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AwardswonbyTrailofSeedsmemberstocompleteprojects
DavisProjectforPeaceGrant
HornFamilyFellowship
GallanDeansAward
SeidelmanFundGrant(Sarah
LawrenceCollege)
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TrailofSeedsinternetpresence
TrailofSeeds.org
TrailofSeedsmainwebsiteliststhemission,hasexplana1onsofeach
project,moredetailedbiographiesof
allpar1cipants,aswellasaformal
projectproposalanddifferentlinks.
YoungGlobalCizen.com
Whilepar1cipantsarecomple1ngtheTrailofSeedsprojectstheywriteblogpostsabout
theirexperiencesonYoungGlobalCi1zen.com.
Doingsohelpsthempersonallyreflectthrough
wri1ngaswellastoletdonorsandothers
interestedmoreclearlyunderstandTrailof
Seedsac1vi1esandgoals.
Facebook.com/TrailofSeeds
GeneralupdatesonTrailofSeeds
ac1vi1esandadirectlinktothe
manysupporters.
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PilotProject:Mangula,Tanzania
TrailofSeedsmembersspent5-weeksfromJulytoAugust
20inthesmallvillageofMangula,Tanzania.98%ofthe
popula1onofMangulaissubsistencefarmersandtheyall
believeverystronglyintheTanzanianmantra
Tukapamoja-meaningWeAreTogether!
Theprojectwassuccessfulnotonlyforthecommunity,
butalsoforTrailofSeedslearninghowtoorganizea
successfulini1a1veandgainingexperiencedealingwith
thevariousproblemsthatarise.
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Weconductedvariousconnec1onandintrospec1onworkshops
andinterviewsinMangula.Weworkedwithfarmers,adanceand
theatertroupe,collegestudents,anadultEnglish-language
course,andbothstudentsandteachersatanurseryschoolas
wellasaprimaryschool.
Mangulaworkshops
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1.
Grant:TheKilomberoYouthMovementAgainstPoverty(KYMAP)receivedtwohectaresoflandandawaterpump.
Result:ThegrantpushedKYMAPtwoyearsaheadintheirfiscalplanningasthey
cannowenhancetheirvegetablegardenandplantrota1onalcrops.
2.
Grant:Mangulasdanceandtheatertroupereceivedtwoxylophones,hidesforadozennewdrums,twosetsofuniformsforthetwentymembers,various
costumesforskits,andprops,makeup,andfire-breathingmaterials.
Result:Thetroupefeelsastrongerteamspiritintheiruniformswhichgivesnew
vigoranddesiretoperform.Thepropsandfire-breathingmaterialsallowthe
troupetoperformtradi1onaldancestheypreviouslycouldnot.
3.
Grant:TheKalungaprimaryschoolhadallofitsfarmlandweededandreceived40rakes,40slashers,and40hoes.Theyalsogotnewrecessmaterials.
Result:Theschoolcannowteachtheirfarmingcourseprac1callyratherthan
theore1cally.Therearealsomoreresourcesforrecessfun,whichwillreduce
figh1ngandbullying.
Mangulasthreemicro-grants
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ForTrailofSeedssecondproject,theteamwillspend6weeksinSantaElenadeUairen,VenezuelathisAugust/September.
SantaElenaisasmalltownlocatedneartheborderwithBrazilandisaninteres1ngculturalcross-roads.Betweenthe
Venezuelans,Guyanese,Brazilians,andvariousindigenoustribes,aswellasthetouristsventuringfromnearbyAngelFallsand
CanaimaNa1onalPark,thetownhasafascina1nginterna1onaliden1ty.Havinggonethroughvariousstagesofoutwardly
imposeddevelopmentandwithalocaleconomyofminingandagriculture,SantaElenaistheperfectloca1onforTrailofSeeds!
Venezuela-Summer202
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WithalargerteamthaninTanzania,TrailofSeedsworkshopsin
Venezuelawillbemoreextensive.Workshopthemeswillinclude
par1cipatoryvideo,dance,theater,rela1onalunderstanding,and
primaryschoolfocus.Therewillalsobevariousinterviews
conducted.
SantaElenaworkshopsandpartners
ThoughTrailofSeedsdoesnotpre-selectgrant
recipients,wewillbeworkingwithvariouscommunity
organiza1onssuchastheIns1tutoMunicipalparala
CulturaylasArtes(IMCA),ThainesandBodah,Consejo
deDerecho,andwithac1vistMaiteAyala.These
connec1onswouldnothavebeenmadepossible
withouttheworkofTrailofSeedsteammember-
MaikorAzuaje-whohimselfisfromSantaElena.
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TrailofSeedsDocumentary
Goals
.PromoteCulturallySustainableDevelopment
2.RaiseawarenessforTrailofSeeds
3.Inspireotherchange-makers
4.Actasself-reflec1ngtoolfortheTrailofSeedsteam
WhileinSantaElenadeUairen,TrailofSeedswillproduceadocumentaryworking1tle:CulturallySustainableDevelopment-
TrailofSeedsinVenezuela.Thefilmwillshowthebenefitsofdevelopmentworkwhichhighlightscultureandfosterscommunity
connec1ons.ThefilmwillbemadeupoffootagefromTrailofSeedsownfilmmakeraswellasclipsfilmedbyworkshop
par1cipants.UponreturningtotheStatesintheFall,TrailofSeedsmembersandadvisorswilliden1fyandcontactsector
expertsandadvocatestoaddinterviewsintothefilm.
TrevorWallace,Filmmaker
Anawardwinningdocumentaryfilmmakerwhohasshot
documentariesinAntarc1ca,Colombia,Nepal,Cuba,and
Senegal.HisworkshavebeenscreenedatNewYorksMuseum
ofNaturalHistoryandExplorersClub,the202Alterna1ve
WorldWaterForuminMarseilles,theTurkishWorkersForum
inAnkara,theAsianDevelopmentBankWorkshopinHanoi,
andtheSarahLawrenceStudentFilmFes1val.Inhisworkhe
strivestopromotesocialjus1ceandalignwithindigenous,
marginalized,andperipherymovementsaroundtheworld.
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Future
TheTrailofSeedsteamhopestocon1nuetocompleteitsprojectsandadvocacy.Throughtheirinterna1onalconnec1onstheyhavehadpreliminarydiscussionsandinterestsinvariousloca1onsincluding:Socotra,Yemen;Orissa,India;Clarendon,Jamaica;
andothers
Inaddi1ontotheprojectworkshopsandgrants,TrailofSeedshopestoincreaseitsadvocacythroughaddi1onalfilmsandnewmedia,theYoungGlobalCi1zen.comblog,andar1clesandreports.
Tohelpwithitsmissionanditsexpansion,TrailofSeedshasbeenworkingwithDr.NiobeWay,theDirectorofthe
InstutefortheAdvancementofHumanity
,andwillbejoininghandswiththemtoreachawideraudienceandfurtherpromoteCulturally
SustainableDevelopmentandasharedhumanity.Inaddi1ontoDr.Way,TrailofSeedshopestoaddmoreexpertadvisors.
Ideally,TrailofSeedswillalsobeabletobringtheleadingcommunityac1vistsfromeachoftheirprojectcommuni1estogetheratsomepointsothatthelearningofsharedhumanitycantrulybehighlighted,andthesimilarlessonslearnedthroughthe
connec1onandintrospec1oncanberevealed.
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Thankyouandcontactinforma1on
Inaddi1ontoformalgrants,TrailofSeedshasbeensupportedbymanyindividualsthroughadviceandfunding.Wethankyouall
dearly,especially:DavidandTraceySmilow,NiobeWay,BjrnHaugland,RosalindFredericks,HannahGurman,BradandLiz
Borchers,DavidWaxandSuzSlezak,JuanSebas1anBarrencheGonzalez,MonicaWeed,AlexandraBorn,GabrielleLavallo,Be_y
Rodman,ShainaKasper,KarlaBlum,StephenandAnne_eLavallo,andBarrySmith
WealsothankourfellowTrailofSeedspar1cipants:MaikorAzuaje,TrevorWallace,MarcelaColmenares,KelseyForbes,and
GabrielBurgazzi.Allofushavemetthroughourconnec1ontotheUnitedWorldCollegemovement,towhichwearegrateful
Tolearnmorecontact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
OrvisitTrailofSeeds.organdYoungGlobalCi1zen.com
