IGN's primary goal is to create experiences through which people are inspired to take steps towards living a passionate life of serving others, and who will choose to make significant contributions in the fight against global poverty, injustice and oppression. Each of the core strategies are designed to facilitate people in a process of self discovery, as well as increase their awareness of others, how to serve them or participate in the alleviation of the global realities of poverty in which the vast majority of the world live.
In partnership with like-minded organizations, we help people in a process of discovering, developing and deploying their skills, gifts and resources in the hopes of overcoming the various forms of poverty throughout the world.
We work with individuals and organizations to train and prepare them to serve in different parts of the world in hopes of breaking cycles of poverty and helping people discover their true value and unique contribution in life We emphasize relationship building and personal development. Our training and the development programs that we support emphasize the health of the whole person, mind, body and spirit.
Vision:
To see an international network of like-minded people working together for the common purpose of reconciling people to one another, to their Creator and to all of creation through holistic practices.
Teams
IGN coordinates service learning travel opportunities with the intention that the trip will be a catalyst for a transformative experience that benefits both the international partner being visited and also the volunteer that is serving. IGN coordinates two different types of serving trips, each with their own distinct strategy.
Seminars offered are abbreviated versions of the training program. These are designed to be motivational and informational in nature and are conducted over two hours up to a two day period. Similar to the longer training programs, seminars also employ a participatory learning process and serve to generate awareness of the need for and to develop interest in reflective personal development practices towards consideration of responsibility to the needs of others. Small group discussions take place around such topics as: Conflicting World Views, Development vs. Relief, What is Poverty, Discover Your Strengths, My Life Story, A Passionless World, and Love Your Neighbor.
Where it all began - The History of IGN: It was in the summer of 1987 when Tim Salmonson, the founder of IGN first experienced what it was like to leave the comforts of middle-class America to volunteer on a week-long serving project in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. After college, Tim served in a church in Plymouth, England for some time, traveled throughout Europe and then moved to Florida to lead the youth program at a dynamic, very rapidly growing church. This was the most formative time in Tim's life, a time when he came to realize the transformative power of serving others.
