Venture Program
What is the Venture Program?
The Children of the Nations (COTN) Venture Program exists to expose participants to the COTN mission so that they may utilize their skills, resources, and relationships to accomplish the vision of raising children who transform nations. Trips usually last one to two weeks.
Interested in using your skills and expertise in-country for a longer period of time? You might be a good fit for a Global Volunteer position.
The COTN Venture Program offers you the opportunity to know the children you have heard about, to meet the in-country staff who are faithfully raising these children, and to become part of a global movement of people who are committed to partnering with these staff members and community leaders in-country. In doing so, we seek to ensure that the children are given the opportunities necessary to enable them to be transformed and, in turn, to transform their nation.
Our wish is that our children would become your children and their needs become your needs. True transformation requires a movement of people.
Start A Team —Become A Team Leader
You can start your own Venture Team by applying to serve as a team leader, gathering a group of people from your church and/or community to form a Venture Team.
Join A Team — Become A Team Member
You can join an existing COTN Venture Team or a team leaving from your church or community. COTN can connect you with a team leader who will consider your application and help you prepare for the trip.
EIGHT TYPES OF VENTURE TEAMS
Participate in a team project that focuses on evangelism, discipleship, pastoral training, youth ministry, children’s ministry, and more.
Provide medical care, dental care, trauma counseling, and/or health education, imparting healthy habits, proper hygiene techniques, and positive lifestyle choices that will aid in the progress of overcoming the cycle of poverty and disease.
Learn about our in-country programs firsthand and experience how COTN is raising children who will transform nations. Meet COTN staff, visit schools and clinics, and ask questions to discover how you can partner with us.
Participate in a team project that focuses on providing sustainable development initiatives like clean water, agriculture, renewable energy, or micro-enterprise. Help give communities the tools and resources that allow them to thrive.
Participate with an education team that equips and empowers children to become the leaders of tomorrow. Train and mentor local teachers, provide curriculum, and teach strategies and techniques that will strengthen and improve education practices.
Work on a construction project that allows COTN to provide safe and reliable children’s homes, medical clinics, schools, community centers, and other facilities.
Participate with a team that connects with our I Love Baseball program in the Dominican Republic. Bring a baseball team or baseball fanatics to practice with the players, teach new skills, nutrition and sports medicine, or simply build relationships.
College Immersion Trip
During this extended time in-country, your team will be immersed in the culture. Each trip will have a specific project and must be commissioned by a school or church. These trips are available all year and are perfect for fulfilling college majors that require global missions and study-abroad experience. We are able to host teams of 5–70 in the Dominican Republic and 5–20 in Sierra Leone. Learn more here.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kind of work will I be doing?
Each year the staff in the countries we work in put together lists of projects that would help move them toward their annual goals. All projects that Venture Teams could participate in are added to the Venture Project Library. Your Venture Coordinator will go over these with you based on the passions and skills of the participants on your team. To see teams that are already approved for travel, and to consider joining one, visit our Upcoming Trips page.
2. Do I need a passport? A visa?
Yes, passports are required for travel to any COTN country. Visas must be purchased before traveling to Sierra Leone and Uganda. All other countries will issue visas to Venture participants upon entry. Each Venture participant is responsible for the cost of purchasing a passport and visa (not included in COTN invoicing). Your Venture Coordinator will assist you and your team throughout this process.
3. Which vaccinations are recommended by COTN? Do I need to get a rabies vaccination? Do I need to take malaria medicine?
COTN recommends that immediately upon approval of your application, you consult your local health department or family physician to determine which vaccinations and medications will be needed. If you are traveling to Sierra Leone or Uganda or if your trip includes a safari excursion in Zambia, you must have a current yellow fever vaccination.
4. Where do I send my payments? Do I (and/or my supporters) pay by check or online?
You may submit a credit card payment online on your personal fundraising page via your team page. Supporters may also make donations online on your team or personal fundraising page. All Venture participants and supporters may submit payments by cash, check, or credit card. All checks should be made payable to COTN, have your code (assigned to you after acceptance) on the memo line, and be sent to:
COTN Venture Program
P.O. Box 3970
Silverdale, WA 98383
Please do not send cash in the mail. You may give cash payments directly to your Venture Coordinator.
5. How do I join a Venture Team?
There are two ways to participate with a Venture Team:
- Form A Team — Become A Team Leader (apply)
You can become a Venture Team Leader by gathering a group of people from your church and/or community to form a Venture Team to serve in one of the countries in which COTN serves (Dominican Republic, Haiti, Malawi, Sierra Leone, or Uganda).
- Join A Team — Become A Team Member (apply)
You can join a COTN Venture Team as a Team Member on a scheduled trip with an existing COTN team or a team leaving from your church or community. COTN will connect you with a Team Leader who will consider your application and help you prepare for the trip. As a Venture Team Member, you are responsible for interacting with your Team Leader to receive training materials, and you are required to attend scheduled team meetings. Please visit the Upcoming Trips page to view future opportunities.
Find more frequently asked questions here.
