MISSION

Our Inspiration

We, 90 MBA students from 45 countries at IMD International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, are privileged to attend one of the world’s leading business schools. As part of our MBA education, we traveled to Argentina on a Discovery Expedition to gain first-hand experience of what it is like to do business in a challenging environment. We left Argentina not only with a better understanding of the country’s business climate but also with an appreciation and empathy for its people and its development challenges.

In a shantytown on the outskirts of La Plata we met Monika, who at 32 -- younger than many of us -- is already a grandmother of two. While we are preparing for a future in international business, she is fighting to live with dignity and to provide for her family. It was here that we committed ourselves to making a contribution to the lives of Argentina’s poor.

Our Goal

To make a difference, we are aiming to raise at least CHF 50,000 for LEER, a nonprofit organization in the north of Argentina where child poverty is at its worst. LEER’s mission is to help children under the age of five who are socially, economically and educationally at risk, so that they can get access to early education and break the cycle of poverty. The funds we are raising will be used to build two community centers that will benefit more than 800 children and 250 families. In addition, we have committed to working with LEER as consultants over the next three years. To ensure a successful outcome, HelpArgentina, a group that bridges social investors with Argentinean nonprofit organizations, will help us administer the project and create a social venture fund.

Our Challenge

As Lausanne is the world’s Olympic Capital and there is no better way than sports to demonstrate commitment, endurance and teamwork, the 2006 MBA class will cycle, run, swim, kayak, and rollerblade 560 kilometers across Switzerland in 45 hours. The intense fundraising relay will start early morning on Saturday 30 September 2006 and conclude on Monday 2 October. We have named our challenge HandsOn Argentina.

A Broader Message

To highlight that fighting poverty requires not only development funds but also international cooperation, we will begin the challenge at the venue of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos and end it in front of the World Trade Organization in Geneva. We will contact Swiss and international media to convey our message to a wider audience.

We Need Your Help

We have committed to raising funds for Argentina’s poor children to help improve Argentina’s future -- and we need your help to do it. We have committed ourselves, not just as business students, but as responsible citizens, to making a difference. As future business managers, we feel that we have a responsibility to give back. We hope you will join us in this challenge. Companies and individuals donating more than CHF 1,000 can choose to have their names or logos highlighted on www.hands-on-argentina.org Donors giving more than CHF 5,000 can elect to have their logos included on some of the participants’ sports gear. We thank you for your support. Contact Us to make a donation.