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Colombian Children in the Niños Trabajadores program, one of IPM’s project partners
Children suffering from Cerebral Palsy in Kenya are given an opportunity to learn computer skills and tailoring.
Impoverished and visually impaired women in Palestine are able to learn Braille, Arabic, and English and earn a high school diploma.
Teenagers in Nicaragua, forced to work during the day to support their families, have the chance to complete their studies at night.
These are just three of the global projects that International Partners in Mission has supported over the last 40 years.
For four decades, IPM has reached the far corners of the world from its home in Cleveland Heights. Last year alone, the organization helped 60,000 people by providing financial support, tech assistance, and training opportunities in 20 countries.
One way they do this is through Immersion Experience travel programs. The Immersion Experience goes beyond the traditional service project by focusing on a person-to-person exchange. As IPM explains on its site:
By meeting and living with individuals from across our global community, participants provide the greatest service there is – being present to listen and learn from their hosts. Participants’ roles are to share their compassion and to share themselves. By exposing the past and current socio-political conditions from a variety of perspectives, IPM Immersion Experiences allow participants to learn from our local friends what faith means to them, how their programs develop and improve their community, and about the local culture while taking in the sights, sounds, and foods of the country.
To mark its 40th anniversary, IPM is bringing their project partners and national and international experts to Cleveland for a week’s worth of panels, luncheons and dinner events for the public to enjoy.
IPM’s inaugural General Assembly week will take place October 13-17 and feature talks by individuals such as Dorothy Nyong’o, a consultant at the Africa Cancer Foundation and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o’s mother, and Sister Anthonia Ugheighele, whose Speranza II program provides a safe haven for African women trafficked from Nigeria to Italy.
At the same time, General Assembly week will also be a time of celebration with two special events: An Evening with Rick Steves and Namaste.
An evening with Rick Steves will take place October 17
The party starts with IPM’s 12th annual gala and fundraiser Namaste! One Night for One World on October 16. The evening will showcase a world-tour of music and dance, as well as food and drink and fair-trade handcrafts from the regions touched by IPM’s programs.
The following evening, join IPM and The City Club’s Dan Moultrop for a private reception and talk with Rick Steves, host of the popular public television series “Rick Steves’ Europe” and best-selling author of over 50 European travel books.
Steves is a perfect fit for IPM’s General Assembly, often encouraging Americans to travel independently and become “temporary locals.” He’ll present his new book and reflect on how a life of travel has broadened his own perspectives and can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the world.
Steves’ talk will start at 6:30 at The Breen Center for the Performing Arts. General admission tickets cost $30 and can be purchased here (student and VIP tickets are also available).
If you’re interested in learning more about Namaste and IPM’s other General Assemby events, visit IPM’s Facebook page or contact Raluca Besliu at rbesliu@ipmconnect.org and 216-932-4082.
