Entrepreneurial identity of GCU propagates in El Salvador via chair
In El Salvador, the McDonnell family, who once welcomed an exchange student into their home, have established Mi Casa International orphanage. This compassionate initiative now provides shelter for three separate homes, catering to young women, young men, and pregnant mothers.
Across the border in Colombia, a program led by Tim Kelley, the Chairman of the Canyon Angels angel investment group and the Chair of Entrepreneurship at Grand Canyon University's Colangelo College of Business, aims to help these young mothers build a future for themselves. The program encourages the mothers to explore entrepreneurial ventures, such as house cleaning or textile production, to create their own destiny.
The interest in learning about entrepreneurship has been evident, with more than 200 attendees at a seminar in Cucuta and over 100 participants in classes held in Bogota. Even facing numerous barriers, participants have shown a strong desire to learn and grow. In fact, dozens of students travelled up to 12 hours through Venezuela to attend the entrepreneurship training seminars in Cucuta.
The program in Colombia has continued to expand, with increasing attendance each year. Its reach has extended far and wide, attracting participants from various locations. Tim Kelley, who has coordinated plans for this program with GCU Provost Dr. Randy Gibb, has been part of the program for the fourth consecutive summer, teaching the Develop Your Model of Entrepreneurship (DYME) program at several sites in Colombia.
In El Salvador, the number of mothers participating in the program has grown to 15. All the mothers who have given birth within the program have chosen to keep their babies, a testament to the program's positive impact on their lives.
Tim Kelley hopes to extend the program to students in the US, with a potential winter trip to El Salvador for the DYME program at the Mi Casa International orphanage for the mothers. Further details about the specifics of this program and its collaboration with Grand Canyon University's Global Outreach mission trips are not yet available.
As the program continues to grow and evolve, it serves as a shining example of the power of education and entrepreneurship to transform lives and create opportunities for those who need it most.
- The McDonnell family, who established Mi Casa International orphanage in El Salvador, could potentially benefit from Tim Kelley's program, as it focuses on education and entrepreneurship, enabling young mothers to build a future for themselves, just like the program in Colombia.
- Tim Kelley, an influential figure in the spheres of angel investment, entrepreneurship, and education, has been actively involved in a program that equips young mothers with business skills, and the same approach could be applied to students at Grand Canyon University, promoting personal growth and learning through entrepreneurship.
- The students at Grand Canyon University's Colangelo College of Business, especially those pursuing entrepreneurship, stand to gain valuable insights from Tim Kelley's experiences, considering his role as the Chair of Entrepreneurship and his work in helping young mothers build successful ventures.
- As the program continues to thrive in Colombia and El Salvador, it presents an opportunity for the students at Grand Canyon University to engage in education-and-self-development activities, working alongside individuals from different countries and backgrounds to foster a global business community.
- The program's success in Colombia has led Tim Kelley to propose an expansion to the US, making it accessible to a wider audience, among them, students at Grand Canyon University, who aspire to contribute to the realm of business and make a difference through entrepreneurship.
- The collaboration between Tim Kelley's program and Grand Canyon University's Global Outreach mission trips promises to have a significant impact on the lives of many students and mothers, as it combines the university's resources with the program's focus on education and entrepreneurship, encouraging personal growth and offering opportunities for success.
