Good Vision has Great Vision

Yesterday, we hung out at Good Vision's headquarters near Tel Aviv.

Hung out is more appropriate for this site visit since they brought in falafel pita bread wraps, an entirely different culinary experience than a falafel in the states, even New York.

Good Vision was the first Israeli consulting company to specialize in planning and managing corporate social responsibility proccesses in firms and governmental agencies. The organization is the child of Stanford graduate Ivri Verbin, who worked with Peres for six years as an economic advisor before launching Good Vision in 2002.

“I wanted to promote more ethical behavior in organizations,” says Verbin. Good Vision originates a diverse variety of projects, as the company’s extensive knowledge enables them to generate innovative navigation of funds.

The spirit of Good Vision is based on the belief that creating the precise collaboration between philanthropists and the community brings the best contribution to society as a whole.

Transition for people and communities is witnessed at three levels: the strategic level, the activity level and the level of media impact. They also do ethical programs within organizations and corporate governance, providing workshops for both management and the board of directors.

“We’ve been so focused on political issues that corporate social responsibility is fairly new in Israel. "Today, we are practicing and advocating for this philosophy in a number of international networks,” sats Verbin.

We also met with ten or so teenagers who have gone through Good Vision's programs. In addition to sharing falafel with us, they shared their stories and dreams, as well as the impact that Good Vision has had on them. It has helped them with management skills as well as self-esteem issues.

Two girls in army uniforms presented contageous smiles. One of them spoke of equality in the army and how the rules have changed in her generation.

She remarks, "before, women were treated differently. Today, if we sign up for military service, we have to do our five weeks a year until we're 45 -- just like the men. Even if we have small children." She beamed when she said this, but I couldn't honestly tell whether she was beaming because of the fact that they now have the same equality or she was an eternal optimist. She had one of those faces.

She was also so much fun to shoot. Women seem to be completely comfortable in front of the camera here. They know how to pose and more importantly, love it.

I wonder how this generation of women who sign up for the army will feel 50 and 60 years from now, after spending five weeks a year away from their small children and what the impact will be -- positively and negatively, on the family.

In a few months, they will be launching Global Demos in Zurich. Says Verbin, "we are teaching young underprivileged children about science." The “Science Van” is essentially science and environment projects on wheels.

They travel to a couple of areas per day, largely small towns that don't have access to this level of expertise and training. Here, they have an open forum to not only teach kids about science, but to inspire and empower them into believing that they too could be a scientist one day. It’s a combination of education and self esteem building.

Other initiatives include cross pollination of ideas. "Because of globalization, we probably have more in common with each other than we do with our grandparents," Verbin adds. Koldor organizes people to exchange mutual ideas across cultures.

He also talks about another web based organization that they are now involved in called Kavor.

Kavor educates children about a surgical or medical procedure before they go to the hospital. This non-profit prepares people in advance (nurses and doctors), and kids at home, where they feel safe. A ten year old is able to learn about procedures in advance so he is less afraid and more prepared when he gets to the hospital.

Verbin's vision is a great one, something that Israel can really benefit from as such a young country in ways others will have to stretch themselves to "catch up."

Us with their group below: