Bpeace is an international network of ordinary and sometimes extraordinary businesspeople, who volunteer their skills, time, talent, connections or money.

Even though 75% of the Bpeace membership never travels to Afghanistan and Rwanda, our volunteers develop relationships, in many cases friendships, with the entrepreneurs we assist and become front-line ambassadors for peace and cross-cultural understanding.

 

Bpeace wants to grow with committed members who have the interest and ability to get involved in our work.

 

Why is Bpeace a membership organization?  Our members are our most important asset. They bring the talent and connections that allow Bpeace to carry out our mission. And the tax-deductible monthly dues that members pay contribute nearly 5% of our annual budget and keep Bpeace offices in Rwanda and Afghanistan open.

 

What happens after you join? We put your skills and industry experience in the Bpeace Talent Database. We let you know the date and time of the next teleconference orientation with Toni Maloney, our Chairperson. We suggest the volunteer teams and/or opportunities that appear to be the best match for you. Volunteer opportunities are a shifting landscape and new ones always emerge. Volunteer "jobs" fall into three different categories: 1) Assisting our Afghan and Rwandan entrepreneurs from a distance; 2) Performing a task like marketing or research that keeps Bpeace itself growing; 3) Fundraising by participating in one of several events throughout the year. When we mount a mission to travel to Afghanistan and Rwanda, preference is given to those members who have been engaged in our work through the aforementioned activities.

 

What is the difference between levels of membership?  Over the years we have offered additional benefits for higher dues, but found in the end, we like to treat all members the same.  Today, the only difference is your own philanthropic goals and the amount of monthly dues you choose to pay.  Bpeace membership is affordable and tax-deductible, ranging from $10 to $100/per month.

 

JOIN and you can...

Turn your business success into significance by redeploying your life and job skills. Whether you directly advise Afghan and Rwandan women entrepreneurs or help Bpeace strengthen and expand its own reach, you will make a meaningful impact, meet new people and learn about other cultures.

 

Most importantly, you will help create stronger businesses and spark job creation, thus enabling more stable communities. More jobs mean less violence.

 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
--Margaret Mead

 

The best way to describe what Bpeace’s nearly 300 volunteers do, is to highlight the activities of some of our VERA (Volunteer Excellence Recognition Award) winners.

 

 

Stephen Kulovits redirected his expertise as director of customer service at Montefiore Hospital to create and deliver customer service training in Rwanda.

 

Wendy Summer so fell in love with the Afghan people while on Bpeace missions, she has visited there five times and now created an import business, ZAANHA, which sells Afghan-embroidered home décor items.

 

Alix Samuelson uses her skills as a manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers to develop financial projections and a business plan for Rwanda’s new beauty vocational school when Bpeace paired her up with market researcher Barbara Bylenga of Outlaw Consulting who is leading this big Bpeace project.

 

Cynthia Fisher, VP of Marketing and Quality Assurance at Look’s Gourmet, recruited 12 food companies in Maine to host four Afghan food processing entrepreneurs for BART (Bpeace Apprentice Road Trip).

 

Wendy Summer so fell in love with the Afghan people while on Bpeace missions, she has visited there five times and now created an import business, ZAANHA, which sells Afghan-embroidered home décor items.

 

Rebecca Brackman helped host a California fundraiser that generated $17,000 for Bpeace.

 

Sandi Mason’s organizational and creative talents make the silent auctions at Bpeace’s annual fundraising Gala always an experiential and financial success.