WorldVentures Foundation Plants Seeds of Hope in Zimbabwe

As the world mourned Cecil the Lion and debated the humanity of hunting big game in Zimbabwe, a baby found abandoned in a pit latrine was being loved back to life nearby. How she got there, no one knows, but her plight fuelled purpose for those who joined WorldVentures Foundation™ (WVF) in August for Volunteer Days at the Rose of Charity Orphanage and its Community Center in Victoria Falls.

“My heart breaks when I think of that sweet baby, left to drown in human waste,” said WVF Executive Director Gwyneth Lloyd, as she fought back tears. “The inhumanity is unspeakable but, as horrible as it is, stories like hers are all-too common. It’s why we are called to serve.”

Lloyd and her team led two groups of WorldVentures Representatives and Members to Zimbabwe August 9-16 and August 13-16 to clean, paint, furnish and construct a sustainable food garden at the Victoria Falls orphanage. The beautiful humanitarian Simangele Moyo founded the home in 2007 as a haven for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Today, services have expanded to include personal empowerment workshops, education assistance, therapeutic counselling and more. WorldVentures Foundation raises funds and provides volunteer support for outreach organizations like Rose of Charity to fulfil its mission to positively impact children worldwide.

Lloyd said education and clear paths to self-sufficiency will help end the cycle of teen pregnancy and baby abandonment that leads to institutionalization in Zimbabwe. To that end, WVF volunteers are helping to collaborate on funding a school dropout prevention program at the orphanage that includes vocational training for careers in tourism and hospitality. Lloyd also invited the management at nearby Elephant Hills Hotel about partnering with the home on training and job placement.

“Without the selfless contributions of our volunteers, none of this would be possible,” Lloyd shared. “They’ve built more than a garden here; they’ve planted seeds of hope.”
WorldVentures Rep Misty Anderson of Chattanooga, Tenn., was among the volunteers who came to lend support. With a heart for giving that stems from her own disadvantaged youth, she expressed her passion for the Volunteer Days program. 

“I’m passionate because I was kinda raised like this,” she said tearfully, while watching the orphans play. “I want to give because I didn’t really have anybody to give back for me. Being able to overcome some of the things I’ve come from, I want to help others overcome. I would advise anybody to do this because of what you get out of it.”    

WorldVentures Once Again Recognized as an Inc. 5000 Fastest-growing Private Company

The Company’s Three-year Sales Growth Jumped 491%

 WorldVentures™, the leading international direct seller of vacation club memberships, ranked No. 915 in Inc. magazine’s 34th annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of America’s fastest-growing private companies. WorldVentures received its ranking based on growth of 491% in the past three years.

The list represents one of the most important segments of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs. Companies such as Yelp, Pandora, Timberland, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, LinkedIn, Zillow, and many other prominent businesses, gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 5000.

“We’re honored to be named to the fastest-growing companies list once again,” WorldVentures Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer Wayne Nugent said. “We’ve catapulted from 2333 last year to number 915 this year and rank ninth for the top travel and hospitality companies. What a great achievement for our corporate team and Independent Representatives around the world who have worked so hard to deliver these results.”  

The 2015 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved an impressive three-year growth of 490%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $205 billion, generating 647,000 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.          

"The story of this year’s Inc. 5000 is the story of great leadership,” Inc. President and Editor-in-Chief Eric Schurenberg said. “In an incredibly competitive business landscape, it takes something extraordinary to take your company to the top. You have to remember that the average company on the Inc. 5000 grew nearly six-fold since 2012. Business owners don’t achieve that kind of success by accident."
This recognition comes at a time of tremendous growth for WorldVentures. In addition to the being named one of America’s fastest-growing private companies in the Inc. 5000 list, WorldVentures was recognized at No. 47 on the Direct Selling News’ DSN Global 100 list and No. 25 on the DSN North America 50 list. And recently, its core product, DreamTrips™ Memberships, eclipsed competitors for the coveted title of “Africa’s Leading Travel Club” during the World Travel Awards.