About Us
Our Mission
_International Development Collaborative (IDC) is a non-profit organization that encourages the creation of sustainable entrepreneurial micro-enterprises in rural villages of developing countries. IDC provides rural villages the opportunity to sell their products on an international scale. IDC achieves its social objective by assisting villagers to develop their communities economically and to raise their standard of living.
Our Story
_IDC was formed by four former Ohio State University graduate students after returning home from a March 2008 expedition to the Altiplano region of Bolivia. Ten graduate students and two professors at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business examined market-based economic development principles and tools in Columbus, OH and then traveled to Bolivia to experience the application of those tools in an emerging economy. One of the goals of the expedition was to establish an ongoing relationship with impoverished Bolivian communities.
In Bolivia, we visited three villages: Hilalta Arribe, Muruamaya and Chacoma. In each village, we were graciously greeted with excitement - a ceremony of music, handshakes and kisses. The Aymara (one of the indigenous societies of Bolivia) welcomed us into their communities and shared their plans and ideas about education and business opportunities. We listened, observed and tried to understand their opportunities within the context of their lives in Bolivia, being clear that we were there to collaborate with them, not to impose our ideas. Our hope was to combine our perspectives and knowledge to develop the best outcomes. Whatever these opportunities would be, they needed to be sustainable. Well-intentioned opportunities that cannot be sustained by the communities may do more harm than good.
After spending hours talking with the women of Suma-Qura about their operations and the market conditions in the region, we quickly realized that the Bolivian markets where the women sell are saturated and return little profit. The textiles produced in rural Bolivian communities were virtually undifferentiated (although of high quality) from each other. The point of differentiation for these particular women was their newly developed relationship with The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. The key was how we would leverage that point of differentiation. Thus began our journey to connect the women of rural communities with The Ohio State University market through weaving officially licensed "Block O" alpaca wool scarves. If we could create this alternative market, the women could significantly improve the standard of living for their families. The communities in rural Bolivia typically subsist on less than $2 a day per individual.
In 2008, IDC began selling these hand woven and embroidered Ohio State alpaca wool scarves in the United States. The Bolivian weavers are paid a fair wage. IDC is managed and operated 100% by volunteers.
In Bolivia, we visited three villages: Hilalta Arribe, Muruamaya and Chacoma. In each village, we were graciously greeted with excitement - a ceremony of music, handshakes and kisses. The Aymara (one of the indigenous societies of Bolivia) welcomed us into their communities and shared their plans and ideas about education and business opportunities. We listened, observed and tried to understand their opportunities within the context of their lives in Bolivia, being clear that we were there to collaborate with them, not to impose our ideas. Our hope was to combine our perspectives and knowledge to develop the best outcomes. Whatever these opportunities would be, they needed to be sustainable. Well-intentioned opportunities that cannot be sustained by the communities may do more harm than good.
After spending hours talking with the women of Suma-Qura about their operations and the market conditions in the region, we quickly realized that the Bolivian markets where the women sell are saturated and return little profit. The textiles produced in rural Bolivian communities were virtually undifferentiated (although of high quality) from each other. The point of differentiation for these particular women was their newly developed relationship with The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. The key was how we would leverage that point of differentiation. Thus began our journey to connect the women of rural communities with The Ohio State University market through weaving officially licensed "Block O" alpaca wool scarves. If we could create this alternative market, the women could significantly improve the standard of living for their families. The communities in rural Bolivia typically subsist on less than $2 a day per individual.
In 2008, IDC began selling these hand woven and embroidered Ohio State alpaca wool scarves in the United States. The Bolivian weavers are paid a fair wage. IDC is managed and operated 100% by volunteers.