ABOUT US
Vision
R180 Intl. is founded on the belief that we are all responsible to enrich each other’s lives. As we have been freely given, we should also freely give unto one another. We envision this generation, to rise and abstain from mere self-gratifications; but give and share the love through both meaningful and practical manifestations.
Mission
R180 Intl. pursues the mission of serving and supporting the underprivileged and indigenous people in Guatemala and Bolivia by:
1. Leadership Training Through Academic and Vocational Training
2. K-12 School Building Projects and Administration
3. Local Governmental and Private Partnerships
4. Clean Water-Well, Farming, Bakery and small business Establishments
5. Social and Restorative Family economic development
Empower
We are committed to serve the underrepresented Guatemalan and Bolivian communities. We believe that every family and community with needs should be empowered with love and tools to change their situation, ultimately changing the course of history for all of us.
Our History
r180 Intl. is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois. Founders Ethan Ko and his brother, Kwang Ko, started traveling to Guatemala in 2000 and Bolivia respectively; with a vision to build schools and make an impact on young people through education. r180 Intl. was founded with a passion to develop, facilitate, and improve quality of life and living conditions in rural areas of Guatemala and Bolivia.
As a registered nonprofit in US, Guatemala and Bolivia, the organization collaborates with the administrator’s City and the Ministry of Education in Guatemala to serve over 40 primary and secondary schools, reaching today about 10,000 students and staff. In Bolivian registered under Mayan services as a part of international nonprofit NGO, which has been dedicated to the rural regions since 2000.
Presently, r180 International operates under 2 headquarters: Chicago, Illinois and Orange County, California. The Orange County Chapter consists college and post-college young adults who are emphatically trained through academic and family counseling, mission preparations, and fundraising for the Guatemalan Mayan schools. This group values both hand and heart pedagogy. We focus on refining the young generation of scholars for betterment of humanities - integrity at heart and practicum in hands. With the assistance of a pro bono attorney in Southern California, the Orange County Chapter provides legal advising and directional guidances.
The goal is to build educational centers, taking a holistic approach; where children and adults can receive education, self development assistance, and opportunity to participate in the social impact programs to support their economic development as a family and community.
CONNECT. ENGAGE
EDUCATE. DEVELOP
EMPOWER. TRANSFORM
How We Work.
Movement 8
Collaborating a team of professionals in medical, legal, and other maturated careers, the Movement 8 (M8 for short) team works to process the logistics and liaison operations among the local communities in Guatemala and Bolivia. The economic, religious, and educational implementations connect the professional individuals from America to the regional project supervisors in Guatemala. Some of the specific incorporations include professional training, educational conferences and business partnerships.
Rr80 International operates 100% by donor support worldwide. All financial and non-cash donations are directly attributed to Movement 8 and/or History Makers projects every year. All operational costs are covered by general donations as well as at the expense of volunteers. This is how our transparency in funding and charitable contributions sustain presentable operations.