02/26/2014
Why do so many youth “depart from the way?”
Timothy House - Entrepreneurship and Leadership Training Survey (12 Short Questions)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vWJyEZ7lDvM7G4G9P5Wv7oaW0OKy--1gvId8EfS5Aok/viewform
Importance of the Survey
As you know, Joy and I (Bob) have been mentoring youth in Mexico for many years and are passionate about “training them in the way they should go, [so that] when they are old they will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) But inspite of our best efforts, too many youth still “depart” from the way. Our experience is not unique. Children every are abandoning the church in droves.
Are youth abandoning their parents’ values because the secular world is proving the “training in the way?” Could it be because our youth are getting their work identity after they leave home?
I recently read a commentary on Proverbs 22:6 (by Ted Hildebrandt from Grace Theological Seminary) that might help explain what is going on. Ted says the verb "to train" actually means “to bestow status and responsibility,” and the original word for "child" means “older teenager.”
To us, this means that it is not enough to teach and model the right values. Youth need a clear vision of success that doesn’t require them to abandon these values as they get older. For example, here in Mexico many boys aspire to be drug dealers because they think it is the best way to earn a living. If we want them to have a better vision, we need to provide them real-life, hands-on opportunities to experience that vision.
That is why we started the Anvoy education business project. Bestowing “status and responsibility” is the essence of what we want to accomplish. We want to empower youth to run their own online education business so that they can learn responsibility, gain experience and form their work status or identity before they leave our care.
Fifty years ago most children formed their view of the world on a farm or in a family business. Today, most small farms and businesses no longer exist. Consequently, our youth are forming their work identity and worldview in colleges where we pay for them to learn from professors who usually promote a secular worldview. We can’t turn back the clock to the “good ol’ days,” but we can do a better job of training young people “in the way” while we still have the opportunity to influence them.
That is why we need your help with this survey. Your answers to these questions will make the Anvoy online education project better. “Thank you” in advance for taking the time to respond! Please start by reading the following Common Questions Section, and then take the survey below.
What is Anvoy?
Anvoy is the name of our project and our website (anvoy.com). It is an acronym that stands for “A New VOYage to improve education.” The Anvoy website is an online education platform where you can publish and sell multimedia courses. Anvoy’s unique learning method is modeled after discipleship. Students take courses along with a coach who checks their answers. Then the students become coaches for the courses they complete and help other students. Anvoy is one of the most innovative entrepreneurial leadership-training programs for youth in the marketplace today.
How Does Anvoy Work?
Every course is a real online business from which the student can earn income. Students can earn income while they learn many different courses. Anvoy’s learning model fosters the creativity and critical thinking skills they need for today’s new economy. They also learn how to promote a product and provide quality service.
How Do Students Earn Income?
Students earn sales commissions by promoting courses. The Anvoy system tracks who promotes courses and makes sure the promoter earns commissions on the sales that result from his sales efforts. Likewise, students earn a coaching fee when they provide the coaching service, which is basically checking the student’s answers and providing feedback. The sales commission and coaching fee represent most of the sales price of a course.
Isn’t Running a Small Business too Difficult?
The Anvoy platform automates almost everything, so learning how to earn income by promoting and coaching courses is about as easy as using a website like Facebook. In other words, just about anyone can figure it out!
What is Anvoy’s Purpose?
We created Anvoy to provide youth a better education based on the Judeo-Christian worldview. We want to help them learn responsibility, gain real business experience and form their work identity and worldview at a young age. We believe this is critical for the next generation to successfully engage the cultural war and the new economy.
What Motivates Students to Take Courses?
Getting students to take courses is key because teenagers normally don’t like to study. Sponsors can provide funds to make the first course free. It also is important to have courses that students want to learn. But most students will still not be interested until they understand that they can earn income by sharing what they learn with others. Parents can also help by not giving their children gifts, and allow them the opportunity to earn them via Anvoy instead.
What Types of Courses Are Available
Just about any course can be created. Courses in business, math, reading, history, values, creation vs evolution, etc. are currently available.
Who Can Run their Own eLearning Business?
Anyone 13 years or older with an Internet connection can participate.
How Do Students Pay for Courses?
They can use their own money, but usually they will ask for funds from sponsors. A sponsor may be a parent or other mentor. Once a student begins to earn income, these funds on hand can also be used to purchase more courses.
Why is Sponsoring a Youth a Good Idea?
We all are familiar with child sponsorship. It is a great way to help small children, but when a child becomes older and able to work, this type of handout can actually cause more harm than good. Sponsoring a youth to start his or her own elearning business is more of a “push” than a handout. Once the student is earning income from their first course, they should be able to make it on their own.
What is Anvoy Not?
Anvoy is not any type of multilevel marketing or pyramid scheme. It is a legitimate online business. Course fees are split between the promoter, coach, publisher and a small transaction fee.
Link to the survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vWJyEZ7lDvM7G4G9P5Wv7oaW0OKy--1gvId8EfS5Aok/viewform
Thank you for responding to these 12 questions! - Bob Huber, Timothy House
