Corporate social responsibility

 

Here's a story about how a fast-food eatery need not necessarily bad for you, or the environment:

Eating at a fast food joint may not seem like an inherently progressive thing to do, but if you bite in to one of the Chipotle chain’s tasty oversized burritos, you’re supporting a business dedicated to natural ingredients, environmental awareness, and enthusiasm for education.   

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Developing A Shadow

Created on 07/14/2009 by One Human Project

Often when we think about travel, aspirations gravitate to destinations of once in a lifetime opportunities. So when considering the concept of change I asked; how can travel truly create social and economic change. Developing A Shadow is an entrepreneur mentor program directed to business education through a shadow process.

About You

Organization: One Human Project Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hide

Section 1: About You

First Name

Jerry R

Last Name

Reynolds

Website

Organization

One Human Project

Country

United States

Section 2: About Your Organization

Organization Name

One Human Project

Organization Website

Organization Phone

406-892-2575

Organization Address

Whitefish, Montana

Organization Country

United States

Your idea

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Are you a traveler or travel company?

No

Name Your Project

Developing A Shadow

Country your work focuses on

n/a

What is the likely impact of your idea? (150 words max)

Traditional mentorship programs directed toward developing nations focus on volunteers leaving a professional post, traveling to remote area and implementing change through developed eyes. Often there are short term or minor results because it can be difficult to communicate ideas and concepts. Developing A Shadow puts entrepreneurs in a position to see these ideas and concepts in motion. It allows mentors the opportunity to educated through developed strategy and application. Entrepreneurs then, can more easily transition these skills into their own market place best suited for a given region. Mentors will spend time understanding the entrepreneurs current strategy, application and goals; then work with them to strengthen them for greater achievement. By extending knowledge we create a global atmosphere of true equality. Providing opportunities across a region would create knowledge networks that will impact employees and future generations as they develop new ideas passed down through experience.

Why is promoting global travel and engagement important? What makes your idea innovative? (200 words max)

In order for developing populations to loose the bands of poverty, people need more than food and medical attention. They need opportunity to develop knowledge and real world education, specifically how money works, how to make it and how to use it. This is an innovative idea because over time it can create exponential knowledge growth. It builds a foundation for a self-sustaining population, fostering the consumption of real world application that inspires creative revolutions. It allows developing nations true equality, supported by firsthand knowledge they are not alone. It also provides a true bond between countries where the people stand side by side, beyond borders and governments.

Describe Your Idea

Often when we think about travel, aspirations gravitate to destinations of once in a lifetime opportunities. So when considering the concept of change I asked; how can travel truly create social and economic change. Developing A Shadow is an entrepreneur mentor program directed to business education through a shadow process.

What would it take to launch or spread your idea? How much would it cost to make your idea a reality? (150 words max)

To launch this program would take corporate partnerships with organizations, like the One Human Project, to develop an education model and strategy. Once in place, through the network of MFI organizations already in these developing nations along with microfinance support, entrepreneurs are now equip with new tools and knowledge for success. Considering so many factors are already in place, $1.9 million dollars would allow us to dedicate an entire staff to implementation, grow corporate backing and build a fund raising campaign dedicated to travel expenses beyond the boundaries of an initial grant.

Describe your work as a social innovator (150 words max)

Social innovation to me is personal, tangible and long lasting. I founded One Human Project to represent the power one person can have on many. It is art of exponential change through teaching someone to teach another. Only through education AND opportunity will any population grow, One Human Project extends its hand as a way out, not a hand out.

Please send me more information about Conde Nast Traveler and special offers

Yes, I would like more information about Conde Nast Traveler and special offers.

RW - WE, RECYCLED WORTH - WECYCLED EARTH

Created on 07/11/2009 by leo_hphp@yahoo.ca

Bicyclists all over the world deserve to "share their wealth of health" with anyone. Offsets of every kind (to pay fines, bills, traveling expenses on other vehicles (-cycles in tow) worldwide, etc., imagine it…!) will be given, for using a bicycle (or electric motorized cycle) as your primary transportation.

About You

Organization: RW WE, RECYCLED WORTH - WECYCLED EARTH Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hide

Section 1: About You

First Name

adas

Last Name

brehann

Website

Organization

RW WE, RECYCLED WORTH - WECYCLED EARTH

Country

Canada

Section 2: About Your Organization

Organization Name

RW WE, RECYCLED WORTH - WECYCLED EARTH

Organization Website

Organization Phone

5148452654

Organization Address

Montreal Quebec

Organization Country

Canada

Your idea

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Are you a traveler or travel company?

Yes

Name Your Project

RW - WE, RECYCLED WORTH - WECYCLED EARTH

Country your work focuses on

n/a

What is the likely impact of your idea? (150 words max)

RW WE (Are double-you we? It takes two to tango & sometimes more - your old self & the new ‘recycled/re-educated/re-inspired’ ones) will impact Earthlings, of Earth, through reversing every kind of 'IF' (Individual Footprint(s)), by ramping up the transition away from carbon related travel, by replacing it with ZERO EMISSIONS vehicles, travel & other rewards. ***IMPACT-RESULT: ‘Team RW WE’ kicks off on an ongoing global journey. One which will always being imbued with new volunteers, to promote our innovative initiative of providing support to tour little known places & unknown cultures. ‘WE’ will bring each tribe to the world stage [with education & videos about those cultures (as if curious & cautious children & vice versa) without ruining the indigenous nature of…& unique reason for traveling to & sharing of…time honored understanding] & the WISDOM which ALLOWS each of our tribes, to sustain ONENESS, with & within our environment(s).

Why is promoting global travel and engagement important? What makes your idea innovative? (200 words max)

From antiquity, the importance of uniquely knowing other tribes, sharing & communicating with each about the environment which supports its longevity has always helped to balance consumption to prevent the overuse of resources. Those tribes have now become our 'global village', in a domino effect of action & a house of cards, waiting to be toppled by increasing climate changes. Our idea is as innovative as smoke signals in the sky…or is that a hurricane…and earth will continue to innovate. Every tribe from every arc of the Earth, MUST read into the 'world wide smoke web' to contribute accordingly, by asking your self, “Are you, you (RW) from your future, or the Recycled noW” & “Can WE ‘travel’ back in time to discover/understand our ignorance, to re-ignite our journey with earth-lingering love for all life, in the present/gift, the world over, the planet around Recycled Wisdom”? Yes WE Can!

Describe Your Idea

Bicyclists all over the world deserve to "share their wealth of health" with anyone. Offsets of every kind (to pay fines, bills, traveling expenses on other vehicles (-cycles in tow) worldwide, etc., imagine it…!) will be given, for using a bicycle (or electric motorized cycle) as your primary transportation.

What would it take to launch or spread your idea? How much would it cost to make your idea a reality? (150 words max)

To ‘launch’ RW ‘WE’ need everyone to earnestly NEED to pitch in, & a unique website to ‘spread’ the love & care for earth will allow for this 'reality' to happen. RW ‘WE' need sponsorship-teams composed of small businesses & individuals matching one another's donations. ‘WE’ need GOV’s & NGO's contributing to a partnership-fund to level the playing field but not remove the advantages of any company's longevity as a leader in their respected field(s). Join RW ‘WE’ transitioning from FEAR OF POLLUTION to ZERO POLLUTION. Make your life healthier & simpler with RW ‘WE' -cycling for life. ‘IF’ YOU ARE alive…YOU ARE a leader…& RW ‘WE' will follow your lead in re-cycling YOUR earth. Condé Nast Traveler, IS our ‘lead’ launch pad for making RW ‘WE' your ‘reality’. Humanity is ready. Are you…ready to join the global-cycle tribe? [RW WE, estimates 70,000USD startup; 1 yr tour & website]

Describe your work as a social innovator (150 words max)

My work, in (n=social) ovation: to understand/innovate where humanity went off course, to grasp/innovate the significance of collective observation, to be an example of communicating/innovating ‘with’ others by being a better listener, to focus-on/innovate others’ gifts, so those gifts can transform the lives of any listener, to change/innovate my habits (even when they do not suit my wants) in order to better understand humanities needs. Last yet not least, to better the way for others to live off the grid [of control] & onto the earth grid freeing humanity from the ten-thousand-fear old trick of giving slaves more income, & rising prices, to “make” us all “believe” we’re free while oppressing us mentally with unnecessary propagandist media. ‘WE’ don't push the envelope; ‘WE’ mail it back to slave masters with messages of love in the face of persecution. Sow, if I am you. Are you me, reaping RW WE?

Please send me more information about Conde Nast Traveler and special offers

Yes, I would like more information about Conde Nast Traveler and special offers.

By Your Side

Created on 07/10/2009 by Sandra R

 

 

About You

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Section 1: About You

First Name

Sandra

Last Name

Ringelstein

Website

Organization

Country

United States

Section 2: About Your Organization

Organization Name

Organization Website

Organization Phone

Organization Address

Organization Country

United States

Your idea

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Are you a traveler or travel company?

No

Name Your Project

By Your Side

Country your work focuses on

n/a

What is the likely impact of your idea? (150 words max)

The likely impact is relationships formed, the world experienced with the hope that those who now are able to travel will encourage others to, for friendships to be formed, for mentorship’s to develop, for those without opportunity to see, the possibility to understand, for long term social ‘movement’, for sustainable development; for development through the eyes of the resident, having experienced what is outside their region because they learned through the doing. To form new ideas through the experience.

Why is promoting global travel and engagement important? What makes your idea innovative? (200 words max)

While global networking is rampant evidenced by the fact that I can Skype, tweet or text from my PC to my son sitting on the floor of a bus, on his back pack on a dirt road in Kenya, most of those sitting on the bus with him have never left their area. Where some are more educationally or economically privileged, politically savvy, and socially confident, others don’t know where their next meal is coming from or how to obtain medical treatment for their family and can only dream of what life is outside of their domain. Travel, with guidance, proper immunization, and mentorship has the possibility of encouraging those in developing nations and remote areas of developed nations to see beyond their condition. This idea is innovative because while those more fortunate have been able to go to developing nations (NGOs, Missions, Medical treatment), the ‘rescue’ is one sided. Those from the ‘inside’ should go, travel, see, learn, and rally the experience (sustainable resources, education, culture, adventure pursuits). It is a fresh look at how to help from within and develop partnerships through shared experience.

Describe Your Idea

            To partner, thru a recruiting program & internet ‘matching’ system, willing & experienced travelers with new ‘friends’ around the globe to travel together.  By uniting a travel host with a travel partner, providing companionship & guidance, giving the new traveler opportunity for growth through a travel experience not otherwise possible. 

What would it take to launch or spread your idea? How much would it cost to make your idea a reality? (150 words max)

I have not yet researched the cost at this 'idea' stage. BYS would act as the agent, much like an on line dating service, for would-be travelers, offering a place to meet and offering travel at a significant discount for travel partners. Partners will always be an experienced traveler with a less experienced one.
The program will be advertised by travel agencies, on line travel programs, airlines, hotel chains and other travel related companies. By signing on with BYS, more experienced travelers are matched with those who desire to travel from their geographic locale and agree to meet via an internet match/banking system. Those who desire to be partnered with those more experienced travelers will do so individually directly to the website or be recommended by a variety of hosts such as universities or NGOs.
Upon a ‘match’, travel partnerships will develop. Written correspondence will be necessary and the commencement of a travel relationship.
It will be necessary to secure both corporate and government sponsorship and recruit travel agents/carriers/retailers to sponsor this newest form of global social networking……

Describe your work as a social innovator (150 words max)

Today, my son traveled from Tanzania into Kenya, with his friend Frank. Frank is from a village outside of Kampala, Uganda and has never traveled outside of the Kampala area.
Together, Zak and Frank traveled thru Kenya and into Tanzania and together they climbed Mt Meru. Tired but very fulfilled by their shared experience and 3 day climb, they boarded their bus bound for Kenya and their ultimate destination, Kampala, Uganda. Frank slept as Zak texted me about his travels. Together, by each others side, the journey brought shared experience, joy and has, hopefully opened the door for Frank to leave his village again and encourage others to do the same.

While my professional life includes working for a private firm in water/wastewater and empowering woman through the birth process, I am a social innovator because we encourage and empower others to live such experiences, to meet others where they are at and to appreciate travel, education and all persons, cultures and religions by hosting others in our home and extending opportunities for such encounters through travel.

Please send me more information about Conde Nast Traveler and special offers

Yes, I would like more information about Conde Nast Traveler and special offers.

Dispositif d’Autosuffisance en Manuels à l’Elémentaire ( D.A.M.EL)

Created on 06/24/2009 by tmbaye906

 

About You

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Location

Project Street Address

Project City

Project Province/State

Project Postal/Zip Code

Project Country

n/a

Your idea

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Country your work focuses on:

Website URL

What stage is your project in?

Please select one

YouTube Upload

What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?

Please select one

Name Your Project

Dispositif d’Autosuffisance en Manuels à l’Elémentaire ( D.A.M.EL)

Describe Your Idea

Innovation

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Describe your idea in fewer than 50 words.

What makes your idea unique?

What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)

What impact have you had?

Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.

Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.

Impact

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What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:

Success in Year 2:

Success in Year 3:

Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:

Describe the expected results of these actions.

What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?

Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.

How did you first hear about Changemakers?

This Entry is about (Issues)

Sustainability

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What would prevent your project from being a success?

Financing source

If yes, provide organization name.

How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)

Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)

The Story

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Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)

Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.

How many people will your project serve annually?

What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?

What is your organization's business classification?

Please select one

Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)

Nouvelles Perspectives pour la Promotion de l’Alphabétisation (N.O.P.P.A.L)

Created on 06/24/2009 by tmbaye906

 

About You

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Location

Project Street Address

Project City

Project Province/State

Project Postal/Zip Code

Project Country

n/a

Your idea

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Country your work focuses on:

Website URL

What stage is your project in?

Please select one

YouTube Upload

What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?

Please select one

Name Your Project

Nouvelles Perspectives pour la Promotion de l’Alphabétisation (N.O.P.P.A.L)

Describe Your Idea

Innovation

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Describe your idea in fewer than 50 words.

What makes your idea unique?

What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)

What impact have you had?

Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.

Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.

Impact

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What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:

Success in Year 2:

Success in Year 3:

Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:

Describe the expected results of these actions.

What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?

Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.

How did you first hear about Changemakers?

This Entry is about (Issues)

Sustainability

read more↓↑ hide↑ hide

What would prevent your project from being a success?

Financing source

If yes, provide organization name.

How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)

Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)

The Story

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Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)

Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.

How many people will your project serve annually?

What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?

What is your organization's business classification?

Please select one

Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)

MARIA MOTHER OF CHARITY RELIEF HOME

Created on 06/24/2009 by Mary Lusambo

ALLEVIATING POVERTY IN MY COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION EMPOWERMENT BY OFFERING FREE EDUCATION  AND INTRODUCING COMMUNITY SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR THE VULNERABLE.

About You

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Location

Project Street Address

Mungwi Road

Project City

Kasama

Project Province/State

Northern Province

Project Postal/Zip Code

+260/10101

Project Country

Zambia

Your idea

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Country your work focuses on:

ZAMBIA

Website URL

What stage is your project in?

Operating for 1-5 years

YouTube Upload

What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?

<$50

Name Your Project

MARIA MOTHER OF CHARITY RELIEF HOME

Describe Your Idea

ALLEVIATING POVERTY IN MY COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION EMPOWERMENT BY OFFERING FREE EDUCATION  AND INTRODUCING COMMUNITY SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR THE VULNERABLE.

Innovation

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Describe your idea in fewer than 50 words.

EMPOWER THE VULNERABLE SOCIALLY, ACADEMICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, POLITICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY SO THAT THEY COMPETE FREELY IN ALL LIFE CHALLENGES.

What makes your idea unique?

MY IDEA IS INDIGENOUS AND I AM DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.I AM PART OF MY COMMUNITY AND SO I AM ABLE TO INTERACT FREELY WITH THE TARGET GROUP AND GET THE FIRST FEEL OF WHAT AFFECTS THEM. I RELY ON WHAT I HAVE IN THE HANDS TO ACHIEVE WHAT I HOPE FOR.

I BELIEVE IN LOVE AND SELF CONVICTION WHEN DEALING WITH THESE SOULS AND I AM THEREFORE ABLE TO HELP THEM JOYOUSLY.

I HAVE MANAGED TO MAKE GROW THE CHARITY WITHOUT ANY KIND OF SUPPORT FROM EXTERNAL OR INDEED INTERNAL SOURCES. I HAVE MANAGED TO PRODUCE BREADWINNERS ALREADY WHO ARE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO THIS NOBLE CAUSE.THIS IDEA HAS ACHIEVED ALOT.

THE SCHOOL HAS INTRODUCED AN ADULT LITERACY CENTER WHICH HAS SEEN A GOOD NUMBER OF PARENTS ENROLLED INTO DIFFERENT GRADES. THEY HAVE LIKED THE IDEA AND THEIR ACADEMIC RESPONSE IS POSITIVE.

WE ARE RUNNING OUR LESSONS USING AN EASY LEARNING TOOL CALLED"BREAKTHROUGH TO LITERACY". THIS IS A SYSTEM WHICH EMBRACES LEARNING IN A VERNACULAR LANGUAGE. THIS MAKES READING AND WRITING VERY EASY EVEN WHEN IT IS INTRODUCED IN AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.
BOTH ADULT PUPILS AND THE REGULAR PUPILS HAVE FOUND THIS TYPE OF LEARNING TO BE VERY INTERESTING.

What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)

Children & Youth , At risk youth , Behavioral issues , Boys' development , Child care , Child exploitation , Child labor , Child protection , Early childhood development , Education , Education reform , Girls' development , Mentorship , Play , Youth development , Youth leadership , Development & Prosperity , Adult education , Business , Communications , Community development , Consumer protection , Corporate social responsibility , Economic development , Employment , Energy , Fundraising , Globalization , Housing , Hunger , Income generation , Information technology , Infrastructure , Labor , Mentorship , Networking , Poverty alleviation , Rural development , Scholarships and grants , Social Enterprise , Sustainable development , Technology , Rural , Water , HIV/AIDS , Recreation , Sports , Substance abuse , Human Rights & Peace , Abuse and violence , Child exploitation , Civil rights , Conflict resolution , Gender equity , Human trafficking , Hunger , Indigenous cultures , Intercultural relations , Men's issues , Racial equality , Security , Tolerance , Vulnerable populations , Women's issues , Public Participation & Engagement , Citizen participation , Citizen sector , Corruption , Cultural preservation , Ethics , Intergenerational relations , Law , Mentoring , Public policy , Social work , Spirituality , Sports , Transparency , Volunteerism , Women's Issues , Youth leadership.

What impact have you had?

GREAT IMPACT AS I SEE SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION IN THE LIVES OF MY TARGET GROUPS.

Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.

EMBARKED ON A SCHOOL PROJECT WHICH OFFERS FREE EDUCATION TO THE VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
LINKING THE PROJECT WITH POSSIBLE FUNDING AGENCIES WHO SHALL HELP US GROW STABLE INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES.

Impact

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What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:

INTRODUCTION OF A MODERN BOARDING FACILITY ACCESSIBLE BY FEE-PAYING STUDENTS AS AN INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY ALSO BENEFITING PUPILS WHO CAN NOT ACCESS THE SCHOOL DUE TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THEIR HOMES.

Success in Year 2:

INTRODUCTION OF A SKILLS TRAINING CENTER EQUIPPED WITH WOOD/METAL WORKSHOP MACHINERY, SEWING MACHINES, KNITTING MACHINES ETC.. FOR SERVICING THE VULNERABLE BUT INDIRECTLY ACTING AS AN INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY.

Success in Year 3:

INTRODUCTION OF MODERN SOCIAL AMENITIES WHICH SHALL ATTRACT MANY FEE-PAYING PUPILS TO THE SCHOOL THEREBY BROADENING THE INCOME BASE FOR THE GOOD OF SELF-SUSTENANCE.

Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)

NO
THE DUTCH STUDENTS AT WORLD SCHOOL ARE DEVELOPING A BUSINESS PLAN AND A PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR US.

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:

COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION AND FURNISHING OF THE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE SCHOOL INTO A FULL FLEDGED SCHOOL.

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:

EQUIP THE SCHOOL WITH MODERN EQUIPMENT SUCH AS SCIENCE AND COMPUTER LABORATORIES IN ORDER TO EXPOSE OUR PUPILS TO FULL TECHNOLOGY AND ALSO ATTRACT MANY FEE-PAYERS WHO ARE THE MAIN SOURCE OF OUR INCOME.

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:

ELECTRIFY THE SCHOOL SO THAT THE PUPILS WILL BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE GLOBAL NETWORK THROUGH INTERNET FACILITIES AND ALSO SEE THE PUPILS ACCESS MODERN EDUCATIONAL EQUIPMENTS WHICH NEED THE USE OF POWER(ELECTRICITY).

Describe the expected results of these actions.

EXTEND THE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY TO AS MANY VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADULTS THEREBY ERADICATING POVERTY IN MANY LIVELIHOODS.

What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?

I GREW UP IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND MY PARENTS STRUGGLED TO GIVE ME AND THE REST OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS THE HUMBLE EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY. I HAVE PERSONALLY TESTED POVERTY AND SO I KNOW ITS IMPACT IN UNEXPLAINABLE TERMS.

Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.

THE SOCIAL INNOVATOR BEHIND THIS IDEA IS THAT POVERTY WHICH HAS STRICKEN MOST HOMES IN MY COMMUNITY CAUSING YOUTHS TO RESORT TO SOCIAL VICES SUCH PROMISCUITY, THEFT,DRUNKENNESS AND THEREBY BRINGING FORTH INCURABLE DISEASES SUCH AS HIV/AIDS, SHALL BE REDUCED.

How did you first hear about Changemakers?

I FIRST HEARD ABOUT CHANGE MAKERS THROUGH "TEACH A MAN TO FISH" WHO SENT ME AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMPETITION.

This Entry is about (Issues)

Sustainability

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What would prevent your project from being a success?

LACK OF INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES AND LACK OF INFORMATION LEADING TO POSSIBLE FUNDING AGENCIES.

Financing source

N

If yes, provide organization name.

N/A

How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)

1-5 YEARS

Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?

YES

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)

NO

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)

NO

The Story

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Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)

YES

Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.

THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS A STAKEHOLDER IN ALL EDUCATION RELATED BUSINESSES. IT ACTS AS A REGULATORY BOARD THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND IT INSPECTS ALL BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE SET RULES AND REGULATIONS.
GOVERNMENT ALSO SUPPORTS THE SCHOOLS BY ISSUANCE OF PRACTICING CERTIFICATES AND WHICH ARE AUDITED ANNUALLY. THEY ALSO PROVIDE US WITH TEACHING AIDS LIKE BOOKS(READERS) AND THEY INVITE US TO EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS.

How many people will your project serve annually?

100-1000

What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?

1 PRINCIPAL
1 SENIOR TEACHER
12 TEACHERS
5 CDEs

What is your organization's business classification?

Non-profit/NGO/citizen sector organization

Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)

Date Created: 6/19/2009
Connecting to the World: The Condé Nast Traveler Challenge
Competition Status:  Closed Competition Milestones Show:  Show [...]
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Christ Followers School Complex

Created on 06/3/2009 by isakindo

About You

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Location

Project Street Address

MANHEAN

Project City

ACCRA

Project Province/State

GREATER ACCRA

Project Postal/Zip Code

KN

Project Country

Ghana

Your idea

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Country your work focuses on:

GHANA, WEST AFRICA

Website URL

What stage is your project in?

Idea phase

YouTube Upload

What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?

<$10

Name Your Project

Christ Followers School Complex

Describe Your Idea

Innovation

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Describe your idea in fewer than 50 words.

A BABY OF TWO(2)YEARS WHO ENROLLS IN THE SCHOOL FROM NURSERY THROUGH TO THE VOCATIONAL SKILLS AND JOB SKILLS PROGRAM WILL WITHIN SEVENTEEN(17) YEARS COMPLETE THE SCHOOL WITH GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. (AFTER THE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS THE STUDENTS ARE LINKED TO THE EMPLOYING COMPANIES).

What makes your idea unique?

WITH GHANA'S PRESENT UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS AND LOW STANDARDS OF EDUCATION, STUDENTS FROM CHRIST FOLLOWERS COMPLEX SCHOOL WITHIN FIFTEEN(15) YEARS ARE ABLE TO GET THE APPROPRIATE SKILL AND TRAINING NEEDED FOR EMPLOYMENT WHILST EVEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE SUCH FACILITIES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)

Children & Youth , Boys' development , Early childhood development , Education , Girls' development , Mentorship , Youth development , Youth leadership , Development & Prosperity , Community development , Corporate social responsibility , Economic development , Employment , Hunger , Income generation , Labor , Mentorship , Poverty alleviation , Social Enterprise , Sustainable development , Wellness , Ethics , Mentoring , Youth leadership.

What impact have you had?

THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY MAJOR IMPACT, EVEN THOUGH LAND AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN SET IN PLACE

Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.

HIGH EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IN GHANA COUPLED WITH RISE IN EMPLOYMENT, LEADING TO SELF-RELIANCE AND POVERTY REDUCTION

Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.

LAND AND OTHER BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN PROCURED WHILE STEPS ARE BEING MADE TO GET PARTNERS AND SPONSORS ACROSS THE GLOBE WHO WILL BUY INTO THE VISION AND JOIN HANDS

Impact

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What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:

GET PARTNERS OR SPONSORS WHO WILL BUY INTO THE IDEA AND AGREE TO SUPPORT, SO THAT WHEN FUNDS ARE READY, ALL NECESSARY STRUCTURES AND OTHER LOGISTICS WILL KICK-START

Success in Year 2:

WHEN ALL STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE, STAFF TO HANDLE VARIOUS DISCIPLINES ARE ROLLED ON BOARD, WHILST CURRICULUM FOR ALL CLASSES ARE BEING WORKED OUT AND STUDENTS ARE BEING PREPARED FOR ENROLLMENT

Success in Year 3:

THE PROGRAM WILL BE IN MOTION BY NOW AND A MONITORING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE END OF THE THIRD YEAR

Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)

YES, A BUSINESS PLAN

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:

GET PARTNERS OR A SPONSORSHIP BY WINNING THIS COMPETITION WHICH WILL PROVIDE FUNDS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:

GET THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE TO HELP FINE-TUNE THE WHOLE IDEA OR VISION

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:

GET ALL THE HELP AND GUIDANCE TO SEE THE IDEA IN MOTION

Describe the expected results of these actions.

SEE EVERY CHILD OF SCHOOL-GOING AGE ENJOY QUALITY EDUCATION AND THE END BE SELF-RELIANT BY GETTING A BE-FITTING CAREER OR EMPLOYMENT

What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?

THE LOW STANDARDS OF EDUCATION AND HIGH RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT OF TODAY

Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.

THE SOCIAL INNOVATOR IS ISAAC KING AIDOO A RETIRED PUBLIC SERVANT AND AN ENTERPRENUER IN GHANA, WEST AFRICA WHO SEEKS TO CONTRIBUTE HIS QUOTA TO REDUCING POVERTY AND DEPENDENCE IN OUR WORLD

How did you first hear about Changemakers?

THROUGH AN EMPLOYEE OF TECHNOSERVE, GHANA

This Entry is about (Issues)

Sustainability

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What would prevent your project from being a success?

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Financing source

YES

If yes, provide organization name.

CHRIST FOLLOWERS FELLOWSHIP CENTRE

How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)

1-5 YEARS

Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?

AN ADVISORY BOARD

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)

NO

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)

NO

The Story

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Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)

NO

Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.

THERE IS NO PARTNERSHIP YET

How many people will your project serve annually?

MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY, WHEN ALL IS SET

What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?

40, BUT WILL INCREASE AS PROJECT GROWS

What is your organization's business classification?

For-profit

Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)

None of the above.

The schools’ music challenge for individual and group performers.

Created on 06/1/2009 by richard bukenya

Starting this year, myself with my students are organising to hold an annual music challenge , for students only, which will involve both individual and group performers. In this, using flstudio8 software, we are composing five tracks in different styles i,e.

About You

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Location

Project Street Address

Project City

Kampala

Project Province/State

Buganda

Project Postal/Zip Code

256

Project Country

Uganda

Your idea

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Country your work focuses on:

Uganda

Website URL

What stage is your project in?

Idea phase

YouTube Upload

What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?

<$50

Name Your Project

The schools’ music challenge for individual and group performers.

Describe Your Idea

Starting this year, myself with my students are organising to hold an annual music challenge , for students only, which will involve both individual and group performers. In this, using flstudio8 software, we are composing five tracks in different styles i,e. RnB, reggae, hiphop, dancehall and afrobeat.We shall then send a copy of thesel tracks to each of the participating schools.The participants will then have to create their own song alongside one of these tracks.They will practice their song and are to present it on a concert where there will be a big audience and judges.On the competition day all the music will be played live by a band.Thereafter the winners will be announced and will recleive big prizes.Most important of these will be a chance to record their music in a good recording studio.

Innovation

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Describe your idea in fewer than 50 words.

Me and my music students are going to organize an annual music challenge for teenage music students in high school. Participants will be provided with five tracks(which we are going to create with my students using flstudio8 software) of different styles of music and are to select one and compose a song alongside the track. They will have to present this song on the competition day to the judges and an audience.

What makes your idea unique?

For many decades now in my country, their have been music competitions but these have not really benefited the students who offer music as a subject and those young talented musicians. All competitions held have aimed at schools as choirs but the individual participants have not gained much.In these competitions participants have had to select one song by a famous music star and prctice and present it for adjudication.As a result the competitions have always ended and the participants end up just like that with no realistic benefit.Their talents have ended there in vain.More to that the young performers especially high school students have been scared to take part in these competitions because they are scared to compete against more experienced and older performers. In this music challenge we are aiming at giving our young music students plus others an opportunity to develop their music ideas to the fullest until they make it to big stages. We now also believe that a student who has completed high school education must be able to sustain themselves using the skills and knowledge they have acquired in school and be of use to the society. Both the learners and the community must benefit from our education and music is well known to send the loudest message. We want to give our students an ability to change their lives and those of others by the time they leave our schools.

Most important here is that I teach in a purely girls school comprising always over1000 girls and I want to make girls believe that they to can make it just like their male counterparts.There is obvious need to fight an inferiority complex developed by female learners themselves and their seniors as well. This will motivate many other girls out there if they see their colleagues tussling it out competitively with the male counterparts.

What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)

Children & Youth , At risk youth , Behavioral issues , Child care , Child exploitation , Child labor , Child protection , Early childhood development , Education , Education reform , Girls' development , Mentorship , Play , Youth development , Youth leadership , Development & Prosperity , Community development , Corporate social responsibility , Design , Economic development , Employment , Income generation , Information technology , Mentorship , Networking , Poverty alleviation , Scholarships and grants , Sustainable development , Technology , Recreation , Sexuality , Abuse and violence , Child exploitation , Civil rights , Conflict resolution , Crime prevention , Indigenous cultures , Intercultural relations , Cultural preservation , Ethics , Intergenerational relations , Spirituality , Women's Issues .

What impact have you had?

The impact I have had so far can greatly be witnessed in my school. My senior five students can now all create a simple track with out words using flstudio8 and this has had them believe that they too can be great music producers. I have also been able to convince five schools to join this competition with each school promising to take part in each category. Many of my students can now capture, edit and make a simple music video using simple home cameras and simple video editing software like pinnacle and adobe. Within my own school we have started staging simple performances to the students.We are also creatiing tracks now for variious hymns in the protestant hymn book and this has made praise and worship more interesting. We have also started teaching our students various stage instruments like the keyboards and guitars.

Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.

•Many youth are currently unemployed in Uganda yet they have got certain skills they could apply to earn a living.
•The moral behavior of our young youth starts deteriorating during the teenage age and they need to be put to activities that make good use of their time.
•Us as high school teachers spend six years with the students and send them to world practically with no basic skills to sustain them and their immediate community.
•Female learners are often left behind in many important activities with a backward mind that these activities are meant for male learners.

Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.

•My school has offered to host the competitions at the school theatre.
•I have been able to teach many girls the various software using the school’s computer center.
•My school has consistently held an annual inter house music, dance and drama competition which gives an opportunity to over 1000 girls to get to stage and present something. This has greatly erased stage fright from them.
•The school has at many occasions allowed students to present musical plays in different theatres which have gradually increased the students levels of performance.
•The students have also been taken out on numerous occasions to watch operas, jazz shows, concertos, and many other musical performances.
•At many occasions my school invites different local musicians to come and perform and talk to the girl as well about different issues concerning teenagers.

Impact

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What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:

•Being able to hold the first competition show and having at least 50 performers both boys and girls.
•Having the show recorded and broadcast on TV by various local TV stations for the whole public to watch and appreciate.

Success in Year 2:

•Being able to find the necessary sponsorship for this competition so as to market it among more schools and the whole community at large.
•Being able to record the songs of the winners in a real music studio.

Success in Year 3:

•Enlarging the competition to cover other parts of the country with regional competitions held before the final competition.
•Having the competition to be done in a public place where anyone can join the audience for the performers to perform for a mixed crowd other than fellow students only.

Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)

•Yes we have got a strategic plan for the whole project but no business plan yet. We are hoping to work with schools around Kampala city for the first competition and expand the competition to other regions in subsequent years. We are going to send our proposals to the different companies that are potential sponsors right away and link up with the media houses to market the idea. We are also aiming at pairing up the winners to work with each other after the competition for even better songs and get then work with a professional music producer.

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:

•Convince the schools on the practical benefits of such a project to their learners and have them send their learners onto the competition.

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:

•Obtaining different software and hardware to teach the different students and teachers on how to create their own simple music just with a computer, a microphone and a pair of headphones.A number of computers, microphones, speakers and headphones will need to be given to the different music departments in the schools.

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:

• Enough financial ability to involve more schools and participants in the competition. Equipment like video cameras, a good public address system and simple music recording gadgets to enable easy production of the songs at no cost to the owners.In short to set up a schools' recording center.

Describe the expected results of these actions.

•After the schools have been convinced to send their students the competition will be held and this will definitely attract companies and media to sponsor the event and make bigger to attract a wider attention from the society. Hence more people will be reached.
•When there is acquisition of both soft and hardware many more students wont have to wait to receive finished tracks but instead will create their own and entirely own the song. The preceding performances will have more variety and this will give the performer liberty to discover their best potentials.
•Recording a song in a good studio in my country today costs over $50.This is too much money for a beginning musician and they might remember these are school children who even don’t have jobs to earn. So a studio to record the winners music for free would be of great benefit to them since they would be guaranteed of having a copy of their music on CD.

What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?

•Six and a half years when I left high school I got to accept that I have not got a song of my own yet I studied music and passed with excellent grades. As if not enough most of the famous local musicians in my country have all made their plight in the past eight years and are now earning big yet they had no music education. I meant a former music classmate in high school and as we chatted about music we were forced to believe that out of 17 of us who completed high school as music students, only 2 were active in music. What happened to the remaining 15? We sat back and enjoyed our moments. WE used perform for an audience of 1500 students every week and leave them commenting and from that we are supposed to have taken on audiences outside the school. We remembered that despite all that ability we had, our music teacher never took us an extra step to turn us into real musicians while he still had control of us. On leaving high school we all went for different field and up to now non of us has succeeded yet we had been already succeeded in music and its now that we are gathering ourselves to start performing again and we are all thinking about the time we lost elsewhere.

Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.

•Richard Bukenya is a Ugandan aged 29 years and works for Gayaza High School as a teacher of music. I had my secondary studies at Makerere College School in 2002 from where I joined Makerere University in 2003-2007. After sitting my senior six exams I was called at Gayaza High school to train the choir in various areas from which later I was able to start teaching music as a subject as well. During this time I have kept a very strong and active choir that it has gone for numerous music competitions and had a number of musical plays in different theatres.

How did you first hear about Changemakers?

•I first heard about changemakers at a workshop organized in Kampala led by Victoria Nyakundi,an ashoka staff.

This Entry is about (Issues)

Sustainability

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What would prevent your project from being a success?

Such a kind of project could only fail if:
•the schools are not convinced enough to send their students to participate in the competitions.
•there was alleged unfairness in judgment.
•There was not enough equipment to play the music and record it for both video and audio.
•There is no awareness from the public about the whole competition and hence commanding a small fan base. All performers would like attract great recognition among the fans.
•If many schools keep not having computer centers which prevents the students to lean the different technologies in music production.
.Also if the winners are not rightly followed up to ensure that their music is recorded and put out to the public.

Financing source

Yes

If yes, provide organization name.

my initiative is connected to Gayaza High School.

How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)

more than 5 years

Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?

•It has got a Board of Directors.

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)

Yes

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)

No

The Story

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Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)

Yes

Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.

•The different NGOs have at various occasions donated computers to the school which computers have greatly aide the quick learning of simple music productions I teach my students.
•Some of these organizations at times have called on to the choir to perform hence aiding their ability to perform.
•A number of organizations have come to my school to hold seminars for students about different social morals.

How many people will your project serve annually?

1001-10,000

What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?

155 employees and no volunteers

What is your organization's business classification?

Government

Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)

None of the above.

Act Fast: Eating Chipotle’s Fast Food Can Make a Difference

Created: 05/27/09 by andrea boston

Eating at a fast food joint may not seem like an inherently progressive thing to do, but if you bite in to one of the Chipotle chain's tasty oversized burritos, you're supporting a business dedicated to natural ingredients, environmental awareness, and enthusiasm for education. 

Social Entrepreneurs and Enthusiasts in DC (SEED)

Created on 05/26/2009 by aryacetas

Location

United States
37° 5' 24.864" N, 95° 42' 46.4076" W
See map: Google Maps

SEED brings together like-minded individuals from the Washington, DC metro area to meet monthly in person. We invite social entrepreneurs, academics, and anyone interested in sharing his/her experiences or learning about social entrepreneurship. This group is an excellent way to meet other practicing or aspiring social entrepreneurs in person.

Solving Our Personal, Community and Global Ultimate Destiny Success Puzzles!

Created on 05/23/2009 by Ultimate Destinyland Steward

The purpose of this group (at least initially . . .) is to promote a campaign to publish resources and co-create a network of local Community Economic Development Empowerment Resource Centers to help expand our global capacity to address challenges AND opportunities by helping individuals, organizations and communities foster self-help, empowerment, capacity building, transformation and conscious sustainable living.(http://www.ultimatesuccesspuzzle.com)

King Pacific Lodge: A Leader in Modern Conservation and Sustainable Tourism

Created: 05/22/09 by Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Location

main Princess Royal Island, Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Triple Bottom Line Tourism Model: Beginning in 1988, King Pacific Lodge embarked on a new model for sustainable tourism that considers a triple bottom line philosophy to business – one that is equally concerned for social equity and environmental conservation as for economic returns. This has been demonstrated by many

Hermanos ...... A model of Micro-Philanthropy

Created on 05/21/2009 by esprit

 Hermanos.... a Model Of Micro-Philanthropy.   Hermanos facilitates the giving of micro-donations ($25 gifts) to those who need them most. In giving our guests become engaged in the community. Gifts include "despensas' (food baskets), energy efficient light bulbs, soccer balls and jerseys, and school sets. Our guests choose their donation, pick it off our display shelf and are escorted to the home of the recipient. We then introduce our guest to the recipient, share smiles, laughs, stories and exchange our gift for an incredible amount of gratitude.

About You

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Location

Project Street Address

Morelos # 3

Project City

Jalcomulco

Project Province/State

Veracruz

Project Postal/Zip Code

94000

Project Country

Mexico

Your idea

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Name Your Project

Hermanos ...... A model of Micro-Philanthropy

Describe Your Idea

 Hermanos.... a Model Of Micro-Philanthropy.   Hermanos facilitates the giving of micro-donations ($25 gifts) to those who need them most. In giving our guests become engaged in the community. Gifts include "despensas' (food baskets), energy efficient light bulbs, soccer balls and jerseys, and school sets. Our guests choose their donation, pick it off our display shelf and are escorted to the home of the recipient. We then introduce our guest to the recipient, share smiles, laughs, stories and exchange our gift for an incredible amount of gratitude. Although small in scale the hope is that other outfitters world-wide will follow suit and soon an international movement of Hermanos projects will be started.

Innovation

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Are you a traveler or a travel company?

Travel company.

Tell us your idea. What makes your idea innovative?

Our innovation goes back to the days of Robin Hood.... but instead of stealing from the rich to give to the poor.... we (as tourism operators) are the intermediaries between willing donors and appreciative receivers. Here is how things started. We noticed some problems in our community and then took action to find some solutions. Problem 1: Despite Jalcomulco being a successful model in eco-adventure tourism, we realized that some families still see little or no benefit from the tourists we bring into their community. Problem 2: Our guests gain so much from their experience in Jalcomulco that they ask how they can contribute back to the community. Solution: Facilitate the exchange of small donations from willing contributers to those that see the smallest benefit from their visit. Create an engaging encounter/relationship for both the giver and receiver. We invested $200 in 2 sets X 4 different "gifts" that our guests could purchase from us ($25 each) to donate to residents in our community. Gifts include "despensas' (food baskets), energy efficient light bulbs, soccer balls and jerseys, and school sets. Our guests choose their donation, pick it off our display shelf and are escorted to the home of the recipient. We then introduce our guest to the recipient, share smiles, laughs, stories and exchange our gift for an incredible amount of gratitude.

Through "Hermanos" our guests are given the opportunity to see how the least fortunate in our community live. We create enthusiasm for making a positive contribution to the community which leads to direct engagement with local people resulting in an incredible level of satisfaction. Hermanos builds relationships between unlikely partners.... tourists and those not "normally" touched by tourism. We hope that our guests are so moved by their "Hermanos Experience" that they become inspired to contribute to those less fortunate in bigger and better ways.

Impact

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What is the likely impact of your idea?

We measure our success in a variety of ways. Quantity % of donors.... over 75 % of our guests make a micro-donation ($25 gift) of which many make numerous donations (set of 4 $100). On average we have over 100% making a $25 micro-donation. The generosity and will to contribute is amazing and previously untapped. Quality of encounter..... Our guests and recipients both benefit and enjoy the relationship created in the exchange. The value placed on the smiles, laughs and gratitude makes for a priceless experience. Benefit to recipient.... providing a food basket to those that cannot afford to purchase rice or beans, changing cheap incandescent light bulbs for more energy efficient ones, or giving a young kid a soccer ball or school supplies makes a difference to those who receive them. To date.... there is no evidence of negative impact.

What would it take to launch or spread your idea?

This is truly grass roots and has no additional staff or administrative costs. We started with eight $25 gifts and each time one is purchased we replace it with the donors investment. We estimate a $5000 return on a $200 investment by the end of our season. I know this sounds like "small potatoes" but imagine 100 or possibly 1000 like minded adventure travel companies following suit.... thats $500 000 going into the homes of those not directly or positively effected by their tourist operations.

We are planning to share "Hermanos" with all other socially/environmentally ethical adventure travel companies. We hope to promote each other under a common branding. That way when one of my guests is looking at another outfitter in another destination the can say "Hey, they have a Hermanos Project too!". We are appealing to all outfitters listed in the National Geographic "Best Outfitters on Earth" survey and hope to get some others come on board through our presence here with Changemakers.

This Entry is about (Issues)

Sustainability

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Describe yourself as a social innovator.

Upon arriving in Jalcomulco in 1995 we quickly realized that there was much more to Jalcomulco than just “coffee and mangoes, acamayas and rafting”. Although we fell in love with the area, the adventure pursuits of the region, and the breathtaking vistas of the Antigua river valley, we quickly recognized the true value of the community lies in its warm, gracious, and friendly people. We realized that we could make a big difference in the lives of our local friends with small financial contributions. To date our small donations have yielded some incredibly successful business ventures, improving and stabilizing the lives of our friends and families. We contribute with small scale micro-philanthropy helping our friends to realize their tourism dreams. In a parallel world across the globe Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh was creating a system of Micro-lending…. in small rural communities allowing small scale business ventures to succeed with easy and affordable repayment plans. Our micro-philanthropy system was similar, albeit on a smaller scale, but had one major advantage over Prof. Yunnus’ micro-lending program. We did not require our beneficiaries to pay us back. We found that our “piece of the action” came from watching our friends succeed, by realizing that we had made a positive contribution to their lives and that their gratitude was more that sufficient compensation for our investment. We realized that “through giving, we gain”. Eleven years later, in 2006, Prof. Muhammad Yunnus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his micro-lending scheme. In 2007 Esprit received the #1 ranking for Sustainability in National Geographic Adventure’s Best Outfitters On Earth contest with a score of 100%. Although it is not the Nobel Prize we would like to share our latest initiative “Hermanos... A Model of Micro-Philanthropy. Under the banner of “Hermanos” we invite our guests to perform “random acts of kindness” in our community by purchasing and delivering small but appreciated gifts to the least fortunate in our community. We know many older people, single parent families, handicapped, as well as just plain poor families that for whatever reason the golden wand of tourism just hasn’t touched. Through Hermanos we have been able to reach out to these families formerly forgotten by tourism. Our guests have supported the project immensely. In exchange for their gifts they receive warm and sincere gratitude. The smiles, laughter, compassion and understanding has been priceless. Our next phase is to assist eco-adventure travel companies world-wide to start their own "Hermanos Project". We provide all the branding/marketing material, support ideas and web links to any operator that wants to join us. At this point in time I would like to dedicate the Hermanos Project to a young girl in our community named Dizac. Dizac is 12 yrs. old, and is the oldest of four young girls. Her mother is busy with family matters and her father is too sick to work. When we realized that their family life was extremely challenged we looked at ways that we could lend them a hand. From here we started Hermanos. Sincerely Jim Coffey & Team Esprit

DoDesign-s – design and marketing for rural communities and social projects

Created on 05/18/2009 by dodesign-s

DoDesign-s

Website: www.dodesign-s.com.br

Some photos:

About You

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Location

Project Street Address

Project City

Project Province/State

Project Postal/Zip Code

Project Country

n/a

Your idea

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Country your work focuses on:

Website URL

YouTube Upload

What stage is your project in?

Please select one

What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?

Please select one

Name Your Project

DoDesign-s – design and marketing for rural communities and social projects

Describe Your Idea

Innovation

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Describe your idea in fewer than 50 words.

What makes your idea unique?

What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)

What impact have you had?

Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.

Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.

Impact

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What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:

Success in Year 2:

Success in Year 3:

Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:

What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:

Describe the expected results of these actions.

What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?

Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.

How did you first hear about Changemakers?

This Entry is about (Issues)

Sustainability

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What would prevent your project from being a success?

Financing source

If yes, provide organization name.

How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)

Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)

Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)

The Story

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Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)

Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.

How many people will your project serve annually?

What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?

What is your organization's business classification?

Please select one

Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)

Heart of Travel - Help me continue my mom Joyce's journey and connect those with cancer

Created on 04/30/2009 by heartoftravel

During her final years, my mom Joyce saved up enough frequent flyer miles and points for her dream trip to Australia. Unfortunately, she faced a sudden and brief bout with cancer before she could go. The Heart of Travel Foundation (www.heartoftravel.org) will continue Joyce’s journey and ensure other cancer patients/survivors get the chance to make their dream trips possible. As part of their travel experience, participants will interact with locals impacted by cancer, exchange ideas, raise cancer awareness, and participate in local events.

About You

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Location

Project Street Address

415 Graham Drive

Project City

Clearwater

Project Province/State

FL

Project Postal/Zip Code

33765

Project Country

United States, CA

Your idea

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Name Your Project

Heart of Travel - Help me continue my mom Joyce's journey and connect those with cancer

Describe Your Idea

During her final years, my mom Joyce saved up enough frequent flyer miles and points for her dream trip to Australia. Unfortunately, she faced a sudden and brief bout with cancer before she could go. The Heart of Travel Foundation (www.heartoftravel.org) will continue Joyce’s journey and ensure other cancer patients/survivors get the chance to make their dream trips possible. As part of their travel experience, participants will interact with locals impacted by cancer, exchange ideas, raise cancer awareness, and participate in local events. In addition, this model enables them to spend invaluable time with a family member or guest to enjoy the local culture and sites. Our website will have specific pages to detail each trip, anticipated costs, and resources needed, and we will seek mileage/point donor programs with major airlines and hotel groups, many of which advertise in Condé Nast Traveler. Participants can share their favorite pictures, experiences, and takeaways via their web pages so that donors and partners see firsthand the impact of their contributions and the imprint on a person’s life and legacy. Global citizenship is about making people and places better, and the Heart of Travel  Foundation hopes to achieve that goal one moment, one mile at a time.

Innovation

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Are you a traveler or a travel company?

Traveler , Travel company.

Tell us your idea. What makes your idea innovative?

During her final years, my mom Joyce saved up enough frequent flyer miles and points for her dream trip to Australia. Unfortunately, she faced a sudden and brief bout with cancer before she could go. The Heart of Travel Foundation will continue Joyce’s journey and ensure other cancer patients/survivors get the chance to make their dream trips possible. As part of their travel experience, participants will interact with locals impacted by cancer, exchange ideas, raise cancer awareness, and participate in local events. In addition, this model enables them to spend invaluable time with a family member or guest to enjoy the local culture and sites. Our website will have specific pages to detail each trip, anticipated costs, and resources needed, and we will seek mileage/point donor programs with major airlines and hotel groups, many of which advertise in Condé Nast Traveler. Participants can share their favorite pictures, experiences, and takeaways via their web pages so that donors and partners see firsthand the impact of their contributions and the imprint on a person’s life and legacy. Global citizenship is about making people and places better, and the Heart of Travel Foundation hopes to achieve that goal one moment, one mile at a time.

Impact

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What is the likely impact of your idea?

Participants will have opportunities to share their stories with others across the globe and vice versa. There are the cross-cultural components of learning other practices, languages, and philosophies. Trips may provide therapeutic benefits for those who may be battling a terminal illness or provide a time and place to reconcile a relationship or unresolved issues. Our selection process will take into account the individual’s overall health and ability to travel. The Heart of Travel Foundation will seek a broader impact through partnerships with cancer groups, find-a-cure fundraisers, and other causes to promote global citizenship and individual success stories. This is not just a “send someone on a fun trip” idea. Most of us have family or friends with cancer and have witnessed the drive and determination it can create in them. We will seek and select those “change agents,” who want to use their own struggles with cancer to benefit and impact others. Consequently, we envision our impact broadening over time beyond those we send on these interactive journeys. Sure, there will be personal milestones along the way, yet we are most interested in impacting the broader local and international communities.

What would it take to launch or spread your idea?

We need approximately $50,000 to launch, with 80% allocated towards initial trips and 20% for business development and fundraising. Condé Nast Traveler is the perfect partner, as our foundation will need partnerships with travel agencies, customer loyalty programs, and private investors. In fact, several individuals through this contest have offered miles for our cause. This experience and exposure could establish the foundation and accelerate our initial growth. We will fund the primary travel costs via donations from individuals and travel-related companies in the form of miles, hotel points, or financial contributions. We will encourage those taking trips and their families to participate locally and overseas. Perhaps, they have a bake sale, seek donations at work, or initiate a charity event. People impacted by cancer often want to be involved in a cause like ours, and they will be instrumental in spreading our idea and message. Within 5-7 years, we hope to be firmly established as the premier trip-granting foundation.

This Entry is about (Issues)

Sustainability

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Describe yourself as a social innovator.

Both my undergraduate and graduate degrees are in international business, and I have worked on several projects to promote social responsibility, from organizing a benefit concert and local charity events to completing academic research on the events of 9/11. I have the cultural curiosity and feeling of social responsibility that comes from living and traveling abroad and do my part to minimize my environmental impact when I travel. When globetrotting for good, it’s important to leave an imprint not a footprint. Before a great white shark diving expedition in Australia, for example, I selected an operator that was focused on shark research, feeding practices, and species conservation. In fact, it was that 2007 trip down under using my mom’s miles which inspired me to start the Miles of Miracles Foundation to continue her journey and legacy. Unfortunately, it took the loss of my mom and her miles to send me on my ultimate adventure. Now, it's time for me to pay it forward and onward by launching a foundation for others, who still have the chance.

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Date Created: 9/25/2007
The Geotourism Challenge: Celebrating Places - Changing Lives
Competition Status:  Closed Competition Milestones Show:  Show [...]
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