Here's a story about how members of the Changemakers community are working to alleviate poverty in Latin America:
In the Mendoza province of Argentina, a small community of entrepreneurs is preparing for the tomato harvest. With the help of “solidarity investors,” they’re purchasing seeds, irrigating and cultivating their land, and eventually making jars of fresh tomato sauce that just might make their way to your dinner table.
The Entrepreneurship Association of Mendoza (ASEM) is making this harvest a profitable experience for many unemployed young people and adults. Seven years ago, Argentina suffered a financial crisis – not unlike the current global downturn – that completely dismantled its traditional banking system.
Read more about this solution, or discuss this topic below.
Created on 07/13/2009 by Elizabeth
When it comes to genetic food engineering, claims are often made about farmers ability and interest to adapt. And how about vitamin-rich rice? ... Are these realities or misrepresentations? Tell us what you think here
[Also check out our GMO Risk or Rescue competition. Share your idea or initiative to get noticed and to be eligible for various prizes. Submit your entry by October 21, 2009.]
Created on 06/9/2009 by htcgroup
Join the Geotourism Challenge Changemakers group to share ideas and opinions about issues impacting destination stewardship and wisely managed tourism.
Hear about best practices, identify solutions to key challenges, and link to resources that may help you overcome obstacles and succeed as a changemaker in geotourism. Each week will focus on a specific issue; join the dialogue now and tell your story.
Introduction of mushroom farming aims at decreasing the rate of malnutrition and poverty among 200 small scale farmers who are mainly widow survivors of 1994-Genecide and perpetrators’ wives by enabling them to grow a new adaptive horticultural crop (Mushroom)
For 35 years Venkatesh Mannar has worked in salt iodization, including 20 years at the Micronutrient Initiative (MI). A universal staple, salt is an ideal vehicle to provide micronutrients. Salt iodization to prevent intellectual impairment is considered one of the most effective public health campaigns. Mannar wanted to combine iron and iodine in a stable form in salt to redress iodine and iron deficiency at the same time, which affects about 1 billion people. In 1997, he & Dr. Levente Diosady (U. Toronto) created double fortified salt (DFS).
Created on 05/15/2013 by HarvestFlo
Sustainable Harvest International empowers families to produce a healthful diet for themselves all the time by providing them with regular, hands-on technical assistance for five-years so they can successfully transition to using sustainable farming practices to grow many traditional and new crops.
Organization: Sustainable Harvest International
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
Sustainable Harvest International
Organization Country
United States, ME, Ellsworth, Hancock County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Honduras, various rural communities in Yoro & Santa Barbara, Honduras. We also work in Panama, Belize & Nicaragua.
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
June 2012 - Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service, National Peace Corps Association
November 2011 - Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow, The Council of Independent Colleges
May 2011 - Honorary Doctorate, University of New Hampshire
June 2009 - Americans Who Tell The Truth, Portrait by Robert Shetterly
May 2009 - Distinguished Service Award, Garden Club of America
October 2007 - Classic Woman Award, Traditional Home Magazine
February 2007 - Women of the Earth Award, Yves Rocher Foundation
May 2005 - Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Southern New Hampshire University
May 2005 - Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of New Hampshire
October 2004 - e-chievement Award, etown
May 2003 - Women of Achievement Award, Business & Professional Women
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Sustainable Farms Feed the World
Stage
Established (the solution has passed the previous stages, and has demonstrated success)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Sustainable Harvest International empowers families to produce a healthful diet for themselves all the time by providing them with regular, hands-on technical assistance for five-years so they can successfully transition to using sustainable farming practices to grow many traditional and new crops.
Problem
Most of the 2.1 billion people living in poverty in rural areas suffer from ongoing hunger and malnutrition. Though most have access to land and other natural resources and a desire to learn new farming techniques, they lack the intensive technical assistance necessary to recuperate degraded lands and make them productive long term. They also do not know how to grow more than a few crops of limited nutrient value.
Solution
UN expert Olivier De Schutter has stated that organic and sustainable farming can end world hunger and global climate change. Most of the 2.1 billion rural poor would like to transition to sustainable farming but need technical assistance to succeed. By supporting regular visits from trained, local extension agents, SHI empowers these families to start producing a balanced diet for themselves and additional income through the use of sustainable farming practices. Our five-phase approach to solving the nutritional problems of Central America is innovative, hands-on and long-term. Families are still producing a balanced diet for themselves years after graduating from our program and have each trained an average of seven more families.
Example
In the words of Panamanian farmer José Aníbal Valdés: "I visited my neighbor and met the [SHI] Field Trainer. I was interested in knowing if I could do organic farming and what help I could receive; the answer was that Now, I have the technical assistance, seeds for the plantings, and I know how to make organic compost, natural pest repellents and other items we use. At this time, I have a parcel of tomatoes, red beans, peppers and corn. It is nearby, so we can harvest close to home. My wife and children are very excited because we know that we are now secure in having food three times a day. Before, we only thought about where we would earn some money, and when there was no work to be had, there was nothing else we could do [to eat]."
Impact
Since 1997, SHI has worked with more than 2,000 families almost half of whom have graduated from our sustainable farming extension program. Collectively, those families have converted more than 16,000 acres of degraded land to sustainable, productive farms. In 2010, a survey was conducted with 20% of the graduates from eight of SHI's first participating communities. On average families said that they were able to meet family nutritional demands 80% of the time with items produced on their farms. Each family also said that they trained an additional seven families to use the techniques taught by SHI and the people conducting the survey saw evidence that these techniques were being used throughout the communities although SHI worked directly with only 20% of the population. Most impacts of SHI's work in relation to nutrition are anecdotal but plentiful.
Marketplace
Most poverty alleviation efforts seem to focus on helping the poor to set up businesses to earn more money to buy more food. Business skills can usually be increased only so much, though, and when businesses fail due to lost or shifting markets or other factors poor families are often left with no income AND no food. Programs that do focus on farming usually depend on expensive, toxic agro-chemicals that ultimately decrease productivity. The few programs that promote sustainable farming are usually too short-term or narrowly focused to be successful in the long run.
Sustainability Plan
It costs $4,000 to put one family through our program, but once they graduate they need no further assistance and will train seven more families bringing the cost down to $500 per family. The impact will last for generations. SHI is looking into earned-income opportunities that could both further our mission and fund the expansion of our program. Additional resources are need, however, to take the program to scale.
Founding Story
As a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama, I saw first-hand how slash-and-burn farming or chemical-dependent farming was not allowing farmers to sustain their families in their rural communities. What really came home to me was how much the farmers wanted to learn an alternative and needed long-term technical assistance to be successful. After working for several other nonprofits, I founded SHI working out of a spare bedroom at my parents' house to support our first two field trainers in Honduras. One surprise donation from a Swiss man I had met in Panama weeks earlier got it all started. A Honduran partner organization, US Board and more donors soon got the organization on its feet.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
By partnering with others more knowledgeable about nutrition, we could help our participating families take fuller advantage of their increased and diversified farm production.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Created on 05/14/2013 by clovel2
Sustainable conservation agriculture (SCA) is a different kind of greener revolution. It is an empowering movement for small stakeholder farmers to revolt, and reclaims their soil and environment so that they could get the nutrients to grow their health, longevity and prosperity.
Organization: Organization for Research and Community Development Global
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
Organization for Research and Community Development Global
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
ORCD has been recognized and honored with numerous provincial and international awards since its inception in 2011.
International:
• Aga Khan Development Network for sustainable management
• GIZ-DETA on behalf of Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in agriculture
• International WorkLife Balance Award for contributing to welfare of women in society
Provincial:
• Department of Women Affairs (women empowerment) in Daikundi
• Women literacy training in Baghlan
• Baseline Nutrition Survey using SMART methodology in Kandahar
• Provincial Coordination and Management Committee for agricultural projects in Baghlan
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A Food Revolution to Reconnect Our Nutrient Chain
Stage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Sustainable conservation agriculture (SCA) is a different kind of greener revolution. It is an empowering movement for small stakeholder farmers to revolt, and reclaims their soil and environment so that they could get the nutrients to grow their health, longevity and prosperity.
Problem
Our productive and sustainable solution is unique because it can address a multitude of issues face by today’s expanding global population such as shrinking suitable arable land, declining soil potency, water shortage, and expensive fuel and agro-chemicals. Most of our food production is grown at the expenses of our environment, economy and farmers, and they are operated by mostly women stakeholders which are the most vulnerable group.
Solution
SCA is smarter farming with a one-stop solution. As an empowering movement, it uses updated scientific agricultural knowledge to increase and improve food production and builds sustainable income using local inputs. Studies showed that SCA using a 4000 square feet bed can provide a complete nutritious diet for a person annually with some leftover for income production. SCA maintains social, environment and economy sustainability. It allows for an extensive usage of available labor from family and community leading to social cohesion and justice. Moreover, it encourages a harmonious relationship with human and nature using concept of recycling, management and protection to increase soil biodiversity. It requires only minimal inputs.
Example
Chipo lives in the African urban slum with her three kids but one died young due to malnutrition and her husband left her for the city to work and never came back. Chipo was introduced to CSA but her main problem was lack of suitable cultivated land, and so we taught her to grow crop vegetables in bags of soil tied together to make a 100 square feet outside her home. She was successful and able to feed her family. She also formed a group with other women to do the same but each having to grow different crops and then sharing the outputs. Soon they are able to afford a goat and some chickens from selling the excess vegetables. The women started a micro-finance system to help their fellow friends and to propagate the CSA.
Impact
Many parts of the world are using CSA in ‘bits and pieces’ but never in a complete system like us. Therefore, the data about it is not absolute but almost all have been positive. The world contains about 470 million smallholder farms with almost all operated by women. CSA has the ability to provide a complete and balanced diet with all the macro and micronutrients for 8 persons per acre annually with enough remaining for income production. Imagine Africa where 33 million small farms produce the bulk of the nation’s food supply. If we take the math of 2 hectares per smallholder farm then we have about 82 million acres in total in Africa that can feed a population of 652 million Africans or 60% of the continent annually and forever. CSA can be a revolutionary idea to transform people’s live and elevate them out of poverty and food insecurity.
Marketplace
Global food production is generally approaches on a large scale using unsustainable mechanized chemical or organic farming. The food value is often supplemented with fortification and hybrid breeding. CSA differs by engaging women farmers who hold the largest share to apply cost-effective principles such as small bed preparation, composting, crop rotation, and et cetera. It unites and uses all family labor and local resources without expending on fertilizers, soil amendments, and heavy farm machinery. All the works can be done with little land and resources. This is our advantage.
Sustainability Plan
CSA is employable at any settings and sizes. It works best for small farms. The model is financially sustains from participants’ tuition fees, sponsored community trust fund, profits from selling crops, and setting up sponsored training facilities throughout. Another financial model can involved charging certification fee for approved CSA farm. Of course, by winning this competition we are able to get a head-start in executing our plan.
Founding Story
As a physician by trade, I am most concern about the nutritional effects of food on our human growth and potential. My ‘aha’ moment came when I was listening to President Clinton giving a speech about challenging us to find solution for food security. This was later deepened when I heard the world’s leaders at the UN discussing about insecurity of women and children. Therefore, I wanted an innovative solution to solve this ineffective nutrient chain. Our idea must be adaptable, cheap, uses local resources only, unifies communities and families, and most importantly, empowers women and children. We wanted an idea that uses women as Changemakers.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
The benefits of CSA can be extended by collective gathering of the outputs in a community food store and kitchen. The centralized location provides community members a space for sharing ideas about developments and support in health, business and skills trainings, and the processing of food procurement, preparation and distribution. A community kitchen is a great place to also learn how to cook and eat healthy, and to store excess food away from bugs and rodents. This capacity building is beneficial to create nutritious food for the people and promotes wellness.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Sustainable conservation agriculture (SCA) is a different kind of greener revolution. It is an empowering movement for small stakeholder farmers to revolt, and reclaims their soil and environment so that they could get the nutrients to grow their health, longevity and prosperity.
Created on 05/14/2013 by ReapLifeDIG
Working with rural schools, local Ministries of Education and Agriculture, DIG is establishing an agriculture and early childhood feeding program for primary schools across Western Kenya. It begins with a seed that turns into a school garden, tree nurseries, and a learning ground...
Organization: Development in Gardening (DIG)
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
Development in Gardening (DIG)
Organization Country
United States, GA, Atlanta, Fulton County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
•Awarded funding to develop 4 HIV Clinic demonstration gardens for the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (2011-2012)
•DIG’s Executive Director received the YouthActionNet Laureate Global Fellowship for exceptional young social entrepreneurs (2008)
•Awarded funding from Starbucks Shared Planet (2010 & 2012)
•DIG sites recognized by former first lady, Laura Bush, and visited by former President Clinton
•Presented at the XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington DC (2012)
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DIG Deep & Build Up: Linking Health, Edu & Ag in East Africa
Stage
Established (the solution has passed the previous stages, and has demonstrated success)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Working with rural schools, local Ministries of Education and Agriculture, DIG is establishing an agriculture and early childhood feeding program for primary schools across Western Kenya. It begins with a seed that turns into a school garden, tree nurseries, and a learning ground...
Problem
For the poor rural communities in Western Kenya, improving nutritional status is essential for health, well-being, & learning. Many families struggle to fight poverty, chronic hunger & disease. The school provides a perfect intervention point for young children who are suffering from undernutrition & poverty that impacts their ability to learn & grow healthy. The school garden can begin to redress food security, education, & health issues.
Solution
With the flow of resources dwindling, rural development initiatives call for multi-dimensional and cost-effective responses. The school provides an opportunity to feed the most vulnerable, teach students agricultural skills that can empower themselves, their families & feed the future while linking nutrition, food & health.
DIG's program begins by involving students, PTA, school leadership & community elders in the planning. Then schools begin to repurpose unused land into fruit & wood trees, horticulture & stable crops, & develop a sustainable agriculture program integrated into the curriculum.
When harvests are ready food goes into an early childhood feeding program & cash from sales goes into a school scholarship fund.
Example
In response to global hunger, DIG has developed an action-oriented approach that encourages self-sufficiency, improved nutrition, and an understanding of how food is linked to health. At four primary schools in poverty stricken area of Nyanza Province, Western Kenya DIG is working1) to improve school performance through producing nutritious food for students on school property, 2) generate income to support school activities and needy students, and 3) educate the broader community in sustainable agriculture through community outreach and home gardens. DIG with the school committees creates and implements a design for environmentally sustainable long-term food production through organic vegetable gardens, food forests and resource mgmt.
Impact
An example of our impact can be seen at a DIG–assisted school garden, initiated with 39 students at the WISER Girls School in Kenya. The school has now provided more than 20,000 nutritionally improved school meals annually. Over 130 students practice the skills necessary to develop and maintain gardens at the school site and their homes.
In 2012 at Lwala (Nyanza Province), DIG's project has trained 184 people, built 417 home gardens, developed 26 community plots/groups, and implemented 4 demo-gardens at primary schools. On average, for every $100 invested in a household garden that family gained $300 from produce sales and money saved on food expenditures annually. Qualitatively, DIG continually sees students empowered through the program. Not only are they more active in school and have better attendance but they also apply their skills at home teaching family members.
Marketplace
DIG differs from other approaches because of our mutli-discplinary approach to improving nutrition through our school garden. The demonstration site has proven to be a unique and successful space for community fellowship & social exchange. This space serves as an intervention point for healthy messaging that promotes innovative solutions to a variety of local challenges. Through this exchange, students, parent & teachers collaboratively build a network of support that strengthens their capabilities necessary to improve their education the quality of their lives & transform their community.
Sustainability Plan
DIG ensures financial sustainability 3 ways: 1) involving local stakeholders in the whole process (community elders, school leadership, and local ministries), 2) using simple technologies that are easily replicated with minor expenses (simple irrigation, green manures, open pollinating seeds, local resources) and 3) creating income generation activities through the agriculture program (sell tree seedlings, fire wood and pole wood, local markets).
Founding Story
Anise was walking home from school & was raped. When her family found out she was raped they disowned her & when Anise went to health clinic she found out she was pregnant & HIV positive. When Anise joined DIG’s project, she was defeated. But after working in the garden alongside other individuals who were HIV positive, learning new skills & sharing stories, Anise slowly realized she was not alone and began to rebuild her life. She started taking her medications, began growing and selling her own produce, and became a productive member of her community and school. Her family allowed her to move back home and she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. It was her story that first made us realize the true impact of a garden.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
This added capacity would allow us to improve and scale up our existing service. DIG would eventually like to see every primary school in Kenya have an early childhood feeding program and a school sustainable agriculture program. We do not currently have the capacity to work on a national level but DIG is now working with the MOA and MOE to develop pilot projects on the district level then hopefully with added support we can pilot it regionally and nationally in the future.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Sustainable Harvest International empowers families to produce a healthful diet for themselves all the time by providing them with regular, hands-on technical assistance for five-years so they can successfully transition to using sustainable farming practices to grow many traditional and new crops.
This project also has a Changeshop where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Changeshop: HEAR Foundation.
Created on 05/14/2013 by lindsayadams26
Empowering women to cultivate and properly prepare nutrient-dense foods is the foundation for an economically dynamic country. In Guatemala we teach integrated, sustainable farming techniques as seeds of change for a healthy future for the women's families and the communities to which they belong.
Organization: HEAR Foundation
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Country
United States, IL, Chicago, Cook County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideStage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Empowering women to cultivate and properly prepare nutrient-dense foods is the foundation for an economically dynamic country. In Guatemala we teach integrated, sustainable farming techniques as seeds of change for a healthy future for the women's families and the communities to which they belong.
Problem
In Guatemala, almost one out of every two children under five are malnourished, not due to an absolute caloric deficiency, but a lack of nutritional diversity. Some of the most vulnerable subgroups are women, children and those living in the Dry Corridor of Central America in which Jalapa is located. Extension programs target men, and food programs emphasize quantity of food, not quality. This costs Guatemala 11.4% of annual GDP.
Solution
The Foundation works with a home for abused, orphaned and economically disadvantaged babies, girls and young women in Jalapa, Guatemala. Our Agriculture and Nutrition program is holistic- from field to fork- teaching principles of integrated farming such as composting, vermiculture and seed production, and also how to track vitamin intake through an easy to use graphic-based vitamin calendar in the kitchen. The program also models environmental sustainability and economic efficiency in all components of the program, from planting a living fence of fast-growing trees that also provide fodder for animals, to creating a gravity-fed irrigation system, to construction of a seed nursery out of recovered materials found on the home’s property.
Example
Imagine the life of a typical girl at this home: she has suffered from malnutrition since birth, as has her mother. She probably comes from a female-headed household because her father was killed in the civil war, is a migrant worker in other parts of the country or has abandoned the family. She has mostly eaten corn and beans for every meal, as this is what her mother knows how to grow and believes is a healthy meal. Most families where she comes from barely make a living off of the crops they grow for the market because they only know to purchase fertilizer, seeds and pesticides. Her future points to acute hunger and debt. Our program feeds and frees her- she will be able to grow nutritious food with little capital or other inputs.
Impact
Of the home's population, 100% of our target demographic reaps the immediate nutritional benefits of growing vegetables and fruits on-site. This includes babies, toddlers, children, nursing mothers and young women. While the program is only in its second year, we have been able to identify the following results. The young women participating in the program have demonstrated, through practical and theoretical tests, basic knowledge needed to cultivate diverse crops. Those who prepare food demonstrate increased awareness of and interest in tracking the vitamin content of the meals they prepare. Residents opt for healthy snacks such as fruit more often than not. Finally, the home's leaders have shown new interest in assessing the sustainability of their property- for example considering goats rather than cows as a non-traditional source of milk.
Marketplace
In Guatemala many programs do not assess Agriculture and Nutrition as mutually complementary areas of intervention, especially as they relate to gender. For example, many agricultural extension programs that do focus on environmental sustainability do not target women specifically. Many nutrition programs look only to meal planning and not the food security of home production for family consumption. Our approach is holistic, seeing women as the bridge between what is grown, what is eaten and how, and who in the family has access to it.
Sustainability Plan
This program is still in a growth phase where we need additional resources in particular to assist with organizational and behavioral change at the home. Once we are able to hire an additional employee, full-time for two years, to assist with ensuring that what is learned in the program is retained and fully adopted- from field to fork- then the home's leaders can teach the program and model concepts themselves with minimal outside costs.
Founding Story
A few years ago we tried to figure out how to make the home more self-sufficient and at the same time use the land they had access to. In many things we had done at the home we had encountered roadblocks. So we thought "let's lease the land to a farmer- money in the hands of the home, and quick." But a local agronomist and community leader who we knew painted us a different picture- no expensive irrigation and no fancy seeds. Let's grow good food here, he said. But everyone says the soil is shallow and poor, that agriculture is a waste, we told him. He insisted- let me try! Six months later the soil was healthier and the land was covered in a sea of protein and vitamins that the girls could call their own. We have not looked back.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
With additional funds we would be able to dedicate a full-time person specifically to assessing and supporting adoption of new behaviors and skillsets. While we have an on-site agronomist teacher, we need to focus on behavior and organization in order to be sustainable. Once the caretakers are confident in growing and preparing well-rounded meals independently, the program will not need nearly the level of intervention and support as it requires now. In other words, each one will teach one. In other words, we need one of the oldest technologies- good, one-on-one, education.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Empowering women to cultivate and properly prepare nutrient-dense foods is the foundation for an economically dynamic country. In Guatemala we teach integrated, sustainable farming techniques as seeds of change for a healthy future for the women's families and the communities to which they belong.
Working with rural schools, local Ministries of Education and Agriculture, DIG is establishing an agriculture and early childhood feeding program for primary schools across Western Kenya. It begins with a seed that turns into a school garden, tree nurseries, and a learning ground...
Created on 05/13/2013 by johnmkamba
expertise in nutrition education & behavioral change which will make a key contribution to a nutrition-sensitive food & agriculture systems approach through: nutrition awareness which helps farmers decide crops to produce and supplying subsidized hybrid maize seed & fertilizer & revolving fund.
Organization: tamba pwani
more ↓↑ hide↑ hideCountry where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
the organization has received grant from UHAI to undertake world AIDS day in 2012.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideName your entry
Sustainable nutrition security for marginalized community
Stage
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
expertise in nutrition education & behavioral change which will make a key contribution to a nutrition-sensitive food & agriculture systems approach through: nutrition awareness which helps farmers decide crops to produce and supplying subsidized hybrid maize seed & fertilizer & revolving fund.
Problem
Good health depends on good nutrition. Good nutrition, in turn, depends on agriculture to provide the foods for a balanced diet that meets our needs. Since nutrition is the bridge between agriculture and health.
Although agriculture currently produces enough food for all, several people are unable to meet their minimum food energy requirements, and suffer from “hidden hunger” caused by micronutrient deficiency.The main victims are the poor.
Solution
Teach a man and you have taught a man; teach a woman and you teach a family. Women are known as good communicators of household knowledge, including that related to nutrition, foods, food preparation, child care and feeding practices. For that reason, interventions need to include a strong programme of nutrition education and behavior change, targeted principally towards women, in order to ensure that an increase in food supply and income translates into better diets and improved household nutrition.Also providing community-managed revolving fund to provide 4000 goats, rabbits and chickens to rural households, along with training in animal care, intensive nutrition education, iron supplementation and disease control.
Example
Nutrition education will persuade women to increase the quantity of vegetables in family meals and will be instrumental in orienting small animal production towards household consumption, rather than for sale. Nutrition education shall also helps communities gain a sense of empowerment through a better understanding of what makes their children and family healthy. The revolving fund of 4000 goats, chicken and rabbit to provide economic balance to the community.
Impact
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
Marketplace
the problem is addressed through nutrition counselors and loans for beginning community projects are given by the government but most people cannot access them due to marginalization. the people also do not have knowledge of conducting these projects. also poverty is a means in which people cannot access nutrition counselling thus this project will bring service near to the community and engage them fully through follow ups to enable success.
Sustainability Plan
The project shall be self sustainable since we shall form a revolving fund for all the farmers per house hold in which they shall have monthly contributions as per the sale of their products. And the repayment of the animals shall also give an opportunity for more community members to get the animal loan for keeping and eating for nutritional purposes.
Founding Story
this project is well organised and since its an idea which can really work. in the case of HIV/AIDS infected persons, the knowledge of nutrition which they get from the counselors, help them maneuver through and live a healthy life. am seeing this project to help the my community get knowledge and view the importance of good nutrition. the loan for the animals and chicken will create a sense of poverty eradication so that they can get meals on their table since a good nutrition cant be successful without food.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Sustainable improvements in the nutritional status of women and their children will only be possible when their diets provide all the macro- and micro nutrients they need. Narrowing the nutrition gap requires “nutrition-sensitive” food and agriculture systems that explicitly incorporate nutrition objectives. A healthy environment is disease free and human beings who are well can work to produce more for their family. The animals shall be a means of poverty eradication for them to have meals on the table.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
expertise in nutrition education & behavioral change which will make a key contribution to a nutrition-sensitive food & agriculture systems approach through: nutrition awareness which helps farmers decide crops to produce and supplying subsidized hybrid maize seed & fertilizer & revolving fund.
This project also has a Changeshop where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Changeshop: Kuli Kuli.
Created on 05/8/2013 by Lisa Curtis
Kuli Kuli makes superfood bars with a mission to feed the world. These bars connect people in the US in search of healthy food to those in the developing world who need healthy food through moringa, the most nutrient-rich plant on the planet.
Organization: Kuli Kuli
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Country
United States, CA, Alameda, Alameda County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
For‐profit
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
Ashoka Emerging Innovator American Express Award,
William James Foundation Finalist (we find out if we're a winner on June 3rd)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideStage
Start-Up (a pilot that has just started operating)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Kuli Kuli makes superfood bars with a mission to feed the world. These bars connect people in the US in search of healthy food to those in the developing world who need healthy food through moringa, the most nutrient-rich plant on the planet.
Problem
In West Africa, more than eighteen million children are severely malnourished and over 75% of the population lives on less than $2 per day. In the same region, Moringa Oleifera — a tree also known as the “miracle tree” — thrives and contains high levels of protein, iron, calcium, vitamins, and antioxidants. However, three main barriers prevent local communities from reaping the nutritional and economic benefits of moringa.
Solution
Kuli Kuli sells nutritional bars in the U.S. made with moringa imported from West Africa. Through our supply chain, we help form and encourage women-operated farming cooperatives to process moringa in a way that retains its nutrients. As our grassroots partners work with women to incorporate this nutrient-rich moringa into local diets, malnutrition levels decline and the income levels of the moringa growers increase. By creating an international market for the moringa and purchasing moringa from these women, they will be financially empowered: many of the women we work with make up to $300 per month, 5-10 times the average income in the region.
Example
Our flagship moringa partner is Adaeze Agu, founder of Moringa Revealed. For the past six years, Adaeze has worked closely with women’s groups in her home country, Nigeria, as well as in Chad and Ghana to reduce malnutrition using moringa. Her foundation provides seed capital and training to women’s groups adhering to ancestral and sustainable farming methods. To ensure that the moringa is used locally, Adaeze only purchases 40% of the moringa they produce, leaving the majority of the nutrient-rich moringa to improve the health of the women’s families and communities.
Impact
Within the last year, Kuli Kuli has transformed from an idea into a company. Through the team’s hard work, dedication, and growing support network, we have incorporated as a company, developed product recipes, manufactured and packaged our bars, and forged partnerships with organizations on the ground in West Africa. Within the last few months, we have completed our first round of consumer product testing by selling our product at farmers’ markets, with an exceptional consumer conversion rate. We are now doing an Indiegogo campaign to raise $50,000 for the first manufacturing run of our bars and to prepare for an upcoming meeting with Whole Foods. Though our impact to date has been limited by our small amount of sales we are confident that this impact will grow exponentially in the next three months.
Marketplace
The key to Kuli Kuli's competitive edge is moringa. As the first company to bring moringa to the United States in an easily palatable form, Kuli Kuli has the opportunity to introduce this incredible superfood to the U.S. market. The U.S. market is ripe for Kuli Bars. According to the 2011 Mintel U.S. Nutrition & Energy Bars Retail sales of nutrition and energy bars in the U.S. grew at 9% annually between 2006-11, reaching $1.7 billion in 2011, despite a general decline in consumer goods spending.
Sustainability Plan
It currently costs Kuli Kuli $1.50 to produce and package our bars. We anticipate a dramatic decrease in this price, to $0.75, as we reach economies of scale. We intend to take a 40% gross margin to sustain our business while also estimating an approximate 100% gross margin in distribution and retail costs per bar. We are pricing our bars at $2.99 which is on the higher end for nutritional bars but is low for specialty raw and gluten-free foods.
Founding Story
Kuli Kuli was founded in September 2011 by Lisa Curtis, Jordan Moncharmont, and Valerie Popelka. Lisa Curtis conceived of Kuli Kuli while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, West Africa. One of her major projects while in the Peace Corps was working with moringa to reduce malnutrition. She discovered three major challenges to the successful implementation of moringa as a form of nutritional intervention: seed inaccessibility, a widespread tendency to boil the leaves -- leaching the nutrients and little funding for agricultural projects. Lisa, Jordan, and Valerie started Kuli Kuli to address these issues while meeting U.S. demand for unique and interesting superfoods.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Within the last year, Kuli Kuli has transformed from an idea into a company. Through the team’s hard work, dedication, and growing support network, we have incorporated as a company, developed product recipes, manufactured and packaged our bars, and forged partnerships with organizations on the ground in West Africa. Additional mentorship and resources from Ashoka will accelerate our business development and help us reach our goal of developing moringa into a well-recognized nutrient-rich superfood in the United States that serves as a catalyst to improve nutrition and livelihoods worldwide.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Kuli Kuli makes superfood bars with a mission to feed the world. These bars connect people in the US in search of healthy food to those in the developing world who need healthy food through moringa, the most nutrient-rich plant on the planet.
This project also has a Changeshop where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Changeshop: Hunger Below Zero.
Created on 05/5/2013 by HungerBelowZero
Our mission is to Curb world hunger starting from creating a Hunger free Africa where we can Plant,Eat and Repeat nutritious vegatables while greatly reducing environmental damage
Organization: Hunger Below Zero
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Is your organization a
For‐profit
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideStage
Start-Up (a pilot that has just started operating)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Our mission is to Curb world hunger starting from creating a Hunger free Africa where we can Plant,Eat and Repeat nutritious vegatables while greatly reducing environmental damage
Problem
Millions of people who live in disadvantaged communities in Kenya suffer from poor nutrition. They need easy access to affordable, fresh, organic vegetables on an ongoing basis!
Solution
Hunger Below Zero effectively tackles the challenge of providing food security to disadvantaged communities in a financially sustainable way by establishing grassroots entrepreneurs who are trained to start and run small scale agri-businesses that supply their families and neighbourhoods with fresh, organic produce. Our solution is scalable and replicable. The key to our success in each target community is our innovative hub and spoke model.
Example
We use Foodboxes, a " FoodBox"is a 35m² collection of 200 crates which are purpose-built crates used for growing vegetables. The base and sides of the crates are lined with hessian fabric that acts as a special planting layer for a mixture of soil and compost manure which is poured into this make-shift container.
Vegetable seedlings or seeds are planted directly into this grow medium. Each crate accommodates twenty seedlings. The ideal grow medium makes it possible for crops to be harvested within a few weeks of planting. Crates are movable and easily replaced once the produce has been consumed or sold. This innovation eliminates all soil preparation and preservation, which reduces maintenance to a minimum.
Impact
Hunger Below Zero is well positioned to reduce the level of Hunger and poverty by 50% (215,000 people of 1,208,009 ) in the first 2 years through our intended 8 Strategically placed hubs within the pilot region. These hubs will train over 2,100 Franchisees per month (25,200 p.a) who will intern add up to the number of people already not going hungry by constantly feeding an extra 151,200 poor individuals with affordable, fresh, organic vegetables on an ongoing basis!
Hunger Below Zero project is scalable and replicable to neighboring regions hence it is the Revolution for drastic drops in Poverty and Hunger indexes in Africa there by ANSWERING the question of "feeding 9 Billion people by 2050."
Marketplace
Sales and distribution is facilitated through a ‘hub and spoke’ model.The hub is a well-established community project, NGO, church or school in the target community. It functions as a manufacturing, sales, distribution, training and resource centre. The hub enlists individuals who live in the immediate vicinity as Franchisees.
Each franchisee is provided with a FoodBox and trained to grow organic vegetables for their tables and to sell excess produce to their neighbours. When the produce in each box has been consumed or sold, the Franchisees exchange it for a new, ready-to-sell box
Sustainability Plan
The income generated from the sale of excess produce enables the Franchisees to sustain their livelihoods and replenish their boxes from the Hub. The business operation of the Hub is sustained through box sales to repeat customers. Hunger Below Zero, the company, sustains its operations by providing Hubs with soil, compost, crates, hessian, seed, seedlings, training and support.
Founding Story
We care about the creation of a Hunger free Africa where we can Plant,Eat and Repeat. This is why we use initiative to pioneer implementation of viable ideas and work as part of a team to achieve predetermined goals,which in this case is Curbing world Hunger using a concept we developed named "Triple I" meaning
-Idea
-Implementation
-Impact
"Triple I" is A process involving thinking brilliant viable ideas, implementing them and creating sustainable impact in a society.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Full nourishment foods.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Our mission is to Curb world hunger starting from creating a Hunger free Africa where we can Plant,Eat and Repeat nutritious vegatables while greatly reducing environmental damage
This project also has a Changeshop where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Changeshop: Dinero Global.
Created on 05/2/2013 by vicenteblanco
El Dinero Global creará una nueva fuente de riqueza a la cual tendrá acceso toda la población mundial expandiendo de forma explosiva no sólo el mercado mundial de nutrientes sino la economía en general.
El sistema DG romperá con la cuña que no permite el pleno empleo en esta economía actual
read more ↓↑ hide↑ hideCountry where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Hybrid
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideName your entry
Dinero Global nuevo sistema financiero
Stage
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
El Dinero Global creará una nueva fuente de riqueza a la cual tendrá acceso toda la población mundial expandiendo de forma explosiva no sólo el mercado mundial de nutrientes sino la economía en general.
El sistema DG romperá con la cuña que no permite el pleno empleo en esta economía actual
Problem
El desempleo es un problema que afecta el ingreso de numerosas familias en el mundo; ingreso necesario para cubrir sus necesidades esenciales incluyendo la nutrición. El nuevo sistema Dinero Global rompe con las difíciles condiciones necesarias para generar empleo bajo la economía y el sistema financiero actual, propiciando el pleno empleo y generando una nueva fuente de riqueza de fácil acceso para toda la población.
Solution
El sistema Dinero Global te da la oportunidad de inscribirte en el sitio en internet y recibir tu deposito inicial en Dinero Global con la introducción de tus datos personales. Con esos recursos ya podrás recibir cualquiera de los cientos de servicios disponibles en la red, ademas tendrás también la posibilidad de intercambiar tus nuevos recursos (Dinero Global) por dinero real a la tasa establecida y así adquirir productos materiales para cubrir tus necesidades.
Con el nuevo sistema no sólo los empleados sino también aquellos empleados que dispongan de tiempo libre podrán utilizar su tiempo ofreciendo cualquier servicio que sean capaces de ofrecer satisfactoriamente
Example
Un ejemplo sería el del barbero que hace uno $27000 al año en Estados Unidos trabajando unas 40 horas a la semana. Con este nivel de sueldo una persona puede cubrir apenas sus necesidades básicas de alimentación, ropa, transporte y vivienda pero no tendrá la posibilidad de ahorrar ni acceso a servicios de salud, educación y muchos otros necesarios para vivir una vida plena. El sistema Dinero Global permitiría a este barbero o a cualquier otro desocupado producir recursos trabajando tres días a la semana podría producir una cantidad parecida a la anterior y adicionalmente otra cantidad en Dinero Global y recibir toda clase de servicios inalcanzables para él bajo el sistema actual. Este ejemplo puede también hacerse con cualquier trabajador
Impact
Siguiendo con el ejemplo del barbero, el impacto en él será apreciable a nivel personal, dado que duplicará sus ingresos, y aún cuando la mitad será en DG, el acceso a los servicios se duplicará también mejorando apreciablemente su nivel de vida. Esto es de esta manera quizás el primer año, pero los años subsiguientes pudiera tener la oportunidad de reducir de manera importante el tiempo laborable para dedicarse más a sí mismo y a su familia. A nivel comunitario y global es donde podría haber el mayor impacto debido a la posibilidad que los individuos formen comunidades de consumo y de servicio. Un ejemplo podría ser el Centro Comunal de Servicios donde una comunidad agrupa la mayor cantidad de servicios necesarios para ellos en un solo lugar. Esto mismo puede extenderse a nivel regional o global en diversas comunidades e intereses.
Marketplace
Son muchas las instituciones que se están dirigiendo hacia el problema entre las que podemos contar gobiernos, universidades, organismos multilaterales entre otros, pero la diferencia que vemos está en que sus soluciones se basan en el sistema económico-financiero actual que ya demostró no ser capaz de satisfacer la mayor parte de la población. Estas soluciones tendrán siempre esta limitación mientras no se basen en un sistema nuevo y diferente. El Sistema DG se basa en los servicios y con esto elimina todas las difíciles condiciones necesarias para la inversión en el sistema actual
Sustainability Plan
Plan de sustentabilidad
El plan básico de sustentabilidad se basa en que algunos de los servicios necesarios para la implementación serán ofrecidos por los mismos suscriptores o asociados del sistema por un lado y por el otro, a pesar de que en el sistema DG la ganancia, lucro o especulación no tienen sentido, durante la fase de implementación se ofrecerá una ganancia a los socios inversionistas proveniente del intercambio con dinero real
Founding Story
Historia fundacional
En el año 2003 durante la investigación de grado para la maestría en finanzas de la Universidad de Carabobo- Venezuela, viendo cómo en los avances mas importantes de las ultimas décadas en ciencia y tecnología estaba siempre presente la virtualización de una actividad humana me encontré con la posibilidad de virtualizar el dinero y explorar la posibilidad de progreso que traería de forma similar a los avances vistos en las comunicaciones y tecnologías de la información, así fue cómo surgió la idea que estamos implementando, el Dinero Global. Así como Frederic Gauss dió el paso genial de lo real a lo virtual y componiendo ambas partes en algo mayor así surgió esta posibilidad genial que promete mucho para todos
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Full nourishment foods.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
To etymologically transform our ability to arrest the production of Garbage.
To build small very easily replicable systems that use little or no knowledge.
To take brand new approaches every time to completely utilize 100% of everything we consume.
Particularly food.
The result will be:
Nothing remains.
Staying off the landfills.
Reduction of fossil fuels used.
Reduction in energy consumption.
Robust economies for all,
Opportunity to Wealth Creation instead of Struggling with poverty alleviation.
Created on 04/29/2013 by Martguz
For Lumen the vision is a fundamental right for the human being
It is a novel, eclectic, cost effective and socially acceptable project.
Lumen fights untiringly to surpass the blindness related to poverty.
Nobody knows that sees badly…
Lumen puts the community at the front of the visual health. I see, I see. What do you see? I see the world changing in front of my eyes…
Organization: Proyecto Lumen
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization's Country of Operation
Venezuela, M, ANZOATEGUI, APURE, BOLIVAR, AMAZONAS
Type of Organization
Non‐profit/NGO
Year of launch of the organization
Years in Operation
Operating 1-5 years
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
His founder and general coordinator, was chosen fellow of Ashoka 2012, as well as Fellow of MMH(Making More Health Initiative promoted by BI)
We want to hear about your “Aha!” moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution’s potential to change the world.
My thesis for the postgraduate of Health Management at the UCAB was the project that today we know as Lumen. In 2007, I had contact with UNESCO Chair Visual Health and Development, which helped me to canalize the idea conceptually. Right now I am Regular Professor of this Chair in the IUO and two of my students read my work and developed the stage 1
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Proyecto Lumen (Despertando la demanda de salud visual a través de la participación comunitaria)
Explain what the "innovation" is about, e.g., is it the idea and/or the model you use to accomplish the idea, or your understanding of the target population, etc.?
The LUMEN Project assumes the deficits of quantity and quality of vision as a social problem. That’s why it considers the necessity to give access to visual health care for traditionally marginalized communities of the public policies. It considers the education as a central aspect. Being a health project, it is not a welfare approach, since it goes beyond the techno-centric to an anthropocentric perspective; it is cost-effective and has a high coverage. The innovation focus on the training of basic education’s teachers, as primary agents of visual prevention so that they can detect problems of vision among their students, and conform, coordinate and implement an inter, multidisciplinary and multi-sector social network to guarantee its viability, sustainability and permanence. In that way they also are able to obtain communitarian involvement by generating a permanent social phenomenon in primary visual attention. This network involves the academy sector, through optometry’s students working as promoters, teachers as natural leaders of its communities, the community, the specialists, during the decisive stage and the State as the principal manager and natural channeling of initiatives that lead to guarantee the preservation of the human vision. All of which it will promote the community’s organized specialized services, the blindness’ prevention and the frontal struggle against “blindness related to poverty.”
Describe how your innovation model is distinct from any other organization in your field?
The approaching solution to services of visual health problem, having as the axis articulation the sensitization and the education, aiming at the ametropia not corrected as social problem derived from the loss or null access to visual health services, constitutes an innovative conceptual valuation in Venezuela, that allows a best understanding of the situation.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
The approaching solution to services of visual health problem, having as the axis articulation the sensitization and the education, aiming at the ametropia not corrected as social problem derived from the loss or null access to visual health services, constitutes an innovative conceptual valuation in Venezuela, that allows a best understanding of the situation.
How do you make sure you constantly innovate in light of (potential) external challenges, or your growth plan?
To consolidate and refine the methodology by the acquisition of experience and constant revision of the project’s management indicators to obtain major effectiveness and repeatability.
To finish all the stages of the project in the strip of the Orinoco and, if it is possible, to arrive at the Delta, where lives the majority of indigenous population without access to the services.
To strengthen the alliances with other projects of public or private health service, focused on the prevention helping in the collective achievement of a more preventive and less care attendant vision. Additionally, to create the first indicators of “Visual Health” in the region to be able to measure its behavior in normal and anomaly conditions.
This Entry is about (Issues)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideThe systemic challenge you are trying to overcome (select one)
Realign the incentives in the public healthcare system in mature markets, or
Health area (target market) where the need is [select only one]
Primary healthcare services
Categories along the health continuum you are covering [select all that apply]
Prevention, Detection, Intervention, Follow-up, Long-term care, Social integration.
Please describe in more detail: what problem are you trying to solve in the organization's specific context?
If we took as it bases 7000 million inhabitants, we will have for today that there are 366,1 million people with serious visual deficiencies and not corrected refracting defects in the world. 90% of them live in developing countries. Without including corrected presbyopia, the number ascends to 670 million people. According to the WHO, (Program 2020 for the blindness’ prevention) this number will be duplicated in 2020, if the suitable measures are not taken. If we consider that the tendency of demographic explosion in the PEVD is the major of the planet and that Latin America is part of this Geo-economic context, we will have a high incidence of not taken care visual morbidity causes
Stage that best applies to your solution [select only one]
Established (past the previous stages and has demonstrated success)
Core strategies of your business model [select all that apply]
Approaches to behavioral change at the individual level, Patient-centered design, Redesign of the public healthcare system for more efficiency (in terms of processes, structure etc.), New/redefined roles for healthcare service provision, Unconventional partnerships (between traditional healthcare players and players outside healthcare).
Most relevant tools you are using to implement the strategies outlined above [select only two]
New skills, Education/training, Others.
If other, specify here:
ejercicio del liderazgo comunitario
Please describe your solution in more detail
The planning of a solution to services of visual health problem, having as the axis articulation the sensitization and the education, aiming at the ametropia not corrected as social problem derived from the loss or null access to visual health services, constitutes an innovative conceptual valuation in Venezuela, that allows a best understanding of the situation and will surely produce a different result until now.
LUMEN developed a simple but effective methodology so that through devices of low technology and low cost, designed and validated by the technicians of the project, teacher will be able to detect visual deficits.
LUMEN developed a simple but effective methodology so that through devices of low technology and low cost, designed and validated by the technicians of the project, teacher will be able to detect visual deficits.
What are your vision and overall objectives?
That Venezuela at least assumes as state policy the visual screening applied by teachers in their role of Primary Agent of Visual Prevention, which will generate pressure on the health system, causing a sustained transformation towards primary health care.
To consolidate and refine the methodology by the acquisition of experience and constant revision of the project’s management indicators to obtain major effectiveness and repeatability, with the idea to turn it into a Health model.
To create the first indicators (non-epidemiologists) of “Visual Health” in the region to be able to measure its behavior in normal and anomaly conditions.
To generate a viral phenomenon of replication in the entire community, using the School as the epicenter.
What is your value proposition?
From the local point of view, it has a multiplying character since the individual object of the project (the school’s teacher), which in the promotional capacity and leadership role, as a APPV, will begin to create, often unconsciously, a replication phenomenon. In our experience, we have noted that teachers do not leave the kit at school, they take it to its house and screen their relatives. Those relatives understand that there is an easy way, known by teachers, to detect visual problems and tell other people awakening an expectation regarding visual subjects in the community. It encourages the primary care phenomenon in the community. It improves human and material resources and lowers the social costs.
Who is your customer(s)?
They are children of basic education between first to sixth grades, teachers’ community and the staff of scholar institutions in rural zones. Nevertheless, the project is easily adaptable to other types of social organization like “communal councils”, and other economic Geo-partners contexts.
The LUMEN’s object age group of action is from 4 to 15 years, which represents approx. 11 million inhabitants, in the national population of 29.718.357 for the year 2012. That represents the 37% of the total population of the country. Nevertheless it is necessary to consider that for the effects of the coverage this proportion must be extrapolated to 13% of the rural population focused initially by LUMEN.
What approaches to you use to reach your customers?
From the Public Health perspective, we work in the solution of a specific problem, the not corrected Ametropia sensitizing to the community regarding a particular matter of Health and stimulating it to also work in the solution. From the social point of view it address the structural components of poverty that is the low accessibility to Health services in this visual case. At the same time, it empowers the community with tools that were traditionally used by technicians and which by means of a simple methodology and easy understanding provide them with capacities that can directly reach the problem.directamente sobre la problemática.
What are your primary activities?
For stages I and II, there are workshops, one for the students of optometry and one for the teachers to be certificates as APPV. The result of this activity is the beginning of “waking up” of the demand of services of visual health, through the action of the Academy as a “starter engine”. Stage 1: teachers as “primary agents of visual prevention”. Stage 2: Screening performed by the teacher with support of LUMEN’s technicians (only for the first time), Installation of the Visual Health round table (construction of the demand), Beginning of Welfare Stage (Screening of opthalmopathy, made
by technicians). Resolution Stage (Delivery of corrections and reference to other levels) Measurement of Impact
Who are your peers and competitors? What problems could these players pose to your success or growth?
The more relevant initiative undertaken by the Venezuelan State regarding Visual Health, is the so called “Mission Miracle”. This operation or mission started in 2005, as “a project to fight against blindness and other ocular deficiencies” which does not make emphasis in the not corrected refracting defect, thus are not considered a threat for the project.
What other challenges - individual, organizational, or environmental – are you currently facing or might hinder future success of your business, and how do you plan to overcome those?
The main threat for the project not managed by the government, is that at any time they can be interpreted as hostile and disturbed it activities. That situation has never impacted the Lumen Project Lumen since it has the support of the local government, especially from the logistic point of view.
Briefly describe your growth strategy going forward
To create a new team per year (conformed by 7 people) to increase the operational range of action, since at the moment we are working with a single team which can affect more than 2500 people per year. With strategic alliances with another NGOs as Fe y Alegría or Maniapure Foundation, we can increase the geographic area of the Project.
What dimensions for growth are you currently targeting for your innovation [select all that apply]
New regions(s), New market(s)/country(ies).
What makes your business "ready" for growth?
A developed and validated methodology. At the moment, we are in the region of the Faja of the Orinoco and the goal is that the Project has national influence, through of strategic alliances with Private enterprises and another NGOs to create a social network around the matter of Visual Health.
What are your key growth objectives?
To wake up the demand of Visual Health Services and to generate the possibility that communities construct them. To bring about the modification of the state policies regarding the matter of Visual Health, in the particular and general scope, so that it has an approach more centered in the primary health care.
What is your timeframe for growth, in the short and mid-term? What are the growth milestones and key activities going forward?
Centered in the plan of annual growth of one team per year, it esteems that the capacity of the project’s influence will be duplicated once a year and we could infer that in five years we will have a capacity to affect more than 12,500 people per year. Nevertheless, an infinite matrix of growth would not represent a practical approach due to the logistic challenges that this represents.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhat has been the impact of your solution to date?
In its first two years, our program of visual health in rural schools has been implemented in the region of the strip of the Orinoco, specifically in the Monagas municipality of the Anzoátegui State, with the support of Total Oil and Gas Venezuela, within the framework of the agreement of “Local Human Development”. In collaboration with the mayor ship of this municipality, the project has been taken to the populations of Mapire, San Diego de Cabrutica and Zuata. Also, in alliance with the Foundation Maniapure Project, we took care of the populations of Urbana and Maniapure, Cedeño Municipality of the Bolivar State and with ASOPICA to the population of Pica, Pedro Camejo Municipality. During year 2011and what goes of 2012, we have trained and certificated 60 students of final year of optometry as LUMEN’s Facilitators, 144 teachers as Primary Agents of Visual Prevention, taken care of 2.044 children at school only in the Monagas Municipality of the Anzoátegui State. To the previous achievements it adds 65 children and adolescents in the population of the Goad, Pedro Camejo Municipality in alliance with ASOPICA and 440 in Maniapure and the Urbana, Bolivar State. Being installed 6 Round Tables of Visual Health in these places.
What methods for quantification of social impact are you applying (if at all)?
At this moment we are only quantifying raw data, such as number of screenings per year, number of trained teachers, amount of trained promoters, etc. We are also refining the method and the processes of work. At the moment, with the contest of an investigating team and one tesis expert, we work in the identification and validation of he indicators of management of the project. These results will serve us to consolidate the methodology and to guarantee its replication in other places.
Could your solution work in other geographies or regions? If so, where?
Yes, the Lumen Project is totally replicable, I would start by Latin America, for cultural and idiomatic reasons, but we have already received requests of India and Africa for the project to be implemented there.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
To create a new team per year (conformed by 7 people) it would increase the operational range, since at the moment we are working with a single team that reaches to screen more than 2500 people in one year 1, trains 144 teachers as APPV and 60 students of optometry as promoters (present capacity, 1 team) In the second year it would reach 5000 screenings, 288 teachers APPV and 120 promoters, 7500 screenings, 432 APPV and 180 promoters in year 3. With strategic alliances it is desired to increase the geographic area of the Project. With the bancomunales is also anticipated we will be able to increase demand of Lume’s intervention, economically sustained by the own community.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideElaborate on your current financing strategy
We are currently designing the Businesses Plan of the Project, with the main premise that the project must be of low budget and high impact, Until now the strategy has been that the directors have identified organizations that potentially can be allied of the project with vision at medium term, and with which can be obtained funding for their execution; having them for donations of equipment, optical devices and their processing, based on criteria of maximum economy, efficiency, transparency, honesty and sustainability, An annual budget with horizon is formulated to take care of at least 3 places for team which involves coordination and transportation expenses of volunteers and professionals, acquisition of equipment and its maintenance, administrative materials for the Kit of training and controls, snacks, managing expenses and Law taxes.
Se formula un presupuesto anual con horizonte de atender al menos 3 localidades por equipo, el cual comprende gastos coordinación, de movilización y viáticos de voluntarios y profesionales, adquisición de equipos y su mantenimiento, materiales para el Kit de capacitación y controles, refrigerios, gastos administrativos e impuestos de Ley,
Share of revenue generation in total income of organization (in percent)
Companies 58.86%, Foundations 35.62% and donations 5.52%, based on the distribution of year 2012
Direct sales to patients or other beneficiaries (in percent)
No contempla ventas directas
Of the possible sources of these sales listed below, check all that apply to your current strategy
Licensing fees, e.g., for technology/franchise model (in percent)
Of the possible sources of these licensing opportunities listed below, check all that apply to your current strategy
Foundations, NGOs, Private businesses, Regional government.
Service contract with organizations, e.g., government, NGOs (in percent)
Of the possible sources of the service contracts listed below, check all that apply to your current strategy
Foundations, NGOs, Private businesses, Regional government.
Explain your revenue generation strategy in more detail
Our strategy of income generation is based on a conservative scheme of alliances and funds of programs of enterprise social responsibility. By means of formal agreements with companies, local governments and Ongs, obtaining the resources for operating of the project. We also incorporate the request of donations in money, equipment, materials, uses of physical spaces and logistical support to companies of the optical branch.
Share of philanthropy in total income of organization (in percent)
Philanthrophy strategies you are using
Diversified strategy.
Explain your philanthropic approach in more detail
In order to achieve Lumen’s goals, we need to build a large social network of support composed by universities, private enterprises, professionals, teachers, the State, students of basic school and their relatives. The idea is to generate a permanent social phenomenon towards the visual health as a social problem and to empower all the actors, at each level allowing participating them as key actors in the solution. With this, we try to generate a multidimensional social matrix that helps in the solution of a particular problem whose global impact resides in poverty overcoming.
Expand on your selections; explain how you will sustain funding over the next 1-3 years.
Socializing and spreading the results of the projects in diverse public places.
Tying the project at least to 4 companies of diverse branches, and 3 of the optical branch. Improving relationships with community organizations for the presentation of health initiatives’ proposals to different financial organizations.
Created on 04/29/2013 by geralisu
In a context strongly affected by poverty and high levels of malnutrition, by boosting agricultural production and encouraging food diversification, we will simultaneously invest on training for people to manufacture a nutritional supplement based on local resources to prevene nutrition problems.
Organization: Instituto de Solidariedade e Cooperação Universitária (ONGD)
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
Instituto de Solidariedade e Cooperação Universitária (ONGD)
Country where this project is creating social impact
Mozambique, NA, Mogovolas
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideName your entry
Olha Orathene - malnutrition prevention in Mozambique
Stage
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
In a context strongly affected by poverty and high levels of malnutrition, by boosting agricultural production and encouraging food diversification, we will simultaneously invest on training for people to manufacture a nutritional supplement based on local resources to prevene nutrition problems.
Problem
Nampula province in Mozambique has one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the country (> 50%), which is due to the existence of a framework of food insecurity and the fact that the diets of the population are monotonous and have strong micronutrient deficiencies. While providing the necessary energy, it lacks fat and protein, as well as micronutrients such as iron.
Solution
Our proposal aims to reduce poverty in the communities of Mogovolas, Nampula province, through an intervention to boost local agricultural production, to diversify diets thus preventing malnutrition and allow greater access to factors of production, in particularly for women. The project aims to increase knowledge of women about nutrition and maternal and child health, by conducting awareness and training sessions and reducing the rate of malnutrition among pregnant women and children, by encouraging the consumption of a food supplement consisting of local agricultural products. Additionally by conducting nutritional follow-up analyses with the population we will monitor results and take the appropriate measures to improve it continuosly.
Example
Considering the widespread lack of knowledge of the population in relation to nutritional issues, conducting awareness-raising and training sessions for women and young people about nutrition and maternal and child health may result in a change in eating habits and increase attention on community health care. The production and distribution of a nutritional food supplement composed of local ingredients has the objective of creating more autonomy towards local solutions to local problems and mobilize local resources from community's gardens. With the completion of nutricional follow-up meetings with target groups (pregnant women and children) we will seek to control and monitor the impact of the project and introduce contigency measures.
Impact
It is anticipated a 15% reduction in cases of anemia and malnutrition among pregnant women and children from 0 to 5 and 30% increase in women's access to food and diversification of their diet. The project will raise awareness to change attitudes about the situation of women and especially pregnant women. We believe the project will also have an impact on increasing women's access to resources, including agricultural, and raise their level of education and training, while seeking to improve their general health and their perspectives in relation to motherhood and maternal health care. The project will at the same time encourage improvements in the diet of children (variety and quality of food consumed), to avoid situations of severe or chronic malnutrition, which often exist in Mozambique.
Marketplace
The government of Mozambique is strongly working towards the prevention of malnutrition in the country and the project will involve governmental structures and their human resources. At the same time the project will have the possibility of gaining innovations through contact with other similar experiences being carried out in other countries such as Guinea-Bissau and Brazil (also portuguese speaking) and exchanging practices and solutions to problems encountared during the implementation phase.
Sustainability Plan
The methodology used to implement the activities of the project will include a period of time to raise awareness towards malnutrition and incorrect eating habits and at the same time will promote the consumption of a nutritional suplement that the project will start by giving people and as time goes by people will buy. At the same time the production of agricultural goods within the community will allows for extra income for the people.
Founding Story
This project idea derives from an experience that ISU carried out in Guinea-Bissau with a religious mission with wich for 4 years we developed a similar idea and started a small social business that creates local products that prevene malnutrition and continue to contribute to people's diet improvement in terms of the diversification of products consumed and the creation of small community gardens, from which the products are sold allowing for extra income for the people.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
The project will accomplish further impacts if there is an intervention that simultaneously garantees healthy environments in terms of water supply and sanitation and the continous local availability of human resources to help people implement changes in their environment and to have access to health care. These two elements are specially important in what relates to improve human wellness and well-being.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Created on 04/17/2013 by Duron Chavis
RVAFARMS is an urban farm that will be located in a USDA designated food desert. We will provide a wide selection of organic greens and other nutrient dense produce that will be grown year round on our urban farm. The urban farm will use hoop houses for year round intensive biodynamic agriculture.
Organization: McDonough Community Garden
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
McDonough Community Garden
Organization Country
United States, VA, Richmond, Richmond City
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, VA, Richmond, Richmond City
Is your organization a
Hybrid
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
2012 Golden Trowel Award - Tricycle Gardens
"Community Outreach & Education"
Award was given by local Richmond non profit Tricycle Gardens commending McDonough Community Gardens for its work around outreach and education.
Finalist - IE Start Up Competition 2013
Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Start up Entry - RVAFARMS
One of 13 finalists that earned the opportunity to pitch their business to the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce. Our pitch was/is RVAFarms as a solution to food insecurity for the city of Richmond.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideName your entry
Alleviating Poverty and Food Insecurity through Urban Agriculture
Stage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
RVAFARMS is an urban farm that will be located in a USDA designated food desert. We will provide a wide selection of organic greens and other nutrient dense produce that will be grown year round on our urban farm. The urban farm will use hoop houses for year round intensive biodynamic agriculture.
Problem
The 2010 census places the percentage of people in poverty in the city of Richmond VA at 25%. The USDA designates 12 census tracts within the city of Richmond Virginia as food deserts. These are areas that have limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. As a result of limited access, residents of food deserts are more prone to diet related illnesses and behavioral disorders associated to malnutrition.
Solution
Everybody has to eat. Unfortunately everyone does not have access to healthy foods. The RVAFARMS business model is to simply grow high quality food on urban land in Richmond for communities that lack access to healthy fresh produce.
RVAFARMS food desert urban farm will feature an on site farmer's market, host pop up farmers markets for other food deserts located throughout RVA and sell CSA shares and per pound produce online. We will also provide nutrition education, urban agriculture and culinary arts programming to inspire healthy lifestyles.
The urban farm viability will be achieved by direct to grocery store, restaurant and other business while also utilizing an on farm stand and pop up markers for direct to consumer sales.
Example
There are over 30,000 active SNAP cases in the city of Richmond alone. Over $6,000,000 circulates through the city monthly via SNAP benefits. Through usage of entrepreneurial urban agriculture, low income communities in Richmond even if able to tap into only .5% of that monthly 6 million consistently on a month to month basis has reinvested 30,000 dollars back into itself or 360,000 dollars in a year.
We will build urban farms that target food deserts for clientele while also marketing to restaurants and grocery stores. The farms will employ people from the community and accept SNAP benefits to maintain a sustainable business model. Our measurement of success will be reduction in diet related illnesses in food desert communities.
Impact
Growing up in Richmond I wondered why everyone I knew Had someone in their family with diabetes or a heart condition. Working for Richmond Dept of Social Services I realized a big reason is because poor people lack healthy food access.
For example, in Richmond the corner of N. 25th St and P St used to be a corner store. That same corner is now a dialysis center. There are no grocery stores in this part of Richmond. This part of Richmond is a food desert.
According to the USDA a food desert is a place where the grocery stores are more than a mile away. They do have plenty of corner stores with unhealthy food that cause chronic diet related illnesses.
RVAFarms is an urban farm that will grow and sell fresh produce all year round through the use of hoop houses in the food deserts of Richmond that will also market direct to consumer and direct to grocery stores and restaurants.
Marketplace
RVAFARMS competitive advantage is clear. The prevalence of food deserts in RVA is a result of the lack of interest/value of grocers for economically disadvantaged communities within the city. Our model appeals to an untapped market that lacks access to current local farmers markets and grocers. RVAFARMS will control local production and local distribution while also providing nutrition education classes as community outreach. By targeting this traditionally marginalized market, RVAFARMS stands to tap into the $7M per that is spent in SNAP benefits monthly throughout the city of Richmond.
Sustainability Plan
RVAFARMS potential clients fall into two categories: RVAFARMS to consumers and RVAFARMS to firms. Consumers will be reached at our farm, at our pop up farmers markets, social service agencies, online and at farmers markets located throughout the city. A variety of firms will be contracted such as independent restaurants, personal chefs and caterers, independent grocery and corner stores, food cooperatives, daycare centers and group homes.
Founding Story
The idea to start RVAFARMS came from working with black farmers in Virginia connecting them to food deserts through a project I started called Richmond Noir Market. Working with those farmers revealed that we could grow food in an urban environment as well to further localize the food system while creating jobs and increasing healthy food access. The conversations and wisdom we received from our farmers taught us and still teaches us how to grow food efficiently and intensively. The goal of starting an urban farm became clear when I realized how much money was circulating in SNAP benefits through food deserts and that people were only buying what was conveniently available. So we decided to grow in and sell to the community with RVAFARMS.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Start up funding will allow us to develop an urban farm in a food desert of the city of Richmond. We will use hoop houses, an outdoor demonstration garden and a learning pavillion. With funding we will install 6 - 20 x 96 hoop houses on one 1/2 acre of land, install refrigerated storage for harvested produce and install solar powered drip irrigation systems. After initial start up funding is invested we will be self-sufficient and profitable within the first year of operation.
Once established we will partner with social service agencies to further synergize our program with the community.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Santo Domingo Dominican Republic
Matternet wants to allow poor and low-income populations to gain access to basic health services, by integrating Matternet as the key technology for enabling reliable, timely and low cost automated transportation of diagnostic samples, results, medicines and critical medical supplies between Units of Primary Attention (UNAPs) and Health Centers (HCs – rural clinics, dispensaries, polyclinics, sanitary centers, hospitals), to overcome hard-to-access locations, infrastructure conditions and obsolete distribution schedules.
Created on 03/30/2013 by Beauty Night
Beauty Night is committed to reducing poverty for impoverished women. We do this by building self esteem and restoring dignity for impoverished women and youth. The women we serve:
1/3 seniors
1/3 moms & children
1/3 street youth & survival sex workers
We use beauty and wellness services to:
a) Build community to bring people together in celebration
b) Use Beauty Services to reintroduce healthy touch to women who have experienced violence
Organization: Beauty Night Society
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideTitle
Founder & Executive Director
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
The information you provide here will be used to fill in any parts of your profile that have been left blank, such as interests, organization information, and website. No contact information will be made public. Please uncheck here if you do not want this to happen..
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideSelect the stage that best applies to your solution
Established (past the previous stages and has demonstrated success)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
Beauty Night is committed to reducing poverty for impoverished women. We do this by building self esteem and restoring dignity for impoverished women and youth. The women we serve:
1/3 seniors
1/3 moms & children
1/3 street youth & survival sex workers
We use beauty and wellness services to:
a) Build community to bring people together in celebration
b) Use Beauty Services to reintroduce healthy touch to women who have experienced violence
c) Through building hope and trust through our relationships with our participants, we hear their needs and wants. As they start to believe change is possible, we are able to connect them to our community partners. This enables them to access shelter, food and health care.
In 12 years, we've given 26, 000 makeovers. 200 women each week.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
1) Increasing the number of participants served from 200 each week to 250 (50 weeks each year)
2) Doing a program and volunteer management audit to improve our programs
3) Hire a program coordinator to implement recommendations from program and volunteer management audit.
Need #1
Digital Marketing Strategy
Need #2
Customer Relationships
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
To assess our competitive position and and better evaluate its performance. This would be useful for analyzing why we have a strong community that people want to become engaged in yet but have difficulty asking for funding. We would use the information to adjust the information on our website and our marketing strategy. Currently we have a strong social media presence for an organization our size (Twitter 6200 followers and Facebook 1600+).
We would also like to improve customer communications with the participants we serve directly, our volunteers, supporters and on social media. The assessment would be beneficial for us to share with all of our stake holders (participants, volunteers, supporters, social media, corporate and community partners).
1.
Enthusiasm and dedication to the timeline milestones we set
2.
Creativity and innovation to approach challenges
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
The support from American Express will be focused on our Life Makeover Program. One of the challenges we face is fund raising. When people hear about our project, they want to become part of it. We have been incredibly successful providing value (serving 200 people each week on $44 845 last fiscal year). By being able to evaluate and shift our marketing to continue to engage and build our community we would like to be able to increase our financial resources as we build our human resources. This enables us to better serve our participants and increase our programming in different areas.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
Yes we have worked with IABCBC (Int Association of Business Communications BC) for a pro bono grant on social media in 2010 when we did our celebrated our 10 year anniversary.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
increasing the amount of participants we serve from 200 to 250 each week
2.
Increasing the amount of monies through sharing information with our supporters
3.
Increasing our monthly events in Surrey, Burnaby & New West to twice a month
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
In 12 years, we have given over 26, 000 makeovers thanks to over 500 volunteers. Since January 2013, we have added monthly programming in Surrey, Burnaby and New Westminister. We have had an additional 100 volunteers join our community project donating their skills and monies. Many of our participants have reconnected with their friends and families, found housing, volunteer opportunities, left abusive situations, and in some cases found employment.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
After receiving support from American Express, once the recommendations are implemented, it will enable us to grow increase the work we do in Surrey, Burnaby and New Westminister. This will be done through using strengthening our template and sharing the information with our volunteers and supporters.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Created on 03/29/2013 by n_k_ram
Rang De is a pioneering web based social initiative that supports rural entrepreneurs with access to cost effective loans. Through an online portal, Rang De enables individuals to become social investors by lending Rs. 100 or more to an entrepreneur of their choice.
Since January 2008, Rang De has reached out to over 20,000 entrepreneurs across 14 states and has disbursed a little more than Rs.130 Million with the help of around 4,700 individuals across the world.
Organization: Rang De
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideCountry where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
The information you provide here will be used to fill in any parts of your profile that have been left blank, such as interests, organization information, and website. No contact information will be made public. Please uncheck here if you do not want this to happen..
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideSelect the stage that best applies to your solution
Established (past the previous stages and has demonstrated success)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
Rang De is a pioneering web based social initiative that supports rural entrepreneurs with access to cost effective loans. Through an online portal, Rang De enables individuals to become social investors by lending Rs. 100 or more to an entrepreneur of their choice.
Since January 2008, Rang De has reached out to over 20,000 entrepreneurs across 14 states and has disbursed a little more than Rs.130 Million with the help of around 4,700 individuals across the world.
Rang De leverages the internet and crowdfunding model to lower the cost of microcredit. Rang De provides loans at interest rates that range from 5% flat p.a.(9% APR) to 10% flat p.a.(18% APR).
Our goal is to reach out to half a million low income households in the next 5 years.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
In the next year, Rang De's top three priorities are as follows:
1) Create Brand recall value for Rang De among the urban middle class in India
2) Reach an inflection point in terms of social investors who invest on Rang De
3) A sustainable strategy for engaging the diaspora across the world
Need #1
Consumer/Audience Acquisition
Need #2
Peer Benchmarking Analysis
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
At Rang De, our biggest challenge has been to acquire a social investor for the first time. It is here that the progress is painfully slow, Our retention rates are extremely high with very few people wanting to leave the platform once they join our community of social investors. Our project therefore is to come up with a sustainable strategy and remove entry barriers for people to join Rang De. We believe a multi-pronged approach is needed for this.
Similarly, we believe that we can do a lot better in terms of positioning ourselves . Rang De is distinct and unique from other peer to peer lending models. We need to think of ways in which we can position Rang De and showcase the advantages and uniqueness of our offering.
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
We hope we will be able to benefit with a sustainable strategy for customer acquisition and improve the product and service offering to our customers. Support from American Express will thus be focused on addressing the current challenges of the organisation with regard to customer acquisition.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
Rang De has been using a combination of offline and online strategies to acquire and retain social investors. We use digital marketing - SEM and Social Media to get people to the platform, While this has been the key strategy to acquire customers, We have also adopted various strategies to retain customers. Here are a few initiatives of Rang De that are aimed at customer retention:
Social Accounting : To build transparency
Field Visits : Experiential marketing that helps social investors understand the impact of their contribution
Online Fundraising
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
To design and implement a sustainable strategy to acquire new social investors
2.
To provide world class user interface to our social investors that will lead to customer delight and positive word of mouth
3.
To engage social investors meaningfully as brand ambassadors for Rang De
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Since January 2008, Rang De has reached out to over 20,000 low income entrepreneurs across 14 Indian states and has disbursed a little over Rs.130 Million with the help of around 4,750 individuals across the world. The entrepreneurs supported by Rang De are individuals who do not have access to credit. Their only recourse previously was a local money lender charging exorbitant interest rates thus making them indebted. Rang De provides a realistic opportunity for individuals to come out of poverty. By leveraging the internet and the peer to peer model, Rang De raises social investments from the civil society and provides access to credit at interest rates that are unheard of. More than 50% of the individuals funded by Rang De are first time borrowers and more than 90% are women.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
We would like social investing to become a way of life and engage thousands of individuals across the world as social investors - each of them investing as little Rs. 100 to connect to a rural household. The Rang De Model has now been recognised as a feasible model. The organisation currently needs to increase the number of social investors who contribute through the platform.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Created on 03/29/2013 by Linda Katz
Unlike children from more affluent communities, children who live in low-income neighborhoods don't have much access or exposure to a wide variety of professionals. Therefore, they have a limited vision of the careers towards which they can strive. This career day program seeks to change that by helping such children, at an early age, identify what they love to do and explore careers that reflect their passions. Students have an individual interview yearly, during which they tap into their interests, learn about 40-50 careers, and then choose two careers to learn about for Career Day.
Organization: Light My Way ~ Career Day
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Light My Way ~ Career Day
Organization Country
United States, NY, New York City, New York County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, NY, Bronx, New York, Bronx County
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
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Light My Way ~ Career Day
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
Unlike children from more affluent communities, children who live in low-income neighborhoods don't have much access or exposure to a wide variety of professionals. Therefore, they have a limited vision of the careers towards which they can strive. This career day program seeks to change that by helping such children, at an early age, identify what they love to do and explore careers that reflect their passions. Students have an individual interview yearly, during which they tap into their interests, learn about 40-50 careers, and then choose two careers to learn about for Career Day. By 5th grade, each student has had 7 interviews and met 14 of these role models, experiences which will be invaluable to them as they make choices in their adult lives.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
Business Plan
Creation of Accountability and Evaluation tools
Replication of the program in other schools.
Need #1
Peer Benchmarking Analysis
Need #2
Customer Relationships
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
Need #1. I need to develop tools to evaluate the effectiveness of the program short-term and longitudinally. My research on the web cannot find a single child-centered program geared to the individual elementary school student. Consequently, I have no standard, accepted tools of measurement for comparison. I need to build measurement standards, not just for accountability to funders, but because the feedback will help me to build in a continuous process of improved effectiveness. #2. I have chosen to serve a NYC public school in the poorest Congressional district in the country. The children's education is compromised, as school staff, students and their families feel pressure to test well in order to give the school a good performance grade to avoid being shut down. The pressure to meet immediate testing needs deters administrators from investing their limited time on extra non-academic programs such as mine, that focus on long-term career goals.We need a strategy to become more effective in working within this stressed educational system and in getting administrators and teachers to “buy in” to the notion that our program can be complementary to their mission.
3.
Empowering individuals through the finding and recognition of their strengths.
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
I will need overall help in the following areas but can choose just one to focus on during the internship. I would like help with any one of the following areas: the creation of a business plan, create accountability measures, the replication of our program to another school and with fund raising.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
I have not worked on any of the above areas (except for creating accountability measures) with an objective outside consultant. I met with a researcher for a year the first year we were up and running in 2009, but was not convinced that he had a clear understanding of the programs objectives.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Students will have access to community role models who discuss the discovery of and educational path towards their career.
2.
Students will use the skills they learned from the program to make informed and meaningful career choices as adults.
3.
Replication of the program in other schools to create a national program.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
1.) A large number of students report in post career day interviews that they can see themselves having the career they learned about on Career Day. Students are overwhelmingly enthusiastic about attending career day and love being interviewed. The Principal said it is their favorite day of the school year. 2.) Children often come to the interview with preconceived notions about the careers they would like to learn about but once they have tapped into their talents and passions and learn about a wide variety of careers, their choices often change. We have not seen the long term effects of the interview process but would like to create a longitudinal measure of the effectiveness of our intervention/interview. 3.) I have not begun working on a solution as of yet.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
I am hoping that the consultations will help me to see if the post career day interview is a good measure of the effectiveness of the program. I am hoping that I can secure an effective strategy to work with very stressed clients, (the NYC public schools) to facilitate a greater collaboration in my present school and in future schools.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Created on 03/27/2013 by markhoroszowski
A Global Experteering Network: Inspiring and enabling professionals to donate their expertise to social enterprises around the world.
Think of it like a match.com meets the Peace Corps, where people can get connected directly to social enterprises overseas where then can travel to and donate their expertise (go Experteering) without having to pay.
Organization: MovingWorlds
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United States, WA, Seattle, King County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Hybrid
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A Global Experteering Network
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Start-Up (a pilot that has just begun operating)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
A Global Experteering Network: Inspiring and enabling professionals to donate their expertise to social enterprises around the world.
Think of it like a match.com meets the Peace Corps, where people can get connected directly to social enterprises overseas where then can travel to and donate their expertise (go Experteering) without having to pay.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
1. Develop the Experteering brand to motivate skilled professionals to volunteer their expertise (go Experteering) locally and abroad.
2. Find thousands more quality organizations that will benefit from donated expertise
3. Further improve a scalable way to connect Experteers to organizations (we have a web platform in alpha).
Need #1
Consumer/Audience Acquisition
Need #2
Digital Marketing Strategy
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
As we are building a marketplace, sourcing skilled professionals and social enterprises around the world is essential so we can hit critical mass.
We need to further refine our professional market (i.e. graduate students, sabbatical ready, etc.), and then improve messaging and sales cycle to best capture this audience. We must do the same for international social enterprises.
1.
Commitment for the mission - accelerating the impact of social enterprises by connecting them to expertise
3.
Commitment to the project - finish what is started, with a focus on long-term sustainability.
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
The work will be focused on the organization as a whole, working directly with the co-founders.
In addition, some of the work will trickle down directly to support messaging and launch of the core product.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
Only at a high-level. Basic marketing messaging exists, however it is general and does not target specific sub-groups.
We have not worked with any other consultants.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Increase brand strength which starts an Experteering movement
2.
Has a measurable impact on filling the marketplace Experteers and social enterprises
3.
Matches are made throughout the engagement with measurable impact to social enterprises
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
We've currently matched 10 people around the world to volunteer their expertise since 2012. These projects have helped an eco-research facility build new facilities in Panama, provided financial education to small business owners in Ghana, and support startups in Chile.
Our platform, launching soon, will create connections like this at scale, with more quantitative outcomes.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
This has the opportunity to be a major accelerator for MovingWorlds. In addition to press from the opportunity which will help boost uptake at launch, improved branding, and focused on product-market fit to increase customer acquisition and help get more talent donating their expertise sooner.
This Entry is about (Issues)
This project also has a Changeshop where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Changeshop: Benevolent.net.
Created on 03/26/2013 by mkashner
Benevolent’s scalable digital platform breaks new ground by facilitating direct one-to-one giving with the security of a trusted validation process, helping nonprofits fill holes in the safety net, donors see the impact of their giving, and striving individuals achieve success.
Organization: Benevolent.net
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United States, IL, Evanston, Cook County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, IL, Chicago, Cook County
Is your organization a
Hybrid
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Start-Up (a pilot that has just begun operating)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
Benevolent’s scalable digital platform breaks new ground by facilitating direct one-to-one giving with the security of a trusted validation process, helping nonprofits fill holes in the safety net, donors see the impact of their giving, and striving individuals achieve success.
Nonprofits lack funds to help their clients when they come upon one-time needs like a uniform to accept a job. These gaps in our safety net hold people back, keep nonprofits from success in helping their clients, and cost families and social systems thousands as a result of longer-term dependence and backsliding. Benevolent uses todays technology to provide a flexible answer where individuals use their own voice to post their need online, their nonprofit validates it, and donors use crowd giving to fund it.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
Scale – Expand number of partner nonprofits and percent actively posting needs on site
Scale – Expand number of online donors
Scale – Expand the I-frame capability to display needs on partner sites
Need #1
Customer Relationships
Need #2
Consumer/Audience Acquisition
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
Philanthropy has been slow to adapt technology. The nonprofit social service industry are the least technologically savvy of the various market segments. Benevolent is disrupting this industry by asking they partner and engage in a web-based platform to fulfill clients needs that, due to holes in the safety net, would normally go unmet.
Our mutually-beneficial relationship with our nonprofit partners is critical to the success of Benevolent and the individuals we all serve. Currently we have 72 nonprofits partners, but only 10-15 are active. We need a detailed plan to nurture these relationships. Furthermore, Benevolent’s expansion depends on successful partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the nation in support of their clients. This will require nonprofit professionals learn about and become comfortable with the Benevolent platform as a reliable resource to help their clients thrive and succeed.
American Express is known for successfully acquiring and cultivating customer relationships. Benevolent would like to to do the same. Successful implementation will lead to success for Benevolent, nonprofits and striving individuals nation wide
1.
Compatibility – in mission, goals, services and abilities
2.
Communication/Responsiveness
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
Support will be focused on the Community Engagement division of Benevolent, which is responsible for acquiring and nurturing our relationships with nonprofit partners. Implementation of such a plan, however, will result in improving all operations due of the size of our organization and the importance of plan to Benevolent’s success.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
Benevolent is constantly iterating and growing. We have focused efforts on streamlining the website interface used by our nonprofit partners, and we do reach out on a regular basis to partners. We have also learned from our first year of operations that certain types of social service organizations, such as workforce development programs, we partner well with, and others not as well. However we have not created/implemented a detailed, consistent plan for team members to follow as they create and maintain relationships. Doing so will increase participating partners and individual needs met.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Partnering with 200 nonprofits by FY14 year end
2.
Percentage of active partners/total partners increase to 75%
3.
Meet 800 individual needs
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
So far we have forged partnerships with 72 nonprofits. Founded in Chicago, we began expansion in fall ‘12 and start ‘13 with national foundations such as Knight Foundation and Fisher Foundation/CFSEM funding directed program expansion into San Jose, CA, Detroit, MI and Charlotte, NC.
Since the launch Dec 1 ‘11, Benevolent has expanded/improved upon its offerings/approaches. Some stats through Mar ‘12 include:
• Total needs met: 74
• Fulfillment Rate Jul-Dec '12: 95%
• Avg donors to meet one need: 10
• Avg gift: $49
• Donor preference for needs just under $500
• Most powerful support drivers: Facebook and traditional media
By bringing these and all our insights and learnings to date to bear as we step into new communities, Benevolent will set each city it enters up for success.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
Benevolent will constantly iterate and grow to sustain improvement and build upon it. Goals/projections for FY13 assume a moderate increase in individual recipients and donors as we build on the traction of our first year, and begin to implement this customer relations plan with nonprofit partners. We anticipate 800 individual needs met, with donors giving consistently and often (FY13 proj. donors: 5,746). FY14 projections would ramp up significantly as we improve nonprofit partnerships and forge new ones
Benevolent’s approach is supported by the right platform, in partnership with the right community organizations at the right time. Now is the time to build community. Now we have the tools to do it. We need your help to continue our growth, our impact and our transformative approach.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Created on 03/26/2013 by BethT
Women's Microfinance Initiative is committed to alleviating poverty among rural E. African women. WMI's Transition to Independent Banking Program (TIP) lends $50 to $250 for 6-month terms so borrowers can start their own businesses and increase their incomes and living standards. Since 2008, WMI has made over 5,200 loans through 10 "hub" locations in 3 countries.
Organization: Women's Microfinance Initiative
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Women's Microfinance Initiative
Organization Country
United States, MD, Bethesda, Montgomery County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
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Women's Microfinance Initiative: An Innovative Model for Women's Economic Empowerment
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Scaling (the next step will be growing impact on a regional or even global scale)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
Women's Microfinance Initiative is committed to alleviating poverty among rural E. African women. WMI's Transition to Independent Banking Program (TIP) lends $50 to $250 for 6-month terms so borrowers can start their own businesses and increase their incomes and living standards. Since 2008, WMI has made over 5,200 loans through 10 "hub" locations in 3 countries. The WMI program is innovative because: 1) It is fully sustainable; after 2 years of WMI loans, borrowers transition to commercial bank loans on terms negotiated by WMI and WMI's funds are recycled to new borrowers; 2) Local African women's organizations administer the WMI loan program, thus building skills and leadership capacity; 3) Borrowers receive extensive financial literacy training, mentoring and technical support.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
WMI's top three priorities in the next year are to:
1) Fund the second year of loans for 600 borrowers in 5 existing locations in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
2) Expand the loan program to service 1,200 new borrowers in 10 new locations in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
3) Finance the construction of 2-3 additional loan program offices and community centers to service the expanded loan program throughout Uganda. The new buildings will help local partner women's organizations administer the program more effectively in their regions by providing office and meeting space.
Need #1
Message & Brand Strategy
Need #2
Consumer/Audience Acquisition
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
WMI's specific project need is to raise funds more effectively. As part of a 3-year strategic plan, WMI is committed to funding locations launched in 2012 and expanding its program to 10 new locations in 2013. Professional support from American Express will help WMI improve its messaging and branding in its written and on-line marketing and will help WMI communicate more effectively with institutional funders and individual donors. WMI's unique approach of transitioning rural women into the mainstream commercial economy through the TIP and its success rate, measured by the economic impact of the loans and a 100% repayment rate, are compelling. However, it is important that WMI communicate effectively that: 1) it is an innovative and sustainable loan program; 2) as a sustainable loan program, WMI occupies a unique niche within the universe of microfinance lenders; and 3) WMI's record of success and high program impact merit funding. A cogent message and brand strategy will set the stage for WMI to accomplish Need #2: reaching and acquiring a broader audience of individual donors and institutional funders to support the scaling of WMI's program in East Africa.
2.
Respect for Other's Experience and Opinions
3.
Collaborative Decisionmaking
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
Support from American Express will be focused on improving WMI's overall messaging and branding and expanding its audience of funders. WMI has a single mission: to provide microloans to impoverished, rural women in East Africa. Therefore, assistance with message and brand strategy and audience acqusition (i.e., increasing of base of institutional funders and individual donors) will provide increased funding for the loan program and aid the delivery of WMI's specific product (i.e., the Transition to Independent Banking Program).
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
Several years ago, WMI recieved 10-15 hours of pro bono assistance from a local communications consulting firm. The firm worked with WMI's president to create a program brochure for potential funders and for distribution at WMI events and programs. WMI continues to use the brochure to this day, and the brochure reminds us of how effective even a small amount of professional guidance can be to a small non-profit organization. Since then, WMI has not engaged any consultants to assist with message and branding strategy or more effective outreach to our audience of funders.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Review and revision of WMI's message and branding in its printed materials and on-line presence
2.
Develop new marketing strategies to help WMI increase its institutional and individual donor base
3.
Write concise mission statement that highlights the unique elements of WMI's program.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
The impact of WMI's solution to rural poverty to date has exceeded all expectations. As of first 2013Q1, WMI has made over 7,000 loans with a 100% repayment rate and graduated 500 women to bank loans. Based on semiannual borrower surveys, WMI loans have had the following quantifiable impacts: 99% of borrowers doubled their income within 6 months; after 3 years, over 50% of borrowers have increased their incomes by 1800%; 100% of borrowers substantially increased savings; 100% of borrowers report the top 3 uses of their income as food, school fees and business expansion. 85% of borrowers report improved business skills; 80% report improved personal skills and self-confidence. Each loan positively affects 20 people (borrower, extended family, employees, suppliers, community members).
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
The support will help WMI create a more powerful message and brand highlighting WMI's unique niche in microfinance as the only program focused on transitioning rural women borrowers to regulated banking, financial autonomy, and full participation in the formal economy. AmEx's support will help WMI improve marketing materials and on-line presence. The messaging and branding analysis will help WMI more effectively communicate with a wider audience of institutional funders and individual donors; raise WMI's profile in international development circles. The goal will be increased funding to allow WMI to meet its 3 primary goals: continued funding for loans to existing borrowers; expansion of the loan program to 10 new communities; and construction of office and community space in Uganda.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Created on 03/25/2013 by sveldanda
This project,has established Web-enabled rural 'e-Seva Centres' run by self-help groups of women from the poorest segments of society. The aim is to help them achieve economic independence.Many women in villages are semi-literate or illiterate and they struggle a lot even to earn bread for the family. They do not have economic independence.At the same time government services are not easily accessible to public in villages.This "saukaryam" project is intended to bridge these gaps and uplifting the lives of women.
Organization: CSC
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Is your organization a
Please select
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Bridging the Gender Divide with Information Technology
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Established (past the previous stages and has demonstrated success)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
This project,has established Web-enabled rural 'e-Seva Centres' run by self-help groups of women from the poorest segments of society. The aim is to help them achieve economic independence.Many women in villages are semi-literate or illiterate and they struggle a lot even to earn bread for the family. They do not have economic independence.At the same time government services are not easily accessible to public in villages.This "saukaryam" project is intended to bridge these gaps and uplifting the lives of women.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
1. Increasing accessibility, awareness
2.Adding additional service lines
3.Upgrading technology
Need #1
Consumer/Audience Acquisition
Need #2
Staffing Capabilities
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
1. Many villagers have little or no literacy so fear being cheated when making payments online. - there is a need to increase awareness
2. The expected encouragement is not materializing at village level.
Increasing awareness among consumers
3. Pace of government services. There may not be synchronisation in government services if officers are de-motivated. For example e-Seva workers forward applications to appropriate government departments according to the citizen's requirements. There may be a risk of officers deliberately delaying the process of such applications
Need to improve transparency .
3.
Innovation to reach larger segments
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
Once support is received, it can be extended to all self help groups to gain advantage from it so that they can improve their services.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
2.
Fast, cheap and transparent services for public
3.
Private public partnership
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
In Jan 2002 there were 46 centres involving 92 member/partners. By Jan 2004 this had grown to 200 centres with around 292 member/partners. There are currently 384 women running e-Seva Centres, carrying out over two million transactions per year. Income and transactions are increasing month by month and are much higher in 2004 than in 2002; this of course is true of e-Seva overall due to the increase in the number of centres but the income of individual centres is also said to be rising.
The major costs for the women running the centres are loan repayment, stationery and consumables, salaries of other staff, and electricity. The service which provided most income was utility payments; used by at least 6,000 people per month who are charged about US$0.03 per payment.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
Women in villages are multi-faceted, but they are not able to come out of their shell because of social, economic problems. With an availability of additional budget it will be possible to upgrade facilities and motivating villagers to take part in this initiative.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Created on 03/22/2013 by adeyaadi
ForLynx aims to solve the growing lack of "knowledge" in communities today. Not just in terms of education; it is about being worldly and enlightened about things that are necessary for our survival as well as for the survival of our humanity. We are innovative in our approach as we plan to have a two step system.
Organization: ForLynx
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United States, Valley Stream
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Hybrid
The information you provide here will be used to fill in any parts of your profile that have been left blank, such as interests, organization information, and website. No contact information will be made public. Please uncheck here if you do not want this to happen..
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Start-Up (a pilot that has just begun operating)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
ForLynx aims to solve the growing lack of "knowledge" in communities today. Not just in terms of education; it is about being worldly and enlightened about things that are necessary for our survival as well as for the survival of our humanity. We are innovative in our approach as we plan to have a two step system. One has an immediate effect by utilizing a conscious consumer system to engage the community's involvement in solving todays problems by linking their wants and needs in everyday life (through the use of our shop shopforlynx) with a percentage donation system to NGOs that are aligned with our company's mission. This exposure along with using an innovative media strategy to invoke awareness will give us the support we need to continue to enhance our mission to its ultimate goal.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
1. Establishing a connection between NGOs and for-profit companies and effectively creating a bridge that encourages a sense of communal responsibility among the domestic and international community.
2. Begin raising funds for the ultimate goal of the organization (building a school for underprivileged youth) through the use of an innovative conscious consumerism system, grants, and donations.
3. Rekindle recognition of major problems occurring in many of today's societies and generate an awareness within the international community that they can be effective if united they aim to support the world's problems through sustainable development.
Need #1
Digital Marketing Strategy
Need #2
Peer Benchmarking Analysis
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
ForLynx have two main goals: its overall eventual mission (to be a source of enlightenment) and its more immediate engaging mission (to utilize social investment with the use of conscious consumerism) that bests benefit from the use of a good digital marketing strategy. With a good digital infrastructure we can be more consumer friendly and engaging through the use of social manufacturing and enterprise resource planning we can effectively relay the company's mission along with provide services on a more personal level enhancing the customer relationship on a large international scale without having to expend much if any human and financial resources. This also avoids loss in translation and creates a transparency that can generate continuos trust and support from the communities that support the organizations mission. With the use of digital marketing we will be able to develop more innovative futuristic ways that makes the diffusion of information into todays society not only a more entertaining and engaging experience but also easily accessible. With the use of this to generate a relationship between my company and corporate owners as well as the general public may be the key.
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
We would prefer an overall focus, however if it is not a choice a focus on our digital marketing strategy and application will be the closest choice to the improve the organization overall. By professionalizing our digital market using new technology we will be able to improve customer relations; customer acquisition; we would be able to completely cut down on staff as it wont be necessary handled from our computers. It will not however be able to cover the SWOT unless its applied to digital and ways to maximize funding sources as well as a better branding strategy. Pros and Cons for using it.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
I have focused in digital marketing before in a previous startup I had called DiyeHard. It was intended on using the shoe market to develop jobs for both educated and uneducated females in Nigeria to stabilize a female independence by using an ERP cloud system that would also be able to maximize the customer experience. I have gotten assistance before but more so in the programming aspect of building the cloud.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Increased awareness and will to advocate for a better way to help the underprivileged
2.
An international mission that different countries will be willing to work towards achieving not independently but together
3.
Increased sustainable development and poverty alleviation.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
The organization has not been executed yet. We have begun steps towards building the relationship between NGOs and for profit businesses but we haven't gotten far enough to give a qualitative or quantitative assessment of the organizations achievement. We believe that the opportunity that this competition offers will allow us to build and brand ourselves helping us to strengthen our knowledge and marketing tactics before heavy execution. We do believe that that is important as we will be able to start and end with the same mission and similar approaches rather than starting and reevaluating when the community is already aware. One of our prioritized qualities is consistency. We would like to maintain the consistency of being a strong put together organization.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
After receiving professional assistance from American Express, ForLynx plans to take a few months to apply the knowledge gained before launching the company into the public. Once launched we will be able to assess the growth of the company and make whatever adjustments that needs to be made to ensure its success. We hope that with our digital establishment that we will be able to encourage an international advocacy movement through the use of our media outlets so that people can see exactly how their contributions have been a positive impact. This level of transparency can prove as the start of a domino effect on the road to sustainable development and poverty alleviation. We will maximize our digital marketing strategy applying new ideas to ensure its effectiveness is sustained.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Favela Experience provides adventure and cultural tourism activities that develop local communities and benefit the environment. The core product is overnight homestays in a network of favela (urban slum) households in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which provide sustainable income to hosts. For this product, target customers are 18-35 year-old adventure travelers. This segment significantly contributes to the $89B adventure travel market and the $15M Rio de Janeiro favela tourism market.
Created on 03/18/2013 by Inigo Rumayor Belausteguigoitia
Typically, remittances are sent via one of the thousands of Western Union franchises through out the U.S. For senders and recipients the process is a pain: customers pay extortionate fees, wait on long lines, and are responsible for notifying the recipients, who bear the danger of carrying cash. Regalii eliminates these aggravations because it’s a free, immediate and social (via Facebook) form of remittance.
For customers (in the U.S.), Regalii is free because retailers pay Regalii for each gift card sold.
Organization: Regalii
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United States, NY, New York, Washington County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, NY, New York, Queens County
Is your organization a
Hybrid
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Regalii - The easiest and safest way to support your Family in Latin America
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
Typically, remittances are sent via one of the thousands of Western Union franchises through out the U.S. For senders and recipients the process is a pain: customers pay extortionate fees, wait on long lines, and are responsible for notifying the recipients, who bear the danger of carrying cash. Regalii eliminates these aggravations because it’s a free, immediate and social (via Facebook) form of remittance.
For customers (in the U.S.), Regalii is free because retailers pay Regalii for each gift card sold.
For Recipients (in LAC), they will be notified immediately via SMS and be able to redeem the gift card by showing it at the cash register just like a coupon. We selected the mobile phone channel because of the high penetration rate (80% for cell phones in Latina America).
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
1. Our primary objective for now is identifying the best product customer fit, which can only be derived from extensive customer interviews and research.
2. Once we have nailed down the correct value proposition VP and product offering PO then we will focus on growing costumer base via offline and online channels
3. Continuously grow our affiliate network in Latin America and the USA
Need #1
Consumer/Audience Acquisition
Need #2
Customer Relationships
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
Launched pilot in the Dominican Republic two months ago. We are currently adding new features and services to the pilot. We are in the process of adding supermarkets and bill payments to the platform. This means customers will be able to send food, clothes and pay the utility bills for their family through Regalii. Regalii will also provide this service at the most competitive rates in the market because of how our revenue model is structured (we pay a discount on each gift card we purchase – ie: we pay $90 for a $100 gift card).
What we hope to achieve in working with American Express consultants is a better strategy on how to identify and effetely execute a b2b channel. This effort will help us expand our client base and get the word out of this great service. Our product is unique because it is the only form of remittance that integrates mobile gift cards via sms.
We also want to better understand the competitive landscape and how it relates to “customer acquisition” in order for us to incorporate best practices. Another area we feel American Express would be incredibly helpful in cultivating.
1.
Collaborative: work together for a common goal.
2.
Transparent: Be very clear on what is expected from each partner.
3.
Integrity: Work with partners that are honest and trust worthy.
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
The support from American Express will be mainly focused on customer development, particularly in the B2B realm. We believe American Expresses expertise and affiliate networks would be of great value in getting this initiative off of the ground.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
We have attempted to work with other U.S. based payments platforms in the past but their was never a clearly defined strategy. This is were the “consulting would be incredibly valuable.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Nail the customer acquistion strategy for Dominican Republic
2.
Replicate the model and expand with our afilliates in Mexico and Brazil
3.
Replicate the offline acqusition strategy in more states of the United States
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
8 weeks after launching our pilot we have helped more than 50 families in the USA and Latin America to access an easier and cheaper way of sending mobile money and supporting their families. Our pilot has been an incredible learning experience. We learned that customers want a wider variety of products they want to send to their families such as food, pharmaceuticals and utilities payment. We are currently working to integrate these new offerings on our platform. This will increase the amount of transactions and benefits for the families in Latam.
We have been recognized by Echoing Green and awarded a fellowship for the positive social impact in more than 30 million Hispanic families in the USA.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
In 2009, the G8 embarked on a “5 by 5” objective to reduce the average cost of remittances to 5% by 2014. Regalii measures its social impact through its ability to eliminate remittance fees. Annual transfers are $2,200 on average (IFAD, 2010). In LAC this equates to approximately 30M families or individuals. If by 2017 Regalii captures 1% of the $69BN market, it would handle $690M in transactions, which yields $69M in savings from fees, which averaged 10%. (IFAD, 2011)!. In essence, Regalii puts 10% more money in the hands of the 30M people in LAC who receive remittances, most of whom income fall below a given poverty line. For example, in Mexico 61% of the households receiving remittances fall in the bottom 20% of income (World Bank, 2008).
This Entry is about (Issues)
This is a book written by a young Kenyan budding author about the challenges that face African youth such as climate change and unemployment and lack of opportunities. The a step by step practice and workable solutions that are brand new, innovative creative and perfect not just for developing countries but also for developed countries suffering from economic downturns. The book will spur thinking, debate, change, and growth world wide putting the youth agenda first in a remarkable way just needing more publicity to change the entire system.
Created on 03/16/2013 by Dario Wainer
The culture of innovation in Argentina lacks cross-sectoral collaboration and the mechanisms to foster discussions aimed at resolving complex problems while creating social and economic value. GarageLab is a multidisciplinary space for collaboration, innovation and scientific, artistic and technological development. We explore the intersection of emerging technologies and emerging problems. Our community of 60 members provides a Makerspace for members to meet and solve problems through rapid prototyping.
Organization: GarageLab
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Argentina, C, Buenos Aires
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
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Creating Dynamic Ecosystems for Technology and Innovation in Argentina
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Start-Up (a pilot that has just begun operating)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
The culture of innovation in Argentina lacks cross-sectoral collaboration and the mechanisms to foster discussions aimed at resolving complex problems while creating social and economic value. GarageLab is a multidisciplinary space for collaboration, innovation and scientific, artistic and technological development. We explore the intersection of emerging technologies and emerging problems. Our community of 60 members provides a Makerspace for members to meet and solve problems through rapid prototyping. We are currently building a FabLab (Laser Cutter, CNC Router, 3DPrinter) in order to produce different kind of projects. Our goal is to enable the birth of pop-up start ups.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
1) To develop long term projects (i.e Synthetic Biology Courses, Fabbing Community, etc.)
2) To improve the connection between our network and the entrepreneurial community
3) To develop a stronger fundraising strategy
Need #1
Message & Brand Strategy
Need #2
Opportunity Analysis
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
We need to clearly explain to people what we do and also plan for our expansion.
2.
To find complementary strengths
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
We plan to focus on our organization overall and include the members of the board in this process.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
We have discussed these issues during board meetings but have not worked with outside consultants.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
To clarify the message we need to communicate
2.
To establish priorities in our current strategy
3.
To design the optimal structure for success
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
GarageLab is now an acknowledged leader in the field of knowledge and information sharing, creative solutions, and open government. (Source: Ashoka.org)
We have improved transparency, access to public information and democratized access to emerging technologies (for example, Synthetic Biology & Digital Fabrication).
Our impact is visible in meetings and events within our 60 person community in addition to digital platforms involving more than 10,000 people.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
Our next step is to grow as an organization and this professional support will allow us to find the right way to do it.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Patiseria Pa-tí-sera (Bakery for you in Spanish) is a micro-enterprise bakery set up in the El Milagro slum in the city of Trujillo, Peru. Ex-FairMail teenagers and ex-garbage belt dwellers Patricia Quesquen and Betty Wayder (both 19 years old) started a bakery business in this empovered part of town where most inhabitants work on the local garbage belt. With their bakery they hope to create a source of income for themselves and future local employees.
Created on 03/16/2013 by tysonbaker
Reach Clothing has the dedication to stop bullyiing through the power of t-shirts!
Created on 03/15/2013 by TechLabs
TechLabs creates hands-on, open-source engineering design challenges for 8,000 students at 26 village schools in rural Tanzania.
Created on 03/15/2013 by Local Lenders
Local lenders is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 with a vision to provide small and affordable loans for sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship in Knox County, Ohio. The organization is completely staffed by students from Kenyon College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Our loans range from $500 to $5000 and are set to be paid back in 12 months with 4% fixed interest rate.
Created on 03/15/2013 by John Bengtson
Our venture seeks to provide sustainable re-integration for deported Guatemalan migrant workers. After an undocumented worker is returned to his or her country of origin, they face undue social and economic pressures; our project seeks to alleviate these concerns.
A.M.I.G.O.S. (Assisting Many In Gaining Opportunities) is a not for profit that partners schools and communities in America with needy schools abroad. The schools and communities in America fundraise to provide the schools abroad with materials or other necessary items for education, and both sides of the partnership are presented with the opportunity to learn about different cultures.
Created on 03/14/2013 by Haley Josephine Burns
Fund 17 is a nonprofit microfinance institution completely operated by a team of volunteer Tulane students. Our mission is to combat income inequality in all seventeen wards of New Orleans by providing financial tools for self-empowerment.
Created on 03/13/2013 by paloma.pineda
The Akili Initiative is a youth movement that seeks to build the next generation of leaders in global health while providing under-resourced organizations with cutting-edge tools and resources. Akili connects the ingenuity, expertise, and energy of youth to grassroots global health organizations in need of support to improve organizational efficiency, web/social media presence, and fundraising effectiveness.
Created on 03/12/2013 by Jflora@ashoka.org
Comfort Zone is a program where families of different socioeconomic status' living in the same city can come together for a meal and share experiences with one another while building a unique friendship. The dinner can be held at the home of either family or in a neutral common area. The only requirement from the families is to show up and build relationships by getting to know one another! For the first dinner both families will be given the same amount of money to prepare part of the meal and they can bring prepared food or buy food to share.
Created on 03/12/2013 by jbenun
Team U is an intercollegiate running team that fundraises for and spreads awareness about global health and poverty issues while promoting healthy lifestyles.
Created on 03/12/2013 by ami.gosalia
InVenture's solution addresses the lack of financial literacy, accounting tools, and credit histories for low-income business owners and the need for transparency, risk mitigation, and portfolio management tools for financial institutions. It is clear that these needs exists because of both the financing gap and the inability of small business owners to get affordable access to financial services.
Organization: InVenture
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United States, CA, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Hybrid
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Money Management + Credit Scoring for the Offline World
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
InVenture's solution addresses the lack of financial literacy, accounting tools, and credit histories for low-income business owners and the need for transparency, risk mitigation, and portfolio management tools for financial institutions. It is clear that these needs exists because of both the financing gap and the inability of small business owners to get affordable access to financial services.
InVenture is the only organization in India providing the specific use-case of accounting and credit data analysis through a text-messaging platform. Additionally, InVenture’s focus on combining real-time accounting and demographic data directly from our users provides a clear differentiation and market advantage from other mobile credit scoring efforts.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
In order to scale effectively and achieve our growth targets for the next year, InVenture needs to refine and standardize its internal processes. InVenture’s top priorities are educating as many InSight users as possible on the importance of money management which will be indicated by high levels of user retention, hiring experienced and knowledgeable trainers and field staff, and investing in our sales and marketing efforts to develop more partners and visibility throughout India.
Need #1
Consumer/Audience Acquisition
Need #2
Staffing Capabilities
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
InVenture needs to develop a stronger user acquisition and retention strategy in the areas where we work in India. In order to scale our business three things must occur. First, prospective InSight users must understand that a simple, free, money management tool exists. Second, the user must understand how to use the InSight product and its product functions. Lastly, the InSight user must understand the short and long term benefits of a product like InSight including the increased savings, increased revenues and a financial identity. This involves finding new NGO partners and improving our training and follow up process.
We also need to develop a more structured staff recruiting and retention strategy. This will entail finding new channels for recruiting, creating a more effective onboarding and employee training process, and setting better performance indicators and incentives.
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
Ideally this support will be focused specifically on improving internal efficiency measures, opening new user channels, and revamping our user acquisition and staffing strategies.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
We have spent time thinking about how to make our product more engaging for users and ways to incentivize user retention. We have also brainstormed ideas for staffing strategies and talked to other social enterprises to find best practices. We have not worked with outside consultants specifically for these needs.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Increase in number of InSight users using the product correctly on a regular basis
2.
More effective InSight training process
3.
More efficient staff with higher job satisfaction
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
We measure our social impact by analyzing the increase in revenue, savings and financial literacy of InSight users. To date, our 8,000 active users have seen a 30% increase in revenue and a 6% increase in savings. When measuring the increase in financial literacy, we take a more qualitative approach by analyzing changes in spending habits and trends in type of spending. We believe that because our clients are spending more on education and health, they are demonstrating an increased quality of life. Additionally, the increase in revenue as a result of money management and access to capital as a result of credit scoring both help business owners to hire additional staff for their operations, contributing to employment and the local economy.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
With professional support from American Express, InVenture will be able to further increase its impact through improved internal team performance and more effective field operations processes. Scaling the number of InSight users will result in a more financially literate population with affordable access to products and services, thereby producing a more fair and transparent financial ecosystem.
This Entry is about (Issues)
InVenture is a social enterprise utilizing mobile technology for financial inclusion. We have built a set of mobile tools to help individuals build a formal financial identity. Simply put, we provide individuals in the informal economy with money management tools and a “credit score,” or digital record of their financial lives; they can then take this data to a financial institution for financial access. Our primary product, InSight, enables us to gather real-time demographic and cash flow data about our users via SMS and voice at no cost to the user.
Created on 03/11/2013 by ahardin4
Water Ecuador is committed to providing communities with sustainable clean water sources through a broadly replicable and scalable business model. The organization's water centers are designed to be financially autonomous, paying for maintenance and repair costs through water sales. To ensure continued community uptake, Water Ecuador performs aggressive educational work in conjunction with its water center construction. Volunteer staff in the United States educate others about water health through social media and raise money for the construction of new water centers.
Organization: Water Ecuador
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United States, MA, Cambridge, Middlesex County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
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Water Ecuador Digital Media Outreach
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
Water Ecuador is committed to providing communities with sustainable clean water sources through a broadly replicable and scalable business model. The organization's water centers are designed to be financially autonomous, paying for maintenance and repair costs through water sales. To ensure continued community uptake, Water Ecuador performs aggressive educational work in conjunction with its water center construction. Volunteer staff in the United States educate others about water health through social media and raise money for the construction of new water centers. Future efforts will be directed at developing a franchise model whereby aspiring local entrepreneurs borrow to obtain a water center, which they will operate as a franchise under the auspices of Water Ecuador.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
1) Broaden donor base in Untied States through improved use of grassroots marketing and social media
2) Build Water Ecuador's brand awareness in Ecuador as a step towards the development of a franchise model for scaling operations
3) Hone business model at existing water centers through experiments in outreach and marketing
Need #1
Digital Marketing Strategy
Need #2
Consumer/Audience Acquisition
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
Water Ecuador has begun developing a strong online presence through its website (waterecuador.org), facebook, twitter, and linkedin. However, Water Ecuador has struggled in converting hits on the website and followers on social media into donor dollars. Water Ecuador needs help in designing and implementing digital marketing strategies and partnerships that result in increased donations for the organization, thereby allowing the organizations to improve the services it provides for families in Ecuador.
Specifically, Water Ecuador would like help in analyzing the relative utility of the following strategies:
1) Google AdWords spending
2) Facebook advertising
3) Partnerships with US companies for online matching of donations
4) Inbound marketing strategies through development of manuals or informational web books
5) Creative mass donor campaigns such as those on kickstarter, charitywater.org, etc.
5) Merchandise sales on website or elsewhere
In addition to identification of areas of focus, Water Ecuador seeks advice and technical assistance in implementation of these approaches, given the limited technical skills of Water Ecuador's volunteer staff.
1.
Outcomes-based approach to problem
2.
Equitable sharing of opportunities and resources between partners
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
The support from American Express will enable Water Ecuador to increase access to clean and affordable water and education related to water, sanitation, and hygiene issues by providing overall support for all aspects of the organization's holistic approach.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
While Water Ecuador has a digital media presence currently, it has not focused on any of the specific tasks listed above and has not developed a digital marketing strategy directed specifically towards increasing donations for the organization. Currently, all digital media efforts have been performed by volunteers who are unable to provide advanced media services that the growing organization needs.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Increased donations driven by digital media presence
2.
Increased awareness of Water Ecuador and its work
3.
Improved branding of Water Ecuador in both US and Ecuador
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Water Ecuador focuses on two tasks to fulfill its mission: providing access to clean and affordable water and providing education related to water, sanitation, and hygiene issues.
Internal studies to date have shown a statistically significant 52% lower rate of diarrheal disease among households consuming Water Ecuador's water.
Water Ecuador operates six water centers providing approximately 2,000 people with water every day.
The organization educates hundreds of children in the US and Ecuador every year and has begun implementation of a peer-to-peer exchange of information between elementary school children in the US and Ecuador related to water issues.
Additionally, Water Ecuador's water centers provide sustainable employment for six locally-based water center managers.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
Increased funding will allow Water Ecuador to expand from six water centers in one isolated sector of Ecuador to a nationwide network of about one hundred water centers by using a franchise model to reduce capital expenditure and overhead burden on the organization. This transition will require a strong brand presence and development of an efficient organizational structure in Ecuador. Furthermore, it will require the water centers to be refined with a scaled up production capacity that will allow them to be more rapidly deployed in new communities in cost-effective ways.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Created on 03/11/2013 by jennifernilsen
MÁS Guatemala is working to provide a creative learning space to inspire and support rural youth.
