Here's a story about how members of the Changemakers community are promoting sustainable development in Brazil:
There are countless entrepreneurs around the world with big dreams and few resources. Waldemar Marques Carneiro was one of them. He began selling ice cream and sweets out of a single room in his home in Icapuí, Brazil. Thanks to a local microcredit organization, he now has a spacious shop with tables and chairs for 20 customers.
His store, Encontro de Amigos – "Meeting of Friends" – has become a reality thanks in part to loans and training from Orgape (the Portuguese acronym for "The Organization to Support Small Enterprises").
Read more about this solution, or discuss this topic below.
Enabling Farmers Reach Markets - a 'click-and-mortar' solution combining ICT platform and ground supply chain network to fix the agri crisis. Key pain areas for farmers is marketing support , rising input costs , migration of educated and skilled labour to cities and having to bear all wastage/transport costs for uncertain revenue. For any modern industry the various key functions like production, marketing, sales, HR and logistics are managed by professionals and backed by advanced software and ICT tools .
Samriddhii ( A joint venture of KAUSHALYA Foundation, the social wing and KNIDS GREEN Pvt Ltd, The Commercial wing) have been working towards professionalizing and creating a formal supply chain network of vegetables by connecting the Small, Marginal & Landless (SMAL) farmers and under-privileged street vendors to the mainstream markets with the objective to provide platform and support to these people (growers & vendors) in the evolving economy and to prepare them for the new market challenges.
Competition Status:
Closed
Competition Milestones
Show:
Show
[...]
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.]
Competition Status:
Closed
Competition Milestones
Show:
Show
[...]
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: MicroAlgae farm.
Created on 06/19/2013 by Nadav
The idea is simple. We produce micro-algae, which is naturally occurring in nature. It is super healthy. We can feed it to under nourished children to supplement their diet. Can easily be replicated across the globe with minimal resources.
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↑ hideStage
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
The idea is simple. We produce micro-algae, which is naturally occurring in nature. It is super healthy. We can feed it to under nourished children to supplement their diet. Can easily be replicated across the globe with minimal resources.
Problem
There are starving and malnourished children on every continent. They need more vitamins, minerals, lipids, proteins, etc. Our micro-alga has all of the above. We can produce it close to where they live and give them a steady supply.
This project fights malnourishment on a global scale.
Solution
We feed the micro-algae to those that need more nourishment.
Example
There are starving and malnourished children on every continent. They need more vitamins, minerals, lipids, proteins, etc. Our micro-alga has all of the above. We can produce it close to where they live and give them a steady supply.
Impact
This would end a great deal of starvation and malnourishment. The facilities also help clean up waste, which makes the environment that these impoverished people live in will be much healthier.
Marketplace
Wherever there are malnourished people, whether in rural or urban location, our micro-algae can help give them the nutrients they need.
Sustainability Plan
We need very few resources to be sustainable. The micro-algae itself reproduce with a minimal amount of input. It can grow even in harsh environments. It is simple science that is paving the way for the future.
Founding Story
I heard about micro-algae last year. I started researching it when I realize the potential that it had. Someone made a sustainable farm in the late 70's. It should have continued to spread across the world. I would love to be able to help make an impact on the world. It can do so much good. That is why I am on board with this idea.
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?
With existing technology and the ability to interact with researchers, we could make the process of algae-farm more productive, less expensive, and even more easily replicated.
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).
The idea is simple. We produce micro-algae, which is naturally occurring in nature. It is super healthy. We can feed it to under nourished children to supplement their diet. Can easily be replicated across the globe with minimal resources.
Created on 06/19/2013 by Maingi
The project seeks to ensure food security, improved nutritional status and reduced poverty of marginal and small farmers and their families through boosting agricultural production and improving income generating opportunities at the household and community levels through rabbit farming.
Organization: Ecotact
Visit websitemore ↓↑ 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
Ecotact received numerous awards notably;
• Ashoka Fellowship on Public Innovation for 2007
• Lemelson Fellowship on technological innovations;
• World Toilet organization Hall of Fame 2008;
• Schwab Fellowship on social entrepreneurship 2009;
• Africa Social Enterprise of the Year 2009 by World Economic Forum,
• Citation by President Bill Clinton during the Clinton Global Initiative 2009;
• Public service award by African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)award 2010
• Guinness world record for most persons washing hands in one place-2010
• Dubai Award -Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment 2010/2011
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideName your entry
A Local Solution to Malnutrition
Stage
Start-Up (a pilot that has just started operating)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
The project seeks to ensure food security, improved nutritional status and reduced poverty of marginal and small farmers and their families through boosting agricultural production and improving income generating opportunities at the household and community levels through rabbit farming.
Problem
Challenge of poverty, hunger and nutrition are inherent. In Kenya An estimated 250,000 children under five are suffering from moderate acute malnutrition and 40,000 from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
Land available for livestock (meat) production is limited The only real method of increasing meat production is to utilize the available land more efficiently.
In Kenya effects of climate changes as been felt as witnessed by constantdroughts and unpredictable weather partners that have had a great toll on agricultural production and livestock rearing. This has lead to food insecurity and water scarcity which may exacerbate the high malnutrition rates.
Kenya is currently marred by high unemployment levels among youth as well as abject poverty among rural communities.
Solution
Rabbit production is one of the livestock enterprises with the greatest potential and room for expansion in Kenya.Studies have shown shows that rearing rabbits for meat production is a viable concept with ability to tackle nutrition challenges especially in the developing countries.In recent years there has been increased awareness of the advantages of rabbit meat production in developing countries as a means to alleviate world food shortages. This is largely attributable to the rabbit's high rate of reproduction; early maturity; rapid growth rate; high genetic selection potential; efficient feed and land space utilization; limited competition with humans for similar foods; and high-quality nutritious meat (Cheeke, 1980).
The realization that rabbits are well suited to rapid production of protein has increased the number of production units just like in poultry. Imperative Rabbit is higher in protein than other meats, lower in fat, has less calories and cholesterol free.
Example
The main objective of the project which targets 1000 households is to ensure food security, improve nutritional status and reduce the poverty through rabbit rearing.Studies show that rabbit eat is rich proteins, its cholesterol free and contains essential minerals and vitamins.
Activities
• Identification of 1000 farmers for the project in 2 districts. Through a needs assessment and potential project implementation approach Ecotact will identify 1000 farmers for the project.
•Provision of rabbit Kits to 1000 farmers. Ecotact will provide Rabbit Kit, consisting of breeding does, housing units, 100kg rabbit feeds and capacity training package
•Extension support-Training of farmers
Impact
Ecotact envisages the Project having the following outcomes;
• Enhancement of the nutritional status of farm families, especially the children and women members through increased consumption of rabbit meat.
• Increased food availability in local markets and reduction of food insecurity and risk of hunger at the community level.
• Increased income of over 1000 household.This will be instrumental in alleviating poverty and thus a step towards achieving the millennium development goal on poverty reduction
• Creation of employment for youths
• Enhancement of the knowledge base and skills of small-scale rural farmers in modern production, processing and marketing practices.
• Increased awareness on rabbit rearing for nutritional value in the country.
• Establishment of a functional R&D centre for providing a clientele service to backyard rabbit units
Marketplace
Currently there is great demand for rabbit meat in the country due to the high nutrition component attached to it , thus it expected marketing of the products will not be an problem. Consequently products from guinea fowl ie eggs and meat are highly marketable
Sustainability Plan
The sustainability of the project will not entirely depend on financing component but also through other approaches.
Financing-Through partnership with KIVA and other stakeholders, the farmers will be able to access micro credit facilities for implementation of the project.
Ecotact together with other partners will provide a strong network for the rabbit production project. The networking will be instrumental in building sustainable capacity
Founding Story
The idea for this project was born as a result of close encounters in the rural areas of Kenya and based on the prevailing circumstance as regard to effects of climate change,limited land resources,operation costs compared to other livestock, ability for nationwide scaling up and imperatively by the nutritional value of rabbit meat compared to conventional sources of meat.Its thus no doubt that wit the chronic malnutrition challenges affecting our communities today more so among the marginalized communities rearing rabbits for nutrition and as means for poverty eradication is a viable concept, which ought to be adopted not only in Kenya but Africa at large, if we are to meet the 2015 millennium development goals.
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, Nutrient-rich farming.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Its imperative to note that as much as we seek to tackle malnutrition through farming its critical to tackle problems that may hinder availability of healthy and nutritious foods.For instance through controlled organic farming of rabbits we can be able to ensure the produce is healthy and uncontaminated .Consequently promoting healthy environment is also critical to ensuring healthy and strong population.
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).
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: NSP Solar Pump Station.
Created on 06/19/2013 by dstuck
The NSP-Solar Pump Station is especially designed for the sustainable development aid to pump water out of water wells for free with renewable energy for farming & drinking water purposes. The NSP is the vital to reducing water shortages and improve health care, farming and life in remote areas!
Organization: NSP-New Solar Pump e.U.
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Country
Austria, KAR, Sankt Veit an der Glan
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
Mehrblick Idea Lounge: 2011
Build Idea Award: 2011
Social Impact Award: 2011
Energy Globe Award: 2011
Nomination Austrian National Award:2012
Innovationslot: 2012
Ben & Jerry's - Join our core: 2013
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideStage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
The NSP-Solar Pump Station is especially designed for the sustainable development aid to pump water out of water wells for free with renewable energy for farming & drinking water purposes. The NSP is the vital to reducing water shortages and improve health care, farming and life in remote areas!
Problem
Without water - no kind of life, development, health, economy and education is possible.
4.000 of those 3.000 children are dying every day in fact of no access to water.
Especially people in remote areas - where with water farming and so a self supply would be possible - are suffering most!
Solution
The NSP is a maintenance-free Solar Well Pumping Station especially designed for the water supply in remote areas.
The innovation of the system is:
- the combination of delivering water by using the renewable energy sun
- in consideration with the lack of technology standards in developing countries
- by using a maintenance free pump system and pumping water for free.
This systems makes it possible to offer sufficient and constant water supply to the populations of remote areas.
Therefore, self-sufficiency is achieved for the people who have access to the vital elixir of life: water.
This leads to a better life and a more promising future. With the Aid for Self-help a better and more promising life can be assured.
Example
In surveys for water projects in African countries I have seen people walking for more than 50km for just one bucket of water to supply their families.
Also I have seen people drinking water out of small ponds which they digged before - that water you will never drink.
What me makes most concern, was if we went to a watering place where hundreds of people was waiting for water.
Because of no wind the windmill didn’t pumped any water and the hand pump next to them was broken!
For this reason in remote areas of developing countries it is not possible for the people to start farming for a self supply and maintaining a good health.
Impact
For everything you are doing in your life you need water for any kind of development and to stay alive!
The NSP provides the populations of remote areas with access to water.
This is essential for the development of a country because Water is needed:
- To build the economy - people can start doing farming for a self-supply.
- To provide health care - water prevents diseases and maintaining good health.
- To advance education because many children are not going to school because they need to go and fetch water every day!
The NSP is the vital to reducing water shortages and it can improve the life of billions of people in developing countries around the world!
Marketplace
Charity organizations, local people, companies and farmers are trying to fight against the water aid in developing countries with systems like...
- Handpumps: Lots of maintenance and problems with it
- Pumps by power aggregate: Need lots of fuel
- Windmills: Only works if there is enough wind
- Solar Underwaterpump: Not pump function at night or at a break down
For the construction of the NSP Solar Pump, all advantages and disadvantages of currently available water well pumps were taken into account, and the disadvantages eradicated.
Sustainability Plan
The plan is to work as a social enterprise for profit.
Local companies should manufacture the system locally, install it and be the local representative as well. What it is not possible to manufacture locally it is getting produced and delivered from the headquater in Europe.
This has two effects: First it is reducing the water aid in remote areas and it is also creating local jobs and build economy.
Founding Story
In surveys for water projects in African countries I have seen people walking for more than 50km for just one bucket of water and people drinking water out of small ponds which they digged before.
What me makes most concern, was if we went to a watering place where hundreds of people was waiting for water.
Because of no wind the windmill didn’t pumped any water and the hand pump next to them was broken!
A broken hand pump is a typical picture what you find in every developing country.
Every third hand pump is broken in fact of no maintenance and materials with no quality.
That encouraged me to find an alternative to pump water for these people for free, over the whole day and without pumping water per hand.
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?
Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
"Clean Water" is the first and most important "natural good". Everybody needs it to build any kind of development and it is also most important for good and healthy nutrients!
Especially in developing countries people are having too less food with nutrients which make them sick.
With my development it is possible to give people in remote areas in developing countries the chance to start building a self supply or also business with farming and havesting of their own grain with healthy nutrients.
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).
The project seeks to ensure food security, improved nutritional status and reduced poverty of marginal and small farmers and their families through boosting agricultural production and improving income generating opportunities at the household and community levels through rabbit farming.
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: Farm Africa.
Created on 06/19/2013 by timfarmafrica
Farm Africa is supporting smallholder women farmers in northern Ethiopia to develop small agri-enterprises that allow them to increase their incomes and tackle severe under nourishment, sharing the benefits from major improvements in water sources and soil quality.
Organization: Farm Africa
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
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideStage
Scaling (the solution has passed the previous stages, and the next step will be growing its impact on a regional or global scale)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Farm Africa is supporting smallholder women farmers in northern Ethiopia to develop small agri-enterprises that allow them to increase their incomes and tackle severe under nourishment, sharing the benefits from major improvements in water sources and soil quality.
Problem
Tigray has seen investment in soil and water conservation and an initiative to boost agricultural productivity and increase food security. Women’s participation is limited by poor status and lack of access to assets. Malnutrition in the region is severe: 27.6% of women are underweight and stunting in children under 5 is over 51%.There is a strong body of evidence linking women’s control over resources and levels of nutrition
Solution
The project ensures that vulnerable households can access assets that enable them to gain from recent improvements in natural resources. Improved agricultural productivity is proven to generate improvements in child nutrition and health. The project aims generate cashand surplus foodstuffs.
We are introducing food security packages in beekeeping, goats, poultry and vegetables that make use of rehabilitated lands and additional sources of nutrition. A focus is on developing fruit and vegetable value chains using rehabilitated hydrological systems.
The project is connecting female-headed households to sources of credit; improving access to high-quality inputs and training; support farmers to develop home-gardens on rehabilitated land.
Example
Packages introduced today draw on work implemented by Farm Africa in Tigray in 2001. Farm Africa’s goat transfer model will inform the goat rearing package delivered by the project. Kiros Demoz is a beneficiary of our goat transfer model in Tigray over a decade ago. She received two goats at the time and transferred 2 baby goats to a neighbour. She has now used proceeds from her herd of 22 goats to buy 3 cows and started diary production. This provided Sero with sources of nutrients and income from milk sold in the adjacent town. This project draws on our expertise in sustainable agriculture models and our close relationship with communities in Tigray, while implementing a project that has an ultimate goal of tackling malnourishment.
Impact
This project is at an early stage. No impact data is currently available. However, building on expertise at the link between small enterprise and natural resource management, project will impact in the following ways:
Poor women will be empowered to increase their annual income by enhancing the impact of food security packages, increasing membership of user groups and access to rehabilitated land. Participants will see increased incomes over 2 years: 100 women receive $226 (bees); 450 women receive $190 (goats); 400 women receive $180 (poultry); and 400 women receive $180 (fruit & vegetables).
Links to sources of credit and rehabilitated land will contribute to the economic empowerment and better nutrition for poor women leading to a reduced percentage of malnutrition among mothers and children
Marketplace
Farm Africa have been working in the region for 15 years and have a good reputation among communities and government. This region has not received much attention from equivalent NGOs. Irish Aid commenced. This project is building on both of these important initiatives, but filling an essential gap that no other NGO, bilateral donor or government agency has been able to fill: connecting the most vulnerable female headed households to assets that are necessary to achieve the economic empowerment of women and consequent improvements in nutrition.
Sustainability Plan
Although we have 2-year funding from Irish Aid, we see our presence in Ahferom woreda as being a minimum of 5 years, to deepen the work with women.
Community-based institutions such as Rural Savings and Credit Organisations, service cooperatives and user groups represent the exit strategy for the food security packages of the project.
User groups will play a demonstration role in transferring skills to other members of the community.
Founding Story
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments..
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.
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).
The NSP-Solar Pump Station is especially designed for the sustainable development aid to pump water out of water wells for free. It enables also to replace pre-existing hand pumps & windmills. The NSP is the vital to reducing water shortages in remote areas in developing countries around the world!
Farm Africa is supporting smallholder women farmers in northern Ethiopia to develop small agri-enterprises that allow them to increase their incomes and tackle severe under nourishment, sharing the benefits from major improvements in water sources and soil quality.
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: From seed to sales.
Created on 06/19/2013 by Dorien Beurskens
Young Africa teaches underprivileged youngsters improved methods of farming and methods for processing and packaging, involving the private sector in the training, so they learn that there is money to be made in farming. Thus, food security will grow and economic productivity will increase.
Organization: Young Africa
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Country
Netherlands, GE, Deventer
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
Yes, in 2007 Young Africa was voted best development project in the Netherlands. Founder Dorien Beurskens is Ashoka Fellow. Founders of Young Africa Namibia won in 2011 the Dutch award, 'For Tomorrow's World 2011' of the ASN Bank with their project: 'a sunny future for underprivileged youth in Namibia' focussing on solar energy.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideStage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Young Africa teaches underprivileged youngsters improved methods of farming and methods for processing and packaging, involving the private sector in the training, so they learn that there is money to be made in farming. Thus, food security will grow and economic productivity will increase.
Problem
95 % of the rural families in the Beira Corridor is living of subsistence farming, barely producing enough food for their families for 8 months of the year.There is a lack of vocational training facilities in Mozambique in general and in rural areas in particular. Vocational training in the cities turns out to be expensive and alienates potential young farmers from their rural background.
Solution
Set up a self reliant agricultural vocational training centre where youngsters are trained in farming and packaging techniques, so that are able to feed their families all year round and make money with farming. By involving the private sector in this education, franchising the different departments of the centre to local businessmen, the local community takes responsibilty for the training of their own youngsters. Part of the training will consist of entrepreneurial and life skills, stimulating youngsters to take their lives in their own hands. Job mediation and making land available for trained young farmers to start farming will encourage younsters to start their own (farming) business.
Example
A poor youngster was hanging around in Dondo community, living with his parents. There was not enough food, no work and no schools in the area. Since Young Africa set up a vocational training centre, he started a training to be a farmer and with their help applied for a piece of land. He started growing rice. He has just sold his first proceeds to the nearby new Chinese rice factory. With this money, he is able to feed his family, continue to grow rice and may be buy some goats. Young Africa has given him skills to earn a living and live independantly and with dignity. He is not the only one. Friends of him started training as well and even his mother got trained and improved the harvest of her piece of land.
Impact
At least 500 youngsters and 100 (female) farmers per year will be trained in farming techniques at the Young Africa Agricultural Skills Training Centre. Previous experiences with Young Africa Centres show that 83% of the trained youngsters find a job of is self employed. External evalutions of the training at the centres in Zimbabwe and Mozambique indicate that 70% of the youngsters feel enriched. Young Africa has become a visible and positive actor in the vocational training scene, having educated 21000 youngsters the past 15 years. The Young Africa integral approach to development, combining economic, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual empowerment to offer the tools to build up a decent living has a great impact on youngsters. The Young Africa centers offer affordable training and are self reliant by franching the different departments to the private sector.
Marketplace
In Mozambique as a whole, there is no other organisation offering low key, affordable agricultural training to underprivileged youngsters so they can learn how to be a farmer and earn money with it. There surely is no other organisation working with a self reliant concept involving the private sector to take part in the education of their own youngsters.
Sustainability Plan
YA makes all the necessary investments (buildings, equipment, curricula, staff, capacity building) and franchises the different departments to local entrepreneurs. The core of this franchise model is capital investment by YA, rented out to a local entrepreneur, who trains young students while producing goods and services. The entrepreneur pays rent to YA, which YA uses to pay its overhead expenses.
Founding Story
The personal mission and passion of founders Raj Joseph as well as Dorien Beurskens is to empower underprivileged young people. They are the future. Through them you can effectively start to make the world a better place. That’s why they founded Young Africa. It all started in 1995 when Dorien went to Africa for the first time. She worked as a volunteer at a Don Bosco project for street children and this is where she and Raj met. It did not take them long to discover they had a shared passion for development work and they decided to set up their own development organization. After a thorough study of countries in southern Africa, Zimbabwe was chosen to start their project. IN 2006, they moved to Mozambique.
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?
Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
We could expand our outreach capacity, from regional to national, increasing the training opportunities to rural youngsters from the Dondo community to Sofala province and beyond
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).
iDE ensures poor, smallholder farmers are empowered to participate in and manage the nutrient value chain – using sustainable agricultural practices to manage soils, diversifying crop production to nourish farmers’ families, bringing nutritious food to market, and supporting nutritional education.
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: Judson Community Garden.
Created on 06/18/2013 by harlanlovestone
The Judson Community Garden allows residents to grow their own organic food near their home for free! The food enriches health but knowing each other's neighbor enriches relationships and lowers crime. As residents take ownership of the garden a sustainable system is established for years to come.
Organization: Judson Mill Community Association
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
Judson Mill Community Association
Organization Country
United States, SC, Greenville, Greenville County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, SC, Greenville, Greenville County
Is your organization a
Hybrid
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideName your entry
SC Community Feeds itself! Judson Community Garden
Stage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
The Judson Community Garden allows residents to grow their own organic food near their home for free! The food enriches health but knowing each other's neighbor enriches relationships and lowers crime. As residents take ownership of the garden a sustainable system is established for years to come.
Problem
The Judson Mill Community is in a nationally recognized "food desert" where it is difficult to obtain fresh nutritious produce essential to one's health and happiness. Most of the community's residents are low-income individuals who receive government aid. The food available through these programs is rarely healthy and is a primary contributor to childhood obesity in the community.
Solution
If the problem is there is no convenient way to get affordable produce and the result is overweight or unhealthy individuals then the simplest solution is to make it convenient to get reasonably priced or free produce. Our community garden model affords this opportunity. Moreover, our garden is big enough to produce a significant amount of healthy food seasonally and potentially year-round.
We also located the garden near the local playground to further connect families and encourage healthy past-times.
Example
The local YMCA and elementary school send classes and groups of children to the garden in order to learn about plant life, health, planning and responsibility. We use hands on gardening to explain scientific ideas like germination and photosynthesis to educate the future of our community. Students learn about the importance of eating healthy foods in a fun and attractive way. They also learn good work ethic and community service.
Handicap or elderly individuals often discount out of doors or gardening activity as an option. We created a level surface with raised gardening beds which allow these individuals to re-realize the joy of gardening. Not only do they earn great food but they are able to get out of the home and meet neighbors.
Impact
At the organizational level this project has helped to re-energize and focus the efforts of the Judson Mill Community Association. More residents attend and new leadership has been elected. Many other projects have been inspired even at our early stage including a park, home repair, and neighborhood maintenance.
On the personal level residents feel more comfortable meeting neighbor for the first time in a neutral place with a shared interest. Conversations about tomatoes or okra easily form relationships which turn to friendships and a much safer community.
Community organizations, once estranged, are coming together. The more than 10 churches, the elementary school, local businesses, area non-profits and the YMCA are now interested in investing more effort into our community. It is all about restoring hope!
Marketplace
No one is addressing the "food desert" problem in the Judson community. Other communities nearby have gardens and other non-profits such as Mill Village Farms are producing great produce but their focus is more on job creation or feeding the homeless population than community organizing, promoting healthy living and eating as well as education, beautification and safety. Our holistic and multifaceted approach makes all the difference. By focusing on the community firstly, we can address issues and inspire the much needed hope with an eye toward the future.
Sustainability Plan
We have partnered with a local non-profit called Generous Garden Project who is funding much of our cost initially. We plan to produce more crop than our residents can earn and already have preliminary agreements with downtown restaurants to purchase our produce. This source of income along with seed saving, water conservation techniques and the Generous Garden partnership will ensure our financial sustainability.
Founding Story
The Judson Mill Neighborhood like so many other declined or abandoned industrial neighborhoods has been deteriorating and loosing hope for a better life for many years. As part of a cooperative planning effort between local government, businesses and residents a community revitalization plan emerged with plans for a garden. Our goal is to restore HOPE. Hope for a better Judson. Hope for a better life.
Our neighborhood is located in a "food desert" where fresh nutritious produce is difficult to obtain. So our plan is: build a community garden where the young and the old, the healthy and the handicapped can grow their own food at no cost! We have land and a partnership with a gardening non-profit to make this happen but we need more help.
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?
Right now we are not able to produce a full range of produce given lack of some infrastructure, fencing and greenhouses. Resources would help us infill those needs and more holistically offer a full offering of nourishment.
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 06/18/2013 by Nonceba_Lushaba
The P.E.A.C.E. Foundation puts the agency for development into the hands of its beneficiaries. The model provides a holistic solution to stimulating education, rural enterprise and economies and developing reverence for the environment in rural spaces. The model has been evaluated and is replicable.
Organization: P.E.A.C.E. FOundation
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Country
South Africa, GT, Johannesburg
Country where this project is creating social impact
South Africa, KN, Umhlabuyalingana
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
Director Nora Tager has been awarded Ashoka Fellowship and was this year invited to the Nutrients for All Globalizer in Frankfurt. She presented the P.E.A.C.E. model.
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P.E.A.C.E. Begins with People
Stage
Scaling (the solution has passed the previous stages, and the next step will be growing its impact on a regional or global scale)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
The P.E.A.C.E. Foundation puts the agency for development into the hands of its beneficiaries. The model provides a holistic solution to stimulating education, rural enterprise and economies and developing reverence for the environment in rural spaces. The model has been evaluated and is replicable.
Problem
South Africa is a country that faces great inequality amongst its peoples as a legacy of Apartheid. Government cannot be expected to deal with the scourge of this engineered poverty in rural spaces alone. A gross lack of access to information, education, economic development support and the digital divide continues to suppress the poor even though democracy has been realized. Rural communities have not been at the centre of their development!
Solution
The solution is Planning, Education, Agriculture, Co-operatives and Environment. The P.E.A.C.E. Model is designed to co-ordinate and facilitate strategies for alleviating poverty by promoting Local Economic Development around central nodes and hubs in communities. It links built infrastructure, enhanced education and IT, Agricultural and other co-operatives and micro enterprise with waste management as opportunities to create new income streams and add value to products and services. We partner with government and the private sector so that they too may be held responsible and accountable for ensuring that developments put in the communities' hands are sustained. This should have a catalytic effect on government to replicate this model.
Example
In Ndumo where the people were called the 'forgotten people', the PF established a meeting place; a community hall. But this hall was not just to be a hall, it has a catering and baking facility, spaces for training, an IT centre with connectivity for learners and community to learn about computers and a library opened a door to the world. It was linked to the nearest taxi rank and small shopping precinct for waste management. The services of Lovelife around the sexual health of the youth were enlisted. Local farmers were established into co-operatives and could all meet at this nodal point. A partnership was forged to deliver e'Pap to orphans using the local community to identify beneficiaries. All locally driven with support of the PF.
Impact
The P.E.A.C.E. Multi-Purpose Centres take varied forms depending on the community. There are 3 existing P.E.A.C.E. Centres that service about 50 direct beneficiaries as they are linked to community enterprise. In some areas, schools are equipped with telecentres that benefit not only the school but the community. There are 30 Farmers in primary co-operatives in Ndumo and Sicabazini. There are 4 primary co-ops that make up a secondary co-op to access marketing, bulk buying, distribution and value-adding services. Govt has started to see value in these centres and have played more of a role in 2 of them attesting to their buy-in of the model. The levels of education in the schools with telecentres has seen improvement. There is a meeting place, no more meeting under trees. There is an upward trend in local income. In the future we hope to link the different centres using our IT platform.
Marketplace
Government has largely been tasked with Local Economic Development. The solution of the PF says that the agency for development must be in the hands of the communities while the government tends to have their own ideas and would develop projects without foregrounding the importance of the community's involvement. Government also tends to deliver when there is a run up to an election and then there is a slow delivery process in between elections. The PF aims to join the dots and not work in silo's where there is pressure to report on just what a specific directorate of government has achieved.
Sustainability Plan
Having had our Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment scorecard certification allows the PF to partner or have shareholding in corporate entities as the PF's beneficiaries are all Historically Disadvantaged Individuals. Corporates are incentivised by supporting us. Where government becomes involved they support on an ongoing basis. The co-operatives or other businesses are given support in marketing and financial systems so they can be sustained.
Founding Story
Nora Tager and her late husband, Solly used to visit the Ndumo Game Reserve and were given a guided tour by a young man who should have really been at school! Asked where his school was, he took them to St Phillips School which was in a dire state. The distance from the young man's home was very far and while he was a talented runner there were little chances that he would leave this impoverished community that was neglected. Nora and Solly could not ignore this and remain tourists. Solly passed away and Nora was spurred on to uphold his memory by finding out what the community felt they needed and knocking on many doors to establish the PF. The young man became a teacher and to this day he is involved in the Ndumo Development Committee.
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?
While agriculture and the e'Pap partnership for orphans for example, deal directly with food security and nutrients and can be expanded on, other more general well being issues such as good exercise and recreation have mostly been directed at Early Childhood Development and luncheon clubs for the elderly. There is scope to do more here. We do need to also create safe spaces for people to deal with personal issues or traumas in light of the high rate of rape and gender based violence that are escalating.
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).
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: Resource Prism.
Created on 06/18/2013 by bpiltz
The Resource Prism (RP) turns human waste streams them into nutrients, energy and clean water. It treats organic flows as resource mines rather than as pollutants. It promotes health through improved sanitation and independence from commercial fertilizers, enabling cradle to cradle food production.
Organization: Metabolic
Visit websitemore ↓↑ 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
Metabolic has received an award from the municipality of Amsterdam to transform a contaminated former shipyard (deCeuvel) into a showcase for sustainable development. This site will be our main base of operations.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideStage
Start-Up (a pilot that has just started operating)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
The Resource Prism (RP) turns human waste streams them into nutrients, energy and clean water. It treats organic flows as resource mines rather than as pollutants. It promotes health through improved sanitation and independence from commercial fertilizers, enabling cradle to cradle food production.
Problem
2.5 billion people worldwide suffer from a lack of access to improved sanitation. Furthermore, human settlements are net consumers of energy and nutrients. While human waste streams are rich in energy carriers and nutrients, these resources are treated as pollutants in conventional treatment. Bearing in mind the finite nature of phosphorus reserves and highly energy demanding nitrogen fertilizer production, this is not a sustainable situation.
Solution
The RP is an integrated sanitation and waste management system which enables maximum recovery of resources with minimal waste of water, while ensuring sanitation and safety. Human excreta and kitchen wastes are collected without using water. Organic matter is converted into biogas (CH4) in an anaerobic digestion process, providing a carbon-neutral energy source. Nutrients (mainly PO4 and NH4) are recovered in a series of chemical and biological treatment steps. These can directly feed into food production irrigated by treated grey water. The system is modular, allowing functions to be adapted to different climatic situations and specific needs of communities. It is based on proven technologies and can be enhanced with innovative solutions.
Example
The Resource Prism will unfold its greatest impact in areas where basic sanitation facilities are not present. In such places poverty often brings about shortages in nutrient supplies for farming and human well-being. It will provide a flexible solution to promote health and social benefits of sanitation and will allow communities to make optimal use of local resources, while alleviating pollution of the natural environment. We are currently building relationships with slum communities and NGOs in Northern Thailand. A three-person research team has been on the ground working with community leaders for the past 7 months. We are co-creating a pilot project with these leaders and institutions, slated for the summer 2014.
Impact
Currently the Resource Prism is in the prototyping phase. Together with leading knowledge institutions (e.g. Wageningen-, Delft- and Cologne-University, Paques, Biopolus, and NIOO-KNAW) we are searching the optimal configuration of proven technologies. The system will serve as a testing ground for innovative technologies developed in R&D. Thereby we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the field of decentralized sanitation and are rapidly optimizing the processes. The RP as a whole will function like a living organism, adapting to the needs of specific situations and evolve towards the maximal benefit to human beings.
We are aiming at democratizing clean technologies and empowering people in both urbanized and rural areas. We work for a systemic transformation towards circular material flows in human settlements and sustainable interactions with the natural environment.
Marketplace
Several companies are engaged in promoting ecological sanitation in the developing world. ”Where ever the Need” produces urine diverting toilets including a system of selling the fertilizer. “Amalooloo” has the option of integrated food production into their sanitation system, while “Loowatt” includes the production of biogas (anaerobic digestion).
The Resource Prism combines these features. It can further be modulated to local requirements and its open-innovation approach will allow constant optimization of the system.
Sustainability Plan
Metabolic has secured a partnership with Waternet (public water utility of Amsterdam) to cover the costs of the first pilot process. Once the pilot is functional it will be displayed on the Cleantech playground at deCeuvel (www.deceuvel.nl), which will boost the ongoing fund-raising. The markets for the final product will be ecological housing initiatives and subsidized deployment in developing countries combined with social business models.
Founding Story
The Resource Prism has its roots in the Desar concept, developed by leading academics at Wageningen University. Studying resource recovery techniques, Maxim saw the disparity between what is possible and what is in use. To get rid of this locked-in situation, he designed this system as a hub for open innovation.
In his MSc work on Curaçao, Bastian has experienced the misery improper sanitation and waste disposal can cause both for humans and the natural environment. Following his affinity for biotechnology, he is now exited to use his knowledge in microbiology in an applied setting.
Together with the diverse team at Metabolic as well as outside partners and mentors, they have set out to provide the best possible waste management system.
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?
The strength of the Resource Prism lies in its modularity. Virtually any food producing system (e.g. crops, mushrooms, fish...) can be incorporated and fed by the recovered nutrients. Therefore, the nutritive value of the produce can be enhanced. Applying such innovative technologies will require further R&D activity and fine tuning. We hope to build a strong network of parties dedicated to healthy and sustainable development around this system. The open access to collected data will allow true innovation in the field of resource recovery and reuse.
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 06/18/2013 by Jack Nawee
We empower farmers in Northeastern region of Thailand to produce organic insects, a highly nutritive solution for the feed and food sector. Insects have also a much lower environmental impacts e.g. less water, land use, gas emissions, deforestation, and etc than traditional animal protein sources.
Organization: Grassroots Innovation Networks
more ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
Grassroots Innovation Networks
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
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INSECTS FARMS FOR FOOD SECURITY & RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Stage
Start-Up (a pilot that has just started operating)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
We empower farmers in Northeastern region of Thailand to produce organic insects, a highly nutritive solution for the feed and food sector. Insects have also a much lower environmental impacts e.g. less water, land use, gas emissions, deforestation, and etc than traditional animal protein sources.
Problem
-Rising prices of basic commodities (e.g. corn, soy) used as food and feed meals for livestock and fish farms. This will continue with a 9 Billion population in 2050.
-Massive environmental damage & natural resource exploitation caused by the Feed industry (deforestation, inefficient water usage, pesticides, overfishing as fishmeal is used as feed…)
-Migration of rural people in Thailand, deriving from poverty and lack of jobs in agriculture
Solution
Insects are efficient and proven substitute for animal feed such as fishmeal and human food thanks to their essential nutrients, including protein, amino acids, minerals and vitamin contents. Our project has both a strong social and environmental impact; Social: empower families of farmers in Thailand, which is renowned for insects farming practices, by providing low-income female farmers with “organic” insect farming training (increasing revenues...). In the other aspect, organic insects will be a healthy, environmental friendly and efficient substitute of fishmeal or chicken food, which are now widely used as animal feeds. Environmental: Insects grow very fast using very little space, food intake, water and emit less greenhouse gases.
Example
About 2 billion people supplement their diet with insects. The UNFAO, has recently announced: the insect world is an underutilized food for people, livestock and pets. About 20,000 small unorganized insect farmers in Thailand raise different types of commercial insects (e.g crickets, bamboo worms, weaver ants...), daily consumed on local markets. Grassroots Innovation Network (GIN) has a network of 2000 farmers of which some have raised their children on revenues generated by insects. Currently we have 23 families committed to start production on a voluntary basis. Our insects will be supplied to PuPa Planet an organization specializing in organic feed and food solutions for processed feed and food distribution in Thailand and abroad.
Impact
Grassroots Innovation network (GIN), will supervise the organic insects farmers. Founded in 2005, GIN enabled Jack Nawee, to become an Ashoka Fellow in 2009 for the outstanding impact reached through the cooperative he has setup (https://www.ashoka.org/fellow/nawee-nakwatchara). As of today, the cooperative focusing on organic farming solutions, has expanded beyond Buriram province (Northeastern of Thailand) to reach more than 2000 members. The cooperative produces more than 60 tons of organic rice yearly and more than 10 tons of organic fertilizer. GIN clearly demonstrated its capacity to setup and supervise insects farming network. On an early stage, 23 farms will be built to produce mealworms, super worms and crickets. GIN has outreached to numbers of supports from academic and rural development organizations including ChangeFusion (www.changefusion.org), UNFAO and KhonKaen university
Marketplace
Today, the insects sector in Thailand is unorganized:no standards, quality control, formal network...). Our approach is unique and innovative as all our insects will be grown on organic agricultural waste (e.g. rice bran, local plants...) to ensure a prime quality ingredient that can be incorporated in animal feed complements or pet food. GIN is capable of supplying alive, dried and processed insects to clients (B2B). Farms will be supervised by GIN and PuPa Planet to comply with strict quality control. This approach differentiates GIN’s insect project from existing insects farmers.
Sustainability Plan
We need initial seed investment to build 20 farms from which the first insects sold in Thailand and abroad (through PuPa Planet) will generate revenues. By using organic agricultural waste, the feed costs of our insect farmers will be reduced. After this first milestone, we will expand our network of farmers (new fundraising needed) in Thailand to target bigger players in Animal Feed Industry, to improve R&D (new insect species, operations...).
Founding Story
Our project started in 2012, when Change Fusion Europe (www.changefusion.eu), an incubator for social enterprises, connected Jack Nawee (founder of GIN and Ashoka fellow) with an MBA student, Quentin Werrie, who was working on the setup of an insects venture in Thailand, PuPa planet. As they shared the same vision: insects as a powerful change maker, they decided to collaborate in order to pioneer a unique organic Insects farms ecosystem in Thailand. Since Jack developed a powerful network of 2000 families, through GIN, from which some already produced insects, they had the assets & experience to develop a network of insects farms. Convinced about the great impact they can bring, they are now looking for financial support to start.
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?
Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, 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 bigger our project will grow, and the more insects produced, a highly nutritive and environmental efficient feed solution, the less the feed industry will need to rely on traditional feed meals (ex: fishmeals) that have a harmful effect on the environment and health.
Further, as we will grow we will see our social impact increase (organic insects farms network will expand and bring wellbeing ), and the product range become wider (besides feed solution for pet, livestock and fish farms, we will also target the human food industry as the insects revolution is just at its inception).
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).
Meadville, Pennsylvania United States
The goal of the Food for Sustainability project at Allegheny College is to demonstrate the interconnectedness of all living organisms by integrating ecological principles into the industrial process of food production. In addition, the project seeks to cultivate meaningful relationships between humans and nature, promote lifelong learning for the advancement of sustainability, and to engage students and community members in cooperative projects that empower them to develop new ideas and innovations.
The Resource Prism (RP) turns human waste streams them into nutrients, energy and clean water. It treats organic flows as resource mines rather than as pollutants. It promotes health through improved sanitation and independence from commercial fertilizers, enabling cradle to cradle food production.
Created on 06/17/2013 by gunteitb
PWSS (Paguyuban Warga Strenkali Surabaya, Association of Strenkali Residents in Surabaya) fought to promote participatory and self-reliant villages development. Therefore the concept Promotion of Urban 2-Stories Vertical Agriculture Small-Scale Testing is proposed.
Organization: Petra Christian University
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
Petra Christian University
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
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PROMOTING URBAN 2-STORIES VERTICAL FARMING IN THE RIVERSIDE AREAS
Stage
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
PWSS (Paguyuban Warga Strenkali Surabaya, Association of Strenkali Residents in Surabaya) fought to promote participatory and self-reliant villages development. Therefore the concept Promotion of Urban 2-Stories Vertical Agriculture Small-Scale Testing is proposed.
Problem
- The vertical urban agriculture was needed for the PWSS community for producing the vegetables for daily consumption and prevent the economical impact from expensive vegetables.
- The compost produced with Takakura methods and river water supply could support the vegetables production,
- The greenery of area could reduce the local urban heat island,
- The vertical urban agriculture can generate the local income for the PWSS women member,
Solution
Therefore the program concept proposed is the Promotion of Urban Vertical Farming but for 1-2 stories building in the Surabaya Riverside Villages. The Promotion will involve the Architect, Planner, Agriculture Expert and Social Organiser. And the community would be involved to participate in the Focus Group Discussion to plan, organise and try the Urban 2-Stories Vertical Farming. Later on, a guideline Urban 2 stories Vertical Farming would be developed for other Riverside areas in Surabaya. Small-scale testing is to be implemented in the form of experiments using 3 different media composition for amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus), mustard (Brassica few), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum) and leek (Allium fistulosum).
Example
Fraser, Evan D.G. (2002) described two lessons learned from the Bangkok Urban Farming Project. First, the community participation was a viable way of meeting both community needs and environmental goals. Both communities were engaged and excited to improve their environment translated in the communities’ green plans .
In Bangkok Noi, residents decided that they wanted their site to (1) improve local ecology, (2) create recreational areas, (3) provide an ecological demonstration area for local school children, (4) improve community relations, and (5) provide a source of vegetables and other foodstuffs. In addition, as the project unfolded, the communities became more and more excited to improve their neighbourhoods.
Impact
The urban environment became a lens through which communities re-evaluated their own relationship with the city, the impact of urbanization in a global context, and how small groups can exert some control over the shape of their neighbourhoods. In 2001, inspired by the work done in these two communities, the BMA decided to provide funding to replicate this process in one community from each of Bangkok's fifty Kehts. The BMA convened an initial meeting with community leaders and distributed the booklet describing this process that was produced by TEI. It is unlikely that this project would have had this scope if TEI and ICSC had merely hired a landscaping company to establish parks. Instead, by working with communities, and providing a basic framework that any group could follow, this project has been able to grow far beyond its original scope.
Marketplace
They sold the products to surrounding market and use the vegetable themselves
Sustainability Plan
The PWSS supported the greening by collecting funding from themselves and some from the local government. Further vegetable sales also will support them.
Founding Story
We met a year ago discussing the possibility of urban farming. And we just met the community willing to implement them. Therefore, we tried to implement this program this year!
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., 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?
Hampwaye, G.; Nel, E. and Ingombe, L. (2009) study showed that urban agriculture contributed significantly towards household total income and access to cheap food, and consequently to poverty reduction. Our Program also would contributed to urban agriculture towards poverty alleviation and also to the nutrient provision for low income people in the urban villages.
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).
PWSS (Paguyuban Warga Strenkali Surabaya, Association of Strenkali Residents in Surabaya) fought to promote participatory and self-reliant villages development. Therefore the concept Promotion of Urban 2-Stories Vertical Agriculture Small-Scale Testing is proposed.
Young Africa teaches underprivileged youngsters improved methods of farming and methods for processing and packaging, involving the private sector in the training, so they learn that there is money to be made in farming. Thus, food security will grow and economic productivity will increase.
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: Hakuna Matata Project.
Created on 06/13/2013 by crofab
Help us defeat food and water scarcity and poverty through community-level capacity building in Meru, Kenya. The plan: reclaim precious water and nutrients from greywater for growing food through a free capacity-building greywater training program and the creation of a greywater plumbing co-op.
Organization: Hakuna Matata Project
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n/a
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
Established (the solution has passed the previous stages, and has demonstrated success)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Help us defeat food and water scarcity and poverty through community-level capacity building in Meru, Kenya. The plan: reclaim precious water and nutrients from greywater for growing food through a free capacity-building greywater training program and the creation of a greywater plumbing co-op.
Problem
Meru, Kenya suffers from the triple-whammy of food scarcity, water scarcity, and poverty. Greywater is used water from kitchens, laundry washing, showers, and sinks (but not toilet water). This nutrient-rich wastewater is not clean enough to use for cooking or drinking, so it's often wasted or dumped into the street. A lack of knowledge and capacity prevents this precious water and nutrients from being used to grow much-needed food.
Solution
Our answer is to build capacity through the training of local residents in installation of edible greywater systems, raise public awareness of the ease and benefits of reusing greywater, and to form a co-op from the trained plumbers to provide a much-needed business platform and extra income source for them to become successful.
First, we bring in a greywater expert to provide technical training to plumbers on setting up edible greywater systems in a free 5-day workshop for local plumbers.
Then, we give workshop attendees the option of taking an exam at the end of the workshop to certify them as approved greywater system installers. If they pass, they can join the greywater plumber co-op we will create and hand off to them.
Example
Let's take two examples: a single mother with several children struggling with a lack of income to feed her kids; the second is a family whose breadwinner is a laborer with a variety of different skills, but struggles to find regular work.
The laborer attends the workshop, takes the exam at the end and passes, becoming a certified installer and joining the co-op as well. We pay for him and several other plumbers in the co-op to install edible greywater systems for needy and interested residents, including the single mother. The laborer gets extra income from the job and a business platform for future work. The single mother gets a well-watered food system to help feed her kids and a sanitary way of treating her greywater.
Impact
The technology behind greywater systems is tried and tested, possessing no new technology or specialized equipment. UNESCO and WHO both note that properly constructed greywater systems are safe and effective ways to grow food. Building capacity for installing these systems in Meru will contribute towards sustainable development in a very real and meaningful way.
Marketplace
There are a number of NGOs working across the globe on promoting greywater systems. The primary factors that set us apart are, firstly, the fact that we are focusing only on the Meru area in which our NGO is based; and secondly, that we are not simply installing greywater systems for residents, but rather training locals and putting the power in their hands to do the installations themselves and receive income from doing so.
Sustainability Plan
The budget needed for this project will not be considerably high and a central aspect of this plan is the eventual financial sustainability of the greywater installers co-op. After the co-op is formed, we will fund a limited amount of installations of greywater systems in local schools and for disadvantaged families. But at a certain point, after promoting and gaining visibiltiy of the co-op, it will be supported by the business it receives.
Founding Story
Hakuna Matata has its roots as a shared vision between members of a Kenyan community who were informally supporting about 20 orphans and abused children in and around the Meru area since around 2008. Muriungi-Julius, a native resident of Meru, was nearing completion of his master’s degree in New Zealand in 2010. He knew of the situation back in Meru, and saw this as the perfect opportunity to use his education to help create a positive impact back home. He envisioned creating an official non-profit charity organization in Kenya dedicated to supporting and providing care for orphans and abused women and children in the Meru/Isiolo area. Thus, Hakuna Matata was born in April 2010.
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?
As a community organization, it would add capacity for sustainable growth in our community and our organization. The workshop for this program would include a demonstration installation for the participants to get hands-on experience with that would be based at our site. Therefore, we would also get an excellent edible greywater system for our community site that we are in the process of developing. The installers that we have trained will have a business platform and be part of our network, being available as skilled installers that we can call upon for future greywater installations.
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).
Help us defeat food and water scarcity and poverty through community-level capacity building in Meru, Kenya. The plan: reclaim precious water and nutrients from greywater for growing food through a free capacity-building greywater training program and the creation of a greywater plumbing co-op.
Created on 06/12/2013 by drcsc01
Studies have shown women and children are the most sufferer of malnutrition. In India, about 80 marginal farm households do not have access to vegetables and animal protein. Optimum utilisation of homestead and proper integration with animals can provide basic year round nutrition for all.
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Development Research Communication
Country where this project is creating social impact
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Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
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Nutrition Garden - the source of nutrition
Stage
Established (the solution has passed the previous stages, and has demonstrated success)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Studies have shown women and children are the most sufferer of malnutrition. In India, about 80 marginal farm households do not have access to vegetables and animal protein. Optimum utilisation of homestead and proper integration with animals can provide basic year round nutrition for all.
Problem
The marginal and poor families of West Bengal are unable to have food for four times a day. After harvest they have food for thrice a day but that too for 3 months in an year. A detailed study in Bankura shows about 62% children are malnourished. As a scope these families families have some small front yard and/or a back yard space around their living spaces where they grow one or two vegetables haphazardly punctuated by 2 or 3 fruit trees.
Solution
Garden Maps & Seasonal Calendars are prepared for each household to identify present production & consumption pattern and identify factors that limit productivity, length of growing season etc. According to those the scopes are identified and the groups of women and adolescents are capacitated for optimum utilization of the space around their huts for making nutrition gardens. The locally suitable plants rich in vitamin C, VITAMIN A, iron etc are selected with the community for their gardens. The traditional varieties of small birds & animals etc are integrated for providing protein food. Multi use, traditional varieties of trees & crops are selected. Multitier arrangement, combination of species, year round harvest are given due to imp
Example
Rokeya Bibi of Beliakhali, North 24 Parganas has 25 cents of homestead space on which she had a little pond & a few trees. After training and orientation on nutrition garden she deepened her little pond, raised the garden with the silt & used every little space to plant 10-15 types of nutrition rich seasonal vegetables & trees. She made a pergola to raise the climber trees. A productive fence with pigeon pea, basil, etc was made. She kept few ducks and raised fish in the pond which meet the need of animal protein. The azolla in the pond used for fish and duck feed, duck excrete used for fish feed. She made her bio inputs by using the raw materials of kitchen and garden. The vegetable, fish, egg is sufficient to meet the need of the 5 member
Impact
DRCSC organized more than 2500 women who grow leafy vegetables, vegetables, legumes, roots & tubers, spices & herbs in their gardens. Throughout the year 15-20 varieties of crops can be found in their gardens. Average garden sizes are 70m2/household and average yield/week varies between 12-14 kg during peak period and 7-8 kg during lean period. Now they can get their vitamin & mineral supply from these small gardens. The women can also generate additional income by selling surplus vegetables in local markets. Not only the nutrition status of the families has significantly improved and incidence of illness has gone down this activity enhance the skills and knowledge of the women. Their capacity to make decisions and plans has improved. Inherent capacity of the women to contribute significantly towards food and economic security could be proved. They are now able to store and exchange seed
Marketplace
The initiative can be extended to every household with the minimum input of a handful of seeds and some training. In spite of being an individual activity, group formation is essential for providing training, sharing & exchange of seeds, knowledge etc. Different factors like design, selection of species, families and varieties, seed keeping etc. – elements that distinguish a nutrition garden from an usual kitchen garden -- must be taken into account.
Sustainability Plan
Training is the major part in this programme. A very little resource is needed as input cost as Rs. 400 for 70m2 of space. Master trainers can be trained in different localtions who can take forward this work among their locality. Convergence with government schemes like MGNREG is also a scope. In some of our working areas we have been able to mobilise the benefit of individual benefit scheme for making nutrition gardens.
Founding Story
The food and nutrition insecurity in one hand and non utilisation of resources on the other has led to find a solution of using optimum space available to produce nutrition rich vegetables and integrate small birds and animals which can give protein and nutrition for the malnourished families.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
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?
Healthy environments.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Nutrition rich, environment friendly, organic cultivation of vegetables will improve the quality of food basket of the resource poor farmers, the women and children will be able to get vegetables and animal protein through out the year.
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).
Funding Opportunity Link:
Idea= individuals financial support to each other
Name: Odbor
The idea of creating " The Odbor " a platform for creating communities of different people from different region but same profession a healthy environment and step towards international relations too.
The Judson Community Garden allows residents to grow their own organic food near their home for free! The food enriches health but knowing each other's neighbor enriches relationships and lowers crime. As residents take ownership of the garden a sustainable system is established for years to come.
Created on 06/9/2013 by Freedom7
This is about an idea. It is a steadfast belief that by producing pesticide free, hormone and GMO free, organic fruits ,fish and vegetables locally at competitive prices we can end food deserts, employ local residents and educate children and adults on a healthier way of living.
Organization: Freedom Farms
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Is your organization a
For‐profit
This Entry is about (Issues)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideThe Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Across the country Americans are eating better and living longer healthier lives. This however is not true in urban African American communities where food deserts and food instability have reached crisis levels. Chronic ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes stroke and obesity are leading killers and can all be linked to an unhealthy diet. Our communities deserve better and that is what we are going to give them.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Freedom Farms will change the food landscape in wards 5,7 & 8 by ensuring that fresh healthy food choices are available locally at affordable prices. Freedom Farms will also provide education and empowerment by teaching healthy eating and cooking at it’s state of the art facilities. We shall be a beacon of healthy living and sustainable technology for not only the District but for the nation as a whole. This is about creating a new model for for community development that creates jobs, improves health outcomes and educates residents about the benefits of sustainable living..
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Aquaponic Farming brings a lucrative industry into depressed communities and offers residents with little or no education a pathway to economic security. For youth, single mothers and returned citizens Aquaponic Farming is a vital bridge into the workforce. By employing these “hard to hire” residents we can begin to change the economic landscape in Wards 5, 7 and 8.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
There are no other commercial aquaponic facilities currently operating in the District of Columbia. We do however share a vibrant sustainable living gommunity that is full of ideas and innovaiton. DC is ready for change. We are the vanguard of that change.
9Billion people in 2050 need to be fed with quality food without destroying the environment.
Fish are the single most efficient converter of feeds to flesh with i.5kg to ikg beef needs 8kg.
Nile tilapia, the most farmed fish at 98% is grown outside its native habitat, the source of the Nile.
The Public Market Project is to create a compelling, sustainable, year-round market, gathering and event destination place.
Commerce: sustainable economic growth
Connection: local producer to educated consumer
Culture: mind, body, spirit engagement
Community: healthy living across all sectors
Created on 06/4/2013 by marydoyle
To pioneer sustainable change in the way malnutrition is addressed globally by treating people at risk as customers, not victims - and making innovative nutritious food accessible and affordable to those that need it, while manufacturing in developing countries.
Organization: Valid Nutrition
Visit websitemore ↓↑ 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
VALID's Awards include:
• 2001: Steve Collins was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth for his services to humanitarianism in the treatment of adult starvation in wars and famines.
• 2008: Awarded the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Business Award for Innovation in Nutrition. This recognized Valid’s approach and breakthrough in addressing acute malnutrition at scale.
• 2009: Awarded the Irish Management Consultants’ Association gold medal for achievement in business.
• 2010: Awarded an Irish Times Innovation Award for our unique approach to treating malnutrition
• 2010: Steve Collins awarded an ASHOKA Senior Fellowship.
• 2012: Steve Collins awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by Long Island University, USA.
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Pioneering sustainable change in addressing malnutrition globally
Stage
Scaling (the solution has passed the previous stages, and the next step will be growing its impact on a regional or global scale)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
To pioneer sustainable change in the way malnutrition is addressed globally by treating people at risk as customers, not victims - and making innovative nutritious food accessible and affordable to those that need it, while manufacturing in developing countries.
Problem
There is international consensus that malnutrition is the greatest single cause of poverty, ill health and underdevelopment in the world today. It is also agreed that preventing malnutrition amongst young children is the most cost effective intervention to stimulate economic growth. However, the sheer scale of the problem is too big for NGOs and governments to address effectively. They simply do not have the necessary resources available.
Solution
One third of all children in developing countries suffer from chronic malnutrition. Its effects are irreversible. This problem has already proven too big for NGOs/charities and governments to address effectively. They do not have the resource to dedicate to its prevention, and are already struggling to treat just those with severe acute malnutrition (i.e. starvation), let alone reach the additional hundreds of millions suffering from chronic malnutrition. VALID intends to restructure our charity model to attract appropriate social impact investors, enabling the new entity to continue to drive real change in how starvation is treated while also pioneering a completely new customer-focused business model to prevent chronic malnutrition.
Example
VALID wants to: (a) address the financial constraints that (as a charity model with limited funding/working capital) currently prevents us meeting existing customer demand for RUFs and (b), expand the scope of our activities in terms of both product and markets covered. In so doing, we will capitalise on a clear opportunity to unlock a major new market, providing affordable high quality nutrition to poor consumers through retail channels – with major social impact benefits as a consequence. Building on the success of the CMAM model and our knowledge of local demand generation, we plan to scale up production and research of RUFs for the treatment and prevention of various forms of malnutrition - aligning revenue with clear social impact.
Impact
Since the UN's endorsement of VALID's revolutionary model (Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition-CMAM) for treating severe acute malnutrition using therapeutic foods, coverage has improved from around 5% to over 70%; cure rates and cost effectiveness have vastly improved; and death rates have been cut fivefold (Collins et al, 2006). CMAM has introduced demand-driven customer focused principles into the global system to treat starvation, empowering consumers – as opposed to being previously supply led. VALID’s unique understanding of community mobilisation has generated demand through empowered experience by the end user. In 2011 nearly 2 million children received life-saving treatment through CMAM programmes (UNICEF, 2012).
The market for RUTF has grown from to over 35,000MT and is already worth over $150m
Marketplace
Unfortunately, largely due to an obsession with short-term results and a belief that adequate margins cannot be secured, private enterprises still neglect the need for high quality nutritious foods by consumers at the “base of the pyramid”. This situation persists despite the fact that the capability exists and, with an enlightened and imaginative engagement with the public sector, perceived barriers can be overcome.
While there are many players active in the market for products to treat Acute Malnutrition, there are very few addressing chronic malnutrition
Sustainability Plan
VALID will change this situation by acting as a catalyst and enabler for action. In order to drive this unashamedly disruptive change, we will create a new hybrid corporate structure – involving a "for profit" social enterprise of which our existing charities become a “golden” shareholder. This will enable suitably aligned “social impact” investors to support us in capitalizing the operational side of the business and to fund expansion.
Founding Story
Steve Collins is one of the two founders and an executive director of both Valid International and Valid Nutrition. He is a medical doctor with a doctorate in nutrition and has worked in aid and development since 1985. In 1998, he developed the Community-based Therapeutic Care model – subsequently called Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM). Steve has since been the central figure behind the development and expansion of CMAM using Ready-to-Use Foods (RUFs), and the acceptance of these innovations by the World Health Organisation. In 2001, he received an MBE for his services to humanitarianism. He is a Senior Ashoka Fellow and a highly respected academic whose research is widely published in major international journals.
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?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters). 300 million children in developing countries have their mental and physical development irreversibly damaged by chronic malnutrition (hidden hunger). By addressing this we can enable children to reach their full potential. They will then be less affected by illness, better students and more productive individuals. They will earn and spend more, plus contribute more to society. This impact in turn will boost developing countries both socially and economically – and vitally, this will be sustainable, through the commercial dimension at its core.
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).
We believe that access to healthy food is a right, not a privilege. MamaCarts is a food cart microfranchise that leverages existing supply chains to aggregate locally produced food in urban slums and employ a network of local entrepreneurs to sell this food as clean, complete and delicious meals.
Our company develops and sells functional snacks (products that provide health benefits to our customers)
We have developed snacks using a grain called quinoa.
We want to create impact not just selling beneficial products but also creating impact with quinoa producers and our stakeholders.
Created on 05/24/2013 by meredithdf
An average 80-seat restaurant discards 80 kg of waste per day, and 75% or more of that garbage is organic. FERN analyzes the waste stream, provides waste separation training activities, conducts continuous followup activity, and collects waste from restaurants to facilitate composting and recycling.
Organization: FERN [Food Establishments Recycling Nutrients]
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
FERN [Food Establishments Recycling Nutrients]
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Hybrid
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
Seed grant from the British Embassy to Lebanon. We applied for and were awarded one grant for 10,700 British Pounds, for the period between October, 2012 and March, 2013.
We are finalists for the 2Degrees Sustainability Champions Award, in the Waste and Resource Management category. Results will be announced at an official ceremony in London on July 10th, 2013.
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FERN [Food Establishments Recycling Nutrients]
Stage
Scaling (the solution has passed the previous stages, and the next step will be growing its impact on a regional or global scale)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
An average 80-seat restaurant discards 80 kg of waste per day, and 75% or more of that garbage is organic. FERN analyzes the waste stream, provides waste separation training activities, conducts continuous followup activity, and collects waste from restaurants to facilitate composting and recycling.
Problem
The dependence on landfills in Lebanon is economically, environmentally, and ethically irresponsible and unsustainable. Land is limited, materials are expensive, and the negative social and environmental impacts of waste disposal are long-lasting. Topsoils are rapidly disappearing, and food waste sent to landfills rots and creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Waste separation and recycling are uncommon.
Solution
FERN allows for the environmentally responsible treatment of waste by ensuring that it is sorted at source, collected daily, and distributed to recycling and treatment facilities. Implementation in each establishment begins with waste analysis, during which the average daily volume of waste is quantified. In the following staff training session, we introduce the concepts composting and recycling, and walk through a short interactive waste sorting exercise that introduces color-coded "Organic" and "Recyclable" categories. Our team conducts regular followup visits and we develop waste reduction guidelines for each establishment. We partner with a local composting company, and host monthly public events for engagement, education, and advocacy.
Example
We launched operations in November 2012 with five establishments in Beirut, and have since adopted five more. We analyzed waste, met and trained the staff, continue to visit the locations to check up on sorting activities, and our team collects waste daily.
Initially, the staff is always skeptical, assuming that our project will require more of their time. After a few weeks of sorting waste, the staff finds that the new system is easily adaptable, and they are often enthusiastic to play a part in a process that has a positive impact on the environment.
Our logistics team, young Lebanese men that do daily collections and manage the warehouse, are proud to be part of a fledgling initiative that counters conventional opinions of trash.
Impact
The ten restaurants that we work with generate an average of 80 kg of waste per day, and we assume that 60 or more of those kilograms are food waste that is compostable. The other portion of the waste stream is packaging, especially cardboard, aluminium, plastic, and glass.
We currently collect all inorganic material, and we network with an informal industry of scrap yards and materials processing and recycling facilities. The small revenues that we generate from selling recyclable materials are reincorporated into our operating expenses, (particularly, gasoline expenditures). Our continued followup in the restaurants is geared towards perfecting waste sorting, so that we can begin to collect the organic material and transport it to Cedar Environmental for composting. Lebanon's colored glass recycling facility waste destroyed in 2006, and we are developing future upcycling projects.
Marketplace
Organic waste is treated as a valuable resource in many European countries, where municipalities carefully developed education campaigns to accompany commercial and residential waste sorting and collection. Most cities including Beirut lack the political will, resources, or both, to implement sweeping change.
FERN is the only activity of its kind in Lebanon, and we believe that training and education are our most essential components. Helping individuals and the public to comprehend the motivation for our activities will do more to help the cause than collecting their garbage ever will.
Sustainability Plan
FERN's startup costs were supported by a one-time grant of $16,853 from the British Embassy to Lebanon. The establishments that participate in FERN's program provide monthly donations of between $100 and $400, which are calculated based on the amount of waste that they generate. We are seeking a grant to support the addition of 20+ establishments, so we can begin collecting organic waste and increase revenue from more recyclable materials.
Founding Story
I discovered the potential for FERN when I volunteered in Beirut during my MS Urban Policy and Sustainability Management program. I returned to New York and by the time my coursework was complete in December 2011, I was consumed by the drive to return to Lebanon and get my hands dirty.
I was sitting alone on my couch immensely frustrated, staring at a page full of words related to recycling, environmentalism, composting, sustainability, urbanism, and far too many other concepts, when "Food," "Establishments," "Recycling," and "Nutrients" pulled themselves into line. GoogleDocs for training program development, mission statements, financial analyses, and legal documentation finally had a folder to call home, and I bought a plane ticket.
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?
We try to impact overall wellness through public education during our events and campaigns. However, with added capacity we would love to follow the food waste that we collect and distribute for composting directly to its end destinations.
We believe farmers can benefit from capacity building programs that focus on using compost for healthy, resilient soils, and long-term sustainable cultivation. We want children to have gardens at schools that act as breathing samples of nutrient cycles at work. Such ecosystems can range from full-scale gardens to tiny windowsill seedlings.
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).
An average 80-seat restaurant discards 80 kg of waste per day, and 75% or more of that garbage is organic. FERN analyzes the waste stream, provides waste separation training activities, conducts continuous followup activity, and collects waste from restaurants to facilitate composting and recycling.
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)
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).
Sustainable Harvest International empowers families to always produce a healthful diet for themselves 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.
Created on 05/10/2013 by Jon Rhodes
We give trainings and environmental consulting to community projects in Myanmar. We assist with sustainable design and agriculture by integrating methods such as mud-brick building and organic composting. This will strengthen the community to be self-reliant using sustainable methods and practices.
Organization: Green Communities Consulting
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
Green Communities Consulting
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
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Green Communities Consulting Model Farm initives
Stage
Start-Up (a pilot that has just started operating)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
We give trainings and environmental consulting to community projects in Myanmar. We assist with sustainable design and agriculture by integrating methods such as mud-brick building and organic composting. This will strengthen the community to be self-reliant using sustainable methods and practices.
Problem
Environmental issues facing Myanmar include damaging agricultural practices, resource consumption, pollution, erosion, and improper waste management. Social issues are directly linked to environmental practices such as resource/food scarcity, health, inequality, and poverty. We use environmental consulting as a bridge to address these social problems in a region of the world where direct social engagement is made difficult by the government.
Solution
We will provide trainings to post-10 programs. These trainings will include techniques in agriculture and animal husbandry, food bank developments, fuel efficient stoves, mud brick making, environmentally-conscious architectural design and land use planning. Youth projects via model farms are the initial form of engagement with local communities. GCC will not be project facilitators but are expert consults on projects assisting with environmental alternative solutions, and education training. We help provide access to nutrient rich produce and organic methodologies. By providing assistance through education and training, GCC empowers the community in sustainable agriculture practices and promotes access to sustainable nutritional health.
Example
Land use planning and training with our partner (NEED-Burma) will provided 50 practitioners with real world training and practice. The training includes organic compost, fuel efficient stoves and agro-forestry. They then implement these strategies in their local communities. For example, two youth from last year’s NEED program are currently running model farm projects (one with an agro-forestry model) and a third is conducting a bio-diversity project for local agricultural species. The projects will provide organic produce and animals to the local community, offer training and models for organic methods, and will have the potential to influence 1,000s of people within and around each village.
Impact
To date, GCC has assisted on one land use planning project and is currently working on developing another model farm. The land use planning project was with NEED-Myanmar’s new school in Burma, helping to design the layout of the farm, mud-brick making for buildings, and installing water access points for running water and irrigation. The school will house 50 youth for a 10 month program annually and will offer supplementary university agriculture courses for the local colleges and government personal within the next 5 years.
Our current project includes a model farm and model agro-forest. Trainings conducted here and organic produce and chickens will help provide healthy foods and sustainable livelihoods to the local villages. This has the potential to reach 1000s through trainings and food security.
Marketplace
Many organizations work on environment, human rights, and political issues, yet none bridge the seemingly isolated topics successfully. NEED and democratic ethnic parties, whom are at odds with the government, come close. By acting as consultants, GCC networks these organizations rather than being in competition for resources. Also, whereas other organizations take ownership of a project, GCC does not – we are consultants. Approaching projects this way, the ownership and successes remain entirely that of the communities; improving the success rate and continued implementation of the models.
Sustainability Plan
GCC will rely on a number of funding sources: private donations, grants, and project generated funding. In addition to youth projects, GCC does community referral, and hostel/hotels. In order cover annual growing expenses, GCC will actively seek hostels and hotels consulting projects. The goal of these projects is to bolster environmentalism in tourism and support other GCC consulting projects and trainings.
Founding Story
I volunteered for a few months as an environment and community development instructor with the Network for Environment and Economic Development (NEED-Myanmar formally known as NEED-Burma). NEED-Myanmar is a post-10 school for Burmese community development practitioners with a special focus on ethnic minorities, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable livelihoods.
As a volunteer member of their staff, I became increasingly involved with these young practitioner’s lives, experiences, and future dreams. Their desire to work towards change, and the need for expert environmental consulting following their graduation, was the catalyst for my organization’s inception.
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.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
This would allow GCC to greatly improve the quality of our consulting work. At the moment, we rely on pro bono remote experts. This added capacity will allow GCC to provide onsite assistance by covering visa fees, project transportation costs, and covering living expense. Additionally, the funding will allow GCC to provide seed funding to a number of youth projects as well as assist with 501(c)(3) registration to ensure future finical stability and our continued work in Burma.
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).
Can we create an institution that would stimulate economic growth, improve efficiency, and help deploy new technology without growing the national debt while also offering tax-advantaged investment opportunities to both corporations and individuals?
www.the-Infrabank-Project.com
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: Dreaming Out Loud, Inc..
Created on 05/7/2013 by dreamingoutloud
Dreaming Out Loud inspires and builds a more ethical society through human development, community engagement and social enterprise. We founded the AyaUplift Project, an innovative food access, urban farming and “healthy food hub”, to generate sustainable employment in underserved communities.
Organization: Dreaming Out Loud, Inc.
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Country
United States, DC, Washington, Washington
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, DC, Washington
Is your organization a
Hybrid
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
Dreaming Out Loud inspires and builds a more ethical society through human development, community engagement and social enterprise. We founded the AyaUplift Project, an innovative food access, urban farming and “healthy food hub”, to generate sustainable employment in underserved communities.
Problem
Entrenched generational poverty, inadequate education and broken food systems in America’s distressed communities have negatively impacted economic development, wellness and community vitality. Our partner communities lack the food-system infrastructure and workforce development strategies that allow them to utilize the nutrient economy for the creation of sustainable jobs, the solution to food access challenges, and realization of health equity.
Solution
We will address the inadequacy of food-systems infrastructure in distressed communities and the lack of food-system workforce education and training opportunities. We will develop food-system workforce education and training programs to solve these problems.
The foundation of our work is social. We use our ethical core values to engage in community-building and dialog with institutions (faith-based, schools and community organizations) to shift culture and behavior towards healthier lifestyles and work that sustains them. Building upon community knowledge, our approach provides training to enhance and advance those 21st century skill-sets necessary for vulnerable populations to enter the nutrient economy as healthy skilled workers.
Example
AyaUplift integrates community-building and social enterprise, linking the non-profit and for-profit sectors of the food system. We use a “hub and spoke” strategy: a central space with extensions into the community.
The hub includes: (1) AyaFarm, a full-scale urban farm growing nutrient-rich food; (2) Aya Community Food Hub, a food distribution and processing facility supporting multiple revenue streams including: a vegetable delivery service, farm-to-school model, processing of value-added, full nourishment food products; shared commercial kitchen; and (3) a training space. The spokes include: (1) Aya Community Markets, a network of farmers markets and (2) micro-farming projects that support growing and community learning.
Impact
Our impact can be felt on multiple levels. An example is Khalil: a 10 year-old boy. We met him at our first farmers market while hitting one of our yard-signs. When I gently approached him, I jokingly asked if he had something against vegetables; he blushed with embarrassment, as his friends laughed. I asked him to return to the market the next week along with his friends. They returned, along with several other friends, at 7:30am every Saturday for 18-weeks. We are now growing Khalil and friends as new leaders and community voices through a structured youth development program for 15 youth, primarily African-American males. By June 2013 we will have two market locations; will hire two returning citizens, or ex-offenders, in the markets and start a pre-order vegetable delivery service supported with our recently purchased refrigerated truck to four sites.
Marketplace
We are uniquely integrating food production, value-added processing and distribution as a social enterprise. Locally, Common Good City Farm grows food but doesn’t train low-income residents effectively to maintain sustainable employment in DC’s agriculture economy. DC Central Kitchen, and it’s LA Kitchen spinoff, doesn’t integrate food production, rather purchasing wholesale or acquiring donations; and doesn’t help to alleviate “food deserts” in the same manner. Will Allen’s Growing Power, grows and trains effectively, but has not adopted the healthy food hub concept.
Sustainability Plan
Financial sustainability will be ensured through multiple revenue streams including: 1. Produce sales: retail via farmers markets and vegetable delivery service; wholesale to restaurants and institutional clients. 2. Sale of value-added food products, 3.Rental of commercial kitchen space, and 3. Sale of electrical power to the grid from on-site solar arrays. 3. Vendor fees at farmers markets, and 4. Grants, fundraising, CDFIs and mission loans.
Founding Story
Chris first felt the passion for social change as a third-grader when a teacher-issued ban on tag sparked him to organize with classmates to sign petitions, stage a sit-in on the sandbox and boycott recess for their right to play!
He carried that spirit into adult-life, founding Dreaming Out Loud to help build strong character among children and youth. While running afterschool and summer programs, he noticed troubling issues around food: children being fed sugary snacks with empty calories by schools, obese teens and parents, and no healthy options in the community. He then realized that Dreaming Out Loud had to do more than teach lessons on healthy eating, so he set about starting a farmers market that grew into the AyaUplift Project.
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?
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?
Added capacity will help us to improve the quality, efficiency and sustainability of our vegetable delivery service. We must secure refrigerated storage space for overnight storage of produce and other perishable food products. Storage space will allow us to extend our delivery range and improve the quality, range and diversity of regional agricultural products offered. We have established three micro-farming projects that need infrastructure upgrades to improve the quality and amount of produce harvested, decreasing procurement costs and increasing sustainability.
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).
Buyu is an African designer brand that makes timeless Travel accessories from the age old Baobab tree. The Buyu travel collection is the first combination of Baobab and leather in the travel accessory world. It is named after the fruit produced by the Baobab tree and it is 100% handcrafted in Kenya
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 04/27/2013 by jmgladstar
Gladstar gifted and talented educational centre is an online and offline resource centre that will provide learning materials/access which will empower young people to develop their creative skills and help them live responsibly by taking charge of their health, family and well-being .
Organization: Gladstar gifted and talented educational centre, a member of Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental organisations
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideName Your Entry
Gladstar Gifted and Talented Educational Centre
Organization Name
Gladstar gifted and talented educational centre, a member of Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental organisations
Country where this project is creating social impact
n/a
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
This Entry is about (Issues)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideThe Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
There is need for education that will enhance sustainable development of the individuals and their immediate community, make them creators of jobs from their college level instead of being job seekers and help them to demonstrate skills that are compatible with the 21st century drive for creativity and innovation. There is need for education which will help young people mindful of how they take care of their body so that they will longer.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
1.. Provision of interactive educational system facilities and materials that will enhance development of creative and critical skills of each child and person under our care so that they will be objective learners of their environment..
2. Provision of tested trusted and efficient facilitators /mentors /teachers who will ensure all round development of each person under our care physically, emotionally and cognitively.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Our online resource centre @ http://www.gladstar.org is interactive educational facillity which has been useful to parents and even young people in educating people around them on dieting, development of creative and critical skills, technology and money making.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
Instructional Design and Research
John Griffin
Development & Prosperity >> Stillwater, OK
Partnership in development using education and research tools.
, Funding support for development.
HIV Education & Medication Adherence Application
Health & Fitness >> New York, NY
This innovation also has a Project Page where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: African Food Initiative.
Created on 04/17/2013 by wemhazi
239 million Africans are chronically hungry. Many of them are poor smallholder farmers who already produce most of Africa’s food. We help improve their yields and profits. Our approach focuses on information and training, agro-ecology, loaned inputs, and risk management and appropriate technology,
Organization: African Food Initiative
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Country
South Africa, MP, Malelane
Country where this project is creating social impact
South Africa, MP, Malelane
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
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
239 million Africans are chronically hungry. Many of them are poor smallholder farmers who already produce most of Africa’s food. We help improve their yields and profits. Our approach focuses on information and training, agro-ecology, loaned inputs, and risk management and appropriate technology,
Problem
239 million Africans are chronically hungry. African malnutrition claims the lives 3.5 million children each year, and contracts economies by 2-3% yearly. 65% of Africa’s population runs 30 million smallholder farms that produce 80% of the continent’s food. Those farmers are overrepresented among the poor, and their yields are 1.5-2 tons/ha while Western farmers obtain up 5-10tons/ha. We need to help them get higher yields.
Solution
Our mission is to combat hunger and poverty in Africa by enlarging the yields and profits of the continent’s smallholder farmers. Our approach includes farmer training; loaned inputs (such as improved seed and fertilizer); appropriate irrigation technologies (such as treadle pumps); insurance against drought or market collapse; constant contact with farmers through mobile phones; and access to markets. We emphasize sustainability and empowerment of local communities, as such we (1) train farmers on agroecology; (2) take a participatory approach; we (3) don’t give handouts, but we charge reasonable fees and ask for loan repayments when farmers sell their produce; and (3) we are especially keen to work with women farmers.
Example
Rudo is a smallholder farmer in rural Zimbabwe. She is a widow, and has four young children. Rudo grows corn on a 1 hectare piece of land they owned with her husband, but her yields are very low and her family often experiences hunger. We sit down with Rudo and her friends to discuss their needs and suit our work to their context. We bring a local extension worker to train Rudo on maintaining her farm, and on basic nutrition, pros of improved seed, smallholder irrigation and insurance. We then lend those things to her and her friends, and continue monitoring them. After the harvest, we help her store food for subsistence, and to find the best prices for their corn. We collect repayments from her and give her another loan soon afterwards.
Impact
Projected impact: we expect to triple yields and double incomes of smallholders. We also expect to reduce chronic hunger in Africa by 35% within 15 years. In turn, we expect significant pro-poor economic growth and continent-wide improvements in adaptation to climate change and in environmental management. We also expect higher incomes among the poorest to translate to improved access to healthcare and education, and thus to generally improved standards of living. Further, we expect to strengthen millions of women’s farms; strengthen self-worth among poor farming communities and strengthen local farmers’ organizations and institutions.
Marketplace
One Acre Fund trains and lends inputs to farmers in East Africa, and myAgro uses mobile phones to encourage saving and early input purchases among Malian farmers. While both are doing great work, they don’t have some crucial markers: (1) they are not continent-wide movements; and more importantly (2) they overlook important bottlenecks such as risk, climate change, access to markets, and gender dynamics. Helping African smallholders out of the poverty trap effectively requires a whole-systems approach—and that’s what we’re doing.
Sustainability Plan
We don’t give hand-outs—we lend. That empowers farmers, and makes us financially sustainable. Similar smaller-scale work has had repayment rates of over 96%, so we’re not worried. We expect to fund 100% of field costs through farmer repayment by 2023. We also plan to establish a fund (like an endowment), that generates interest and helps us fund more of our work.
Founding Story
AFI was founded by Douglas Mapondera. Douglas grew up in rural Zimbabwe where he experienced hunger during the country’s recent depression and after his father’s death. When his mother turned to smallholder agriculture, he was both struck by the obstacles she faced, and impressed with her creativity and resilience. He continued to identify with farmers like his mother while studying at Macalester College in Minnesota, which is why he fundraised to repair communal irrigation infrastructure at her village during his sophomore year. That empathy for his mother and her fellow smallholder farmers across Africa led him to create AFI in January 2013.
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?
Our current approach only addresses farm sustainability, and not general environmental management around those farms. Such added capacity would enable us to partner with local communities at the grassroots level to improve the the general health of their environments (for example, reforestation). We would also like to promote human wellness and vitality by training farmers on basic nutrition, as well as extending support to gardening projects and diversifying our crop program.
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 04/10/2013 by Makhotso
"World Foundation for Prosperity and Autonomy" invites the creation of Centres for Community Consultation where local government, NGO and civil society participants can share their needs and resources.
Organization: World Foundation for Prosperity and Autonomy
more ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Name
World Foundation for Prosperity and Autonomy
Organization's Country of Operation
Type of Organization
Please select
Year of launch of the organization
Years in Operation
Operating for less than a year
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
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.
Recently the European Commission put out a Call for Proposals dealing with the collaboration of local government, NGO's and civil society. We see this as a crucial step toward the poorest people being heard in their needs. Once the communication happens all will work together. We promote community consultation centres and focus on adequate nutrition for the young children and pregnant women.
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Consultation with the community
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.?
Describe how your innovation model is distinct from any other organization in your field?
Tthe health of the children and women depends on the production and distribution of adequate nutrition. The model is an integrated rural development model run in the community by the participants on the basis of cooperation. Each person that starts up an agriculture business will follow moral leadership training to ensure that all work in harmony and focus on service
to the community. The agriculture model takes into consideration climate change challenges and allows each farmer to use his initiative to succeed. The model uses agroforestry, intercropping, indigenous planting techniques, among others. Families of children and pregnant or breastfeeding women receiving supplement will also become involved in initiating small agriculture businesses so that their incomes may increase. .
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
All decisions are based on a process of consultation between the different instances of the organization and project participants. Our international organization is consulting with local organizations for the planning and training components. The project itself begins with community consultation of local government, NGO and civil society representatives to ensure that the needs of all are heard. The consultation- action- reflection model allows for each step of our work to be evaluated by those involved and innovative ideas to be put into practice. Colloboration with international knowledge sharing organizations brokered by our organization allow people on community level to profit from newly generated discoveries. We rely on traditional knowledge that respects the environment.
How do you make sure you constantly innovate in light of (potential) external challenges, or your growth plan?
We collaborate with a local organization who assist ex-miners to rebuild their lives after leaving the mines. their participation will allow ongoing monitoring of progress. Reflection and consultation about each action undertaken is part of the process of development. We intend to have the participants in the project work involved in the reflection and consultation too. These participants will be invited to form marketing consulation groups so they can share ideas and continue to collaborate. Ongoing surveys of the nutritional status of the children and women will be undertaken by the local organization affiliated with World Foundation for Prosperity and Autonomy. We intend to establish an affiliation with the International Research Centres for Agriculture and Nutrition so that new knowledge can be constantly integrated into the local activities via the local organizations.
This Entry is about (Issues)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideThe systemic challenge you are trying to overcome (select one)
Bring accessible healthcare to communities in emerging markets
Health area (target market) where the need is [select only one]
Nutrition
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?
Many children die of malnutrition related diseases, and many more are stunted for life due to inadequate protein intact in childhood. Adequate nutritional status of pregnant and breastfeeding women can ensure a better health state of the future generation and for their own health and for raising these children. It has also been shown that adequate nutrition for people living with AIDS can give them a longer and more productive life. We are particularly working on creating autonomy in economic growth by assisting participants in starting up small agriculture businesses that will provide the income necessary to buy foods not grown and provide other needs and possibly further education. Providing microfinance loans can eliminate a barrier to income generation activities of rural people.
Stage that best applies to your solution [select only one]
Start-up and growth (pilot is successful and starting to expand)
Core strategies of your business model [select all that apply]
Approaches to behavioral change at the individual level, New approaches to distribution of health products and services, Unconventional partnerships (between traditional healthcare players and players outside healthcare), New financing strategies for health, Other.
If other, specify here:
consultation of community members about their specific needs in terms of health and nutrition.
Most relevant tools you are using to implement the strategies outlined above [select only two]
Consultation, Community financing.
Please describe your solution in more detail
What are your vision and overall objectives?
Bring local governement, NGO's and civil society together to elucidate specific needs and skills available. Create collaborative project activities followed up by reflection and further consultation.
Income generation based on agriculture and the use of local resources. Marketing groups of community participants. Production and distribution of nutritional and health needs in the community. Monitoring by local organizations to ensure sustainable action.
What is your value proposition?
What is the value of the health and life of a child or a woman? Too many are dying from lack of resources and collaborative action. Assisting people to provide their own adequate nutrition and other needs has a long reaching effect on this and other generations of healthy citizens.
Who is your customer(s)?
People (primarily parents and gardiens of young children, pregnant or breatfeeding women) who have inadequate nourishment and those responsible for them.(government , NGO's )
Farmers and gardeners in the rural communities who can benefit from increased income, and those responsible for assisting them.
What approaches to you use to reach your customers?
Invitation to community meetings to consult about the project activities and share about needs and possible resources.
What are your primary activities?
Community consultation about needs. Invitation to community members to participate as cultivators or food supplement producers; training of participants in moral leadership, agriculture techniques, basic nutrition, small business management...
Who are your peers and competitors? What problems could these players pose to your success or growth?
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?
People that see success and are not directly involved in it, tend to become jealous and try to destroy the activities and participants. The training within the participant group will create a strong collaborating mentality. Ongoing consultations among local goverment, NGO's and the community participants with ongoing invitiation to new participants is a first step. Open communication among all involved will hopefully reduce this kind of abuse from happening
Certain environmental practices such as burning the earth are much a part of the way of life of the community members. Ongoing educational workshops with possible participation of university and researchers can gradually bring in more environmentally friendly practices. The project invites people to cultivate organically.
Briefly describe your growth strategy going forward
Consolidation of the planning group; initial community consultation ; assuring that the community structures are working together in harmony; monitoring of participant marketing groups for constantly increasing sale of agricultural products; sharing of feedback so that all participants can improve their practices.
Project groups in other regions and in other countries can then be established
What dimensions for growth are you currently targeting for your innovation [select all that apply]
New regions(s).
What makes your business "ready" for growth?
When the planning group is communicating in harmony and each person taking responsibility for their role (in country 1) and the project is working smoothly with ongoing evaluations within the community, expansion to other areas in the country repeating the model will be possible.
In other countries the planning and action must follow the same guidelines, assuring communication with our NGO.
What are your key growth objectives?
From one project in Lesotho to ten district projects; an intial project in two other African countries in the next two years followed by expansion in each of these countries to project in each district of those countries. One initial project in a South American country followed by expansion in that country, as well as initial and further projects in Haiti. Communication among all these actions
What is your timeframe for growth, in the short and mid-term? What are the growth milestones and key activities going forward?
First project established within the next year; ten projects within the next two years. Ongoing monitoring to ensure stability. First projects in two African countries during the second year of running of the first in Lesotho. Assurance of the consolidation of our organization and all local organizations during this time. Expansion to districts of the two African countries during the third year of action (second year in those countries). Year four, a Haitian project; year five, a South American project. Ongoing evaluation of all project activities by feedback through local organizations to the NGO in Canada and periodic visits of WFPA staff. Communication among projects via a bimonthly newsletter or magazine. Eventually radio programming about project activities in each country.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhat has been the impact of your solution to date?
A small workshop to produce the food supplement was set up showing the interest of community women for the activity. Some community women involved children in the picking of leaves for the workshop. Farmers contracted to grow vegetables and herbs. The need for the moral leadership training became evident and communication begun with local organizations has taken much time to develop and is in progress. The impact at this stage is the learning being acquired by WFPA and the lcoal organizations in working together which will be invaluable when we soon begin the community consultations. The model for collaborative action is being set and we can build on this success in our future actions. interest and the need for the project activities have been established in several districts of Lesotho as preparation for the launching of the programme. Consultations with possible collaborators in other African countries are underway, as is a communication with an agriculture research centre. We calculate the impact in each country initially to touch 5000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as 600 participant farming families.
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What methods for quantification of social impact are you applying (if at all)?
Consultation- reflection - action. Baseline surveys of nutritional status and of income level of participants. Evaluation of these variables after each year of the project. Health statistics from Health Ministries will show change in malnutriton and stunting levels of the children and women.
Could your solution work in other geographies or regions? If so, where?
.We believe this ation can be carried out, and should be, in any country of the world that has some land for cultivation The types of plants grown may have to be modified according to soil types, climatic conditions and possible innovative developments (like greenhouses for harsher climates or irrigation for very dry areas. The project is designed to be adapted to many situations and specifically focuses on water retention and agroforestry for improved agricultural production. In each country or region, the project participants can chose the kinds of plants that are most appropriate and can consult with the agriculture research centres about the best trees to use around vegetable plots. The innovation can be used in countries to prevent children dying before they are five years old
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
Beginning with the first project of 60 farming families; 500 children and 500 pregnant or breastfeeding women receiving supplement; 12 marketing groups selling produce
Ffollowed by:
Children receiving supplement in three countries- minimum 15,000.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women minimum 15,000.
Farmers and gardeners increasing income 1800 to start or (maybe many more)
Marketing groups in each country (12 groups of 5 people each) in each district for a total of 120. Healthy produce being sold in country by local stands, in hotels and restaurants, buying groups, etc increasing income to some extent for participants and providing healthy food for many purchasers who have the disposable income . Most important, community collaboration.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideElaborate on your current financing strategy
We are seeking funding from aone Canadian source initially as a pilot project in Lesotho and from another that will allow actions in several countries.. At one point in the life of the project in Lesotho and in the other countries ,a small fee will have to be charged to families of the young children and the women receiving supplement. There is also a plan for the supplement to be packaged and sold outside of the project through pharmacies and other markets that will be developped by the participants and the local organizations in collaboration. The revenues from agricultural activities will first serve to pay back microfinance loans and then a small amount will be requested from each participant to continue paying the monitoring and assistance activities of the local NGO members. Rnning of the Canadian NGO WFPA is primarily based on offering the training programme to groups planning actions in the country or overseas.
Share of revenue generation in total income of organization (in percent)
Direct sales to patients or other beneficiaries (in percent)
Of the possible sources of these sales listed below, check all that apply to your current strategy
Patients, Other beneficiaries.
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
National 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
NGOs.
Explain your revenue generation strategy in more detail
Two funding applications will permit the initial project work in Lesotho and two African countries. Running the NGO in Canada requires the training workshop revenue which is $700. per person attending for a 9 day workshop.
Share of philanthropy in total income of organization (in percent)
Philanthrophy strategies you are using
Diversified strategy.
Explain your philanthropic approach in more detail
Currently we are looking at funding sources from government related organizations. There is also a plan to initiate a series of fundraising events in Montreal, Canada,featuring local musicians and cultural foods. Certain government programmes that fund youth to travel overseas may also be accessed to increase the level of volunteer participants in the community monitoring and support work.
Expand on your selections; explain how you will sustain funding over the next 1-3 years.
Each of the funding applications are applied to projects of at least two years duration and may be renewable. Our training workshops are ongoing as new groups are invited to participate. We would like to see this particular training being offered to all organizations who send youth overseas as volunteers
By organizing the local (Montreal) fundraising activities we will also offer an opportunity to local musiciens to present their talent and attract funders to our events .
Created on 04/9/2013 by ashnab
NAYA JEEVAN’s emerging world 'Pharmacy Benefits Maximizer' (PBM) is a technology-enabled, market-based approach to minimizing medical errors, eliminating counterfeit medicines and increasing affordability and access to quality healthcare for millions of marginalized families at the bottom-of-the Pyramid ( BoP).
Organization: NAYA JEEVAN
Visit websitemore ↓↑ hide↑ hideOrganization Country
United States, CT, Darien
Organization's Country of Operation
Type of Organization
Non‐profit/NGO
Year of launch of the organization
Years in Operation
Please select
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
• 2008 NYU Stern Business plan Competition; Winners – Social Entrepreneurship Track ($75,000 1st prize)
• 2009 TED India Fellowship
• 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Invited Membership
• 2010 Asia 21 Young Leader
• 2010 Robert Wood Johnson TEDMED fellowship
• 2010 Clinton Global Initiative Invited Membership
• 2010 Opportunity Collaboration Cordes Fellowship
• 2010 Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) membership
• 2011 Ashoka Fellowship (USA)
• 2011 Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship
• 2012 World Economic Forum/Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year – Asia
• 2012 G20/Changemakers Financial Inclusion Challenge – awarded global finalist
• 2012 Wall Street Journal Asian Innovation Awards finalist
• 2012 Said Business School/Oxford University Global Business Challenge – Regional Winner, Asia
• 2012 abc* Foundation Entrepreneur Challenge - Award
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.
The founder and CEO of NAYA JEEVAN is Dr. Asher Hasan, an ASHOKA fellow who believes in the universal right to healthcare, financial inclusion and social protection. Asher felt there must be a way to finance and deliver quality healthcare to the BOP via a novel convergence of CSR, social entrepreneurship and institutionalized citizen philanthropy
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read more↓↑ hide↑ hideExplain 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.?
NAYA JEEVAN’s emerging world 'Pharmacy Benefits Maximizer' (PBM) is a technology-enabled, market-based approach to minimizing medical errors, eliminating counterfeit medicines and increasing affordability and access to quality healthcare for millions of marginalized families at the bottom-of-the Pyramid ( BoP).
NAYA JEEVAN’s social business model is a unique example of 'integrated innovation' - a convergence of business, social and technological innovation. This requires innovation at both the conceptual (idea) and implementation (model) levels and also a nuanced understanding of the target population (marginalized communities at the BoP earning less than $8/day) and their ability to pay for effective chronic disease management.
The PBM, through its smart-phone enabled 'e-scripts' feature (digital medical prescriptions) will minimize medical errors from ineligible writing or reading errors. In addition, a national Pharmacy Rx Smart Card, will introduce differential pricing – offering a very large pool of low‐income beneficiaries access to quality medicines at below -market prices without cannibalizing core premium commercial markets or devaluing drug brands. We believe that participating pharmaceutical companies can find a path to profitability through significant volume based revenue origination from the BOP if they are willing to offer income‐sensitive retail pricing that directly benefits low-income populations, leveraging mobile technology and digital micropayments.
Describe how your innovation model is distinct from any other organization in your field?
NAYA JEEVAN's innovation triad (e-scripts, Rx smart cards and technology-enabled direct-from manufacturer discounts for the BoP) is truly unique. To date, there has been no institutionalized effort in Pakistan, to reduce avoidable medical errors through digital prescriptions. In addition 50% of the pharmaceutical supply in Pakistan is counterfeit which represents a major public health threat to disempowered consumers. Finally, there has been no large-scale effort to provide life-altering medicines to BoP communities in an affordable manner. Even low-income consumers of health in the public sector are required to pay for their medications and are often faced with the daunting prospect of skipping their medicines in order to feed their families - an unfair and unsustainable choice.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
NAYA JEEVAN practices 'Kaizen' - continuous improvement in its systems, processes and products. The organization is comprised of ~30 dynamic, passionate individuals - many of whom have returned to Pakistan to apply the technical knowledge and expertise they have acquired in the US, Canada and Europe to accelerate 'frugal innovation' in the East. The organization is very flat and encourages critical inquiry and decision feedback loops that promote best practices from the bottom up.
Resource-constrained environments in the emerging world are particularly conducive to innovation, e.g. Infrastructural constraints are being leapfrogged by technology-enabled mHealth and eHealth and HR constraints are being addressed through task-shifting and right-skilling of the health workforce.
How do you make sure you constantly innovate in light of (potential) external challenges, or your growth plan?
Necessity is the mother of invention (and innovation). Pakistan is fraught with external challenges (social, political, security, terrorism, etc.) which only exacerbates the need for access to quality healthcare for millions of marginalized and accentuates the importance of our work. Organizational resilience in the face of adversity is a very important quality to possess and we can proudly say that our organization has survived multiple challenges - especially access to growth capital, markets and human talent.
Innovation and adaptation to a rapidly changing environment is very much embedded in our organizational DNA - we have developed multiple contingency plans for each external threat as well as identified 'bright spots' that can be accelerated if external conditions are favorable.
This Entry is about (Issues)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideThe systemic challenge you are trying to overcome (select one)
Bring accessible healthcare to communities in emerging markets
Health area (target market) where the need is [select only one]
Chronic care
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?
One of the biggest development challenges in Pakistan is lack of access to affordable, quality healthcare, with an under-resourced public health infrastructure that is unable to cater to the population. A majority of the Pakistani population lives below the poverty line, has little to no savings, and has zero access to quality healthcare. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that over 50% of the nations' pharmaceutical drug supply is counterfeit and poses a significant health risk to disempowered consumers - especially in rural areas where literacy and awareness are low. In addition, there have been significant fatalities from medical errors associated with ineligible writing and incorrect drug dispensation.
Stage that best applies to your solution [select only one]
Scaling (growing impact on a regional or global scale)
Core strategies of your business model [select all that apply]
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, New approaches to distribution of health products and services, Unconventional partnerships (between traditional healthcare players and players outside healthcare), New financing strategies for health, Other.
If other, specify here:
Technology-enabled improvements in quality of healthcare services/products delivered to the BoP
Most relevant tools you are using to implement the strategies outlined above [select only two]
Technology, Community financing.
Please describe your solution in more detail
NAYA JEEVAN’s ‘PBM’ is a technology-enabled, market-based approach to minimizing medical errors via smart-phone enabled digital prescriptions (eScripts), eliminating counterfeit medicines and increasing affordability and access to quality healthcare. The PBM, through its national Pharmacy Smart Card, will introduce differential pricing – offering a very large pool of pre-qualified, low‐income beneficiaries access to quality medicines. Direct-from-manufacturer discounts will be enabled at point-of-sale (POS) without cannibalizing core premium commercial markets or devaluing drug brands. We believe that participating pharmaceutical companies can find a path to profitability through significant volume based revenue origination from the BOP.
What are your vision and overall objectives?
Our overarching vision is to provide an automated solution that makes pharmaceutical purchases cashless, affordable and safe for low-income communities throughout the emerging world.
Our objectives include:
1. Education of retailers/microretailers on how to utilize smart-phone enabled, cashless POS technology in order to enhance their sales, improve their inventory management and operational efficiency.
2. Empowerment of consumers through real-time, sms-enabled, POS product authentication
3. Elimination of medical errors due to ineligible writing by disseminating smart-phone enabled digital prescription technology
What is your value proposition?
For an annual membership fee of only PKR 500 ($5), qualified, low-income families will be able to procure Rx smart cards which provide them with 20-50% POS, direct-from-manufacturer discounts at a participating nationwide network of retail pharmacies. Given that the average annual expenditure of low-income families on medicines for chronic disease management is estimated to be at least PKR 6000/year ($60), the minimum net savings, health consumers will enjoy are PKR 700 ($7/year). In addition low-income consumers will be empowered to authenticate the drug they are purchasing via real-time sms. This technology will be integrated with the Rx smart card and the only cost associated with product authentication will be the regular cost of an sms transmission.
Who is your customer(s)?
Our target customers are the working poor who are concentrated into 5 sectors within the formal economy: corporate, public, academic, SME and NGO as well as a very large informal economy which includes domestic household staff such as drivers, cooks, maids, guards, etc. and their families. The total population of such workers in Pakistan is ~40 Million and the potential lives impacted (including their families) is ~120 Million lives.
What approaches to you use to reach your customers?
NAYA JEEVAN has cultivated close collaborations with large MNC and national corporations. We cascade our health plan for the marginalized up and down their value chains, targeting low-income stakeholders (suppliers, distributors, microretailers, etc). We intend to leverage the same distribution platforms to disseminate our Smart Drugs card. In addition, we will also partner with large MFIs to target the communities they conduct business in.
What are your primary activities?
[1] Negotiation of retail discounts for pharmaceutical medicines/vaccinations/diagnostic supplies from Pharmaceutical companies
[2] Construction of a pre-discounted Pharmaceutical Formulary database
[3] Development of an appropriate technology platform with our technology partner (UBL Omni)
[4] Selection of participating in-network retail pharmacies in Karachi
[5] Pilot launch of Smart Drugs system in Karachi with distribution of Pharmacy Smart cards to clinic and health plan members (~25000 households)
[6] Monitoring/testing and quality assurance, documenting lessons learned. Dissemination of learnings via continuous feedback loops.
Who are your peers and competitors? What problems could these players pose to your success or growth?
There are no companies which are providing digital prescription or product authentication services to the BoP at the present time in Pakistan. However, we hope that our model will catalyze the entry of competitors into the marketplace as there is a huge market to serve (over 120 million lives). Potential market entrants include insurance companies seeking product diversification and value creation opportunities as well as ICT-enabled health solutions companies. While these companies may try and 'out-muscle' us in the market, our expectation is that a number of large pharmaceutical companies will come forward to collaborate with us on this project and, to a certain degree, immunize us from such competition (although competition is healthy and we welcome it as a social business).
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?
Pakistan is facing a major energy crisis and this is an issue which can discourage use of electronically powered, ICT-dependent solutions. Environmental and personal security remains a challenge but we will continue to innovate and leapfrog these constraints. A major organizational constraint is sufficient access to growth capital. In an ideal world, we would have no problem raising the growth capital needed ($1.2 Million over the next 12 months) and would have scaled to serving over 150,000 consumers at the BoP.
Briefly describe your growth strategy going forward
Our growth plan consists of partnering with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF has over 100 partner/member MFIs and large NGOs) and the NISP (National Income Support Program) to incorporate our technology into their current value proposition. NISP has over 7.5 Million beneficiaries and provides an ideal platform to scale our social business.
What dimensions for growth are you currently targeting for your innovation [select all that apply]
New customer group(s), New regions(s), New market(s)/country(ies).
What makes your business "ready" for growth?
Our hospital network is already operating in over 40 districts in Pakistan and is poised for additional expansion into rural areas. In addition we have been approached by potential partners in India, UAE, US and Latin America to replicate variants of our model in those countries/regions.
What are your key growth objectives?
Our major objective as we grow is to achieve financial sustainability in Pakistan so that we are no longer reliant on grants/donations. We would then be ready to replicate this approach in other emerging economies.
In addition, as we grow, we want to continuously create more tangible value for our low-income members/consumers. This will require ongoing collaborations with the private sector.
What is your timeframe for growth, in the short and mid-term? What are the growth milestones and key activities going forward?
(i) Regional Expansion and Diaspora Engagement (in US, UK, UAE & EU): June 2013 - June 2014
(ii) Pilot study of model in US (January 2014 - March 2015)
(iii) Replication of model with pilots in India, UAE and Latin America (January 2014 - September 2014)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhat has been the impact of your solution to date?
Our primary metrics are number of enrollees in our health insurance plan (23,000+), in our preventive health plan (43,000+) or in active pipeline (20,000+). In addition, we have reduced organizational cost/life impacted from $18/life impacted to $6/life impacted between 2009 and 2012.
What methods for quantification of social impact are you applying (if at all)?
In addition to the above, we monitor:
• Numbers of calls received on our 24/7 medical hotline (~150/month),
• Customer feedback surveys
• Utilization of our donor-financed Health Rescue Fund (HRF)
• Changes in Health Outcomes (incidence of diarrheal illness, pneumonia, URTI, etc)
• Changes in socioeconomic indicators (house income, housing status, etc)
In order to assess our social return on investment (SROI), NAYA JEEVAN has adopted the IRIS international reporting standards co-developed by ANDE, GIIN and the Acumen Fund. It reports to IRIS on these indicators through ANDE. NAYA JEEVAN has also gone through the GIIRS evaluation/certification process.
Could your solution work in other geographies or regions? If so, where?
The NAYA JEEVAN 'Smart Drugs' system was designed to be sustainable, scalable and replicable across both the developing and developed worlds (digitization of medical prescriptions will also be beneficial in developed markets). It utilizes basic GPRS/GSM-based mobile technology which is ubiquitous globally.
Our expectation is that our model will have been replicated across all 6 habitable continents; leading to the achievement of our vision of a world where all low-income populations have access to affordable quality healthcare and socioeconomic opportunity. Moreover, governments across the globe will will have adopted, customized and scaled this concept within their national social security programs.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
Over the next 1-3 years, NAYA JEEVAN plans to replicate its “Smart Drugs" model in neighboring countries including India and the UAE. There is also a possibility that we may grow by franchising our model or entering into joint ventures in other developing markets such as South Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, Latin America, etc. In total, we expect to have over a million lives protected and mainstreamed into the global economy via this program either directly or indirectly by catalyzing similar models.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideElaborate on your current financing strategy
Since the organization is cash-flow negative at this stage, we are fulfilling our working capital needs through a combination of philanthropic capital and impact investments made by a cross-section of funding entities including:
Multilateral Development Agencies: ILO-MIF (Microinsurance Innovation Facility) - Geneva, Switzerland
Bilateral Development Agencies: USAID & Grand Challenges Canada
Traditional Foundations: Tides Foundation
Corporate Foundations: abc Foundation, P&G
Share of revenue generation in total income of organization (in percent)
Direct sales to patients or other beneficiaries (in percent)
Of the possible sources of these sales listed below, check all that apply to your current strategy
Patients, Caregivers, Private businesses, Other beneficiaries.
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
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
Private businesses.
Explain your revenue generation strategy in more detail
For every dollar of incoming revenue (insurance contributions or smart card membership fees), NAYA JEEVAN pays ~75 cents to insurance underwriters and technical partners with the remaining gross margin designated to cover the organization's operating expenses. We are currently generating ~$400,000 in operating revenue, of which ~$100,000 is retained as gross margin to cover our operational costs (~$450,000 in 2012)
Share of philanthropy in total income of organization (in percent)
Philanthrophy strategies you are using
Diversified strategy.
Explain your philanthropic approach in more detail
We engage and seek philanthropic capital from all of the following sources:
(i) traditional institutional foundations (e.g. Rockefeller, Robert Wood Johnson, Gates, etc)
(ii) corporate foundations
(iii) social venture capitalists
(iv) individual 'angel' donors
(v) crowd-sourcing platforms (e.g. Global Giving, etc)
Expand on your selections; explain how you will sustain funding over the next 1-3 years.
As we ramp up our social business model, the proportion of overall revenue that is derived from operational earned-income will continue to rise such that we expect it to exceed 100% of operational cost by Q1'2015 and to represent over 70% of our overall income/revenue. In order to do this, we will need to expand/regionalize our model to Lahore/Islamabad (Northern Pakistan) as well as engage the Pakistani diaspora in the UK, US, Canada, EU, Singapore/HK and UAE (who can cross-subsidize the healthcare costs of their significant others in Pakistan).
In addition to market expansion, we are also expanding our product portfolio and extending our operating margins. The Rx Smart card has a gross margin of ~50% which when integrated with our health insurance plan will help raise the overall gross margin from 25% to ~30%.
In the interim, we are raising philanthropic capital from innovation funds and corporate sources and have already raised $150,000 in Q1' 2013. (our annual budget is ~$525,000)
Created on 04/9/2013 by lvanekdom
We tend to hand over our power to experts, especially in health. Only if you take your own responsibility, self-development can take place. This is a challenging task, since western society addresses “the individual trees but rarely the woods as a whole”. &ZIN is an accessible, contemporary and fun physical place in central Amsterdam, where you can enjoy integral natural coaching by consults, workshops and by meeting peers in the café.
Organization: &ZIN
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Netherlands, NH, Amsterdam
Organization's Country of Operation
Netherlands, NH, Amsterdam
Type of Organization
Not registered
Year of launch of the organization
Years in Operation
Idea phase
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
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.
On paper I had everything my heart could desire.And yet I lacked energy and spirit.I did what I thought I couldn’t,quit my work and started my search for a new energy balance.I asked myself: who and what can give me the help I need?This challenging quest took me to (non)–and regular teachers and educations.These insights & experience, are merged with coaching: &ZIN ("making sense & feeling like")
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read more↓↑ hide↑ hideExplain 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.?
Through an innovative; integral and yet a natural way of coaching - in which next to mental models, natural remedies (through Kinesiology) are being used to rebalance energy and make your unconscious patterns and (energy) needs transparent and applicable (your flow conditions). Kinesiology is developed by chiropracticioners (1964) and proven to be effective. It makes use of the body knowledge, supplementary to your consciousness, the body knows lots of valuable applicable information about your-self.
&ZIN offers a total revitalizing package, unique and non-existing at this moment . You no longer need to shop everywhere for applicable and effective health knowledge (being difficult and not transparent market, costly, time consuming and not good for you motivation). &ZIN is your one-stop-customized-vital-shop and community in Amsterdam.
You are a person (target group: 25-45 years old) wanting to grow in life, in search of applicable knowledge to be able to take responsibility for your own health. If you apply the &ZIN insights in your daily life, you are increasingly being able to take responsibility for your own health; you can maintain balance and increase energy in your life yourself! This allows you to be more energetic, grow and make yours and others dreams come true! Your vitalization, influences your loved ones, which influences the society ultimately changing and improving the root causes of our health system and in general our and society' quality of life.
Describe how your innovation model is distinct from any other organization in your field?
1) The combination of western and eastern health knowledge, is new in the NL. A health solution needs to answer to the health need and life style of the customer. Therefore &ZIN stands for being transparent, personal and applicable. Bringing more energy and fun by stimulating own responsibility for health and creating a meaningful live.
2) Coaching approaches questions on a conscious level. The effect on unconscious level is not included. Therefore some root causes cannot be answered.
3) Applied Kinesiology approaches questions from mainly an unconscious level and usually don’t have follow-ups with the client by looking at long term conscious goals (like coaching).
3)Regular health practitioners do not use coaching or kinesiology in their therapy.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
Internal success factors:
- Educated, dedicated, vitalized and self-reflective staff
- Materials
- Knowledge
- (International) Network to share insights
Operating environment success factors:
- Excellent and appealing location in Amsterdam (Café and practice)
- Enthusiastic staff willing to invest time in clients and to give them courage to clients to make investment in themselves. Leading to clients willing like to invest in themselves and are willing to change lifestyles if needed to get vitalized.
- Willingness of society to invest in health (prevention), instead of curing diseases.
How do you make sure you constantly innovate in light of (potential) external challenges, or your growth plan?
1) By investing in knowledge
2) Investing in (international) network
3) Investing in co-creation
4) Having insights in people needs and society needs
5) Daily looking from a continuous improvement point of view by implementing Lean and Customer Excellence way of working
6) By being sustainable in our services to our clients. Acting with good intentions , acting with love and justice to the society
7) By evaluating added value for society and having courage to act on facts.
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?
Root problem: people cannot easily take full responsibility for their own health, because of information asymmetry and because the current western health system and society does not stimulate people to investigate in what people need to know to be and stay vital:
- We are too far from our nature whereby nature no longer seems natural
- We are stuck in problem solving in the way we always do. We need a new mindset, focusing on (energy)growth, not on disease!
- We dare no longer to rely on our intuition (which we all have) but give the power to our head. Western society stimulates this. We take too little time to discover our own vitality conditions
- We don't know exactly what health contains.
Stage that best applies to your solution [select only one]
Idea (poised to launch)
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, New approaches to distribution of health products and services, 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]
Technology, New skills, Consultation, Education/training.
Please describe your solution in more detail
We tend to hand over our power to experts in many areas of our lives, especially in health. Only if you take your own responsibility for your health, by knowing what you need to stay vital, self-development can take place. In western society, your needs (flow conditions) are difficult to unravel. It addresses ” the individual trees but rarely the woods as a whole”. Society is ready to make a step, awareness is growing and demand is increasing: we need to make more health with less and smarter means, by go looking at root causes and by having respect for current health system.
&ZIN is an accessible, contemporary and fun physical place in central Amsterdam, where you bike along in the morning, can take a vitalizing drink, or enjoy accessible workshops and consults about how to vitalize yourself through integral natural coaching. You can also enjoy your vitalizing health class, natural foods and meeting peers in a contemporary surrounding with arts and music. When you are willing to grow in life and health, &ZIN gives you guidance and handles you back the power to: vitalize your-self, develop your-self and enjoy life! This positively affects your loved ones and ultimately the whole society through adding value to the current health care system.
What are your vision and overall objectives?
&ZIN philosophy:
- With use of your body, your head and your needs, you can have insight in your flow conditions
- People in essence do not like change, only if the benefits are net increasing the costs they are willing
- Your body shows symptoms for a reason, so we should look for the root cause
- You are yourself responsible for your own health
- You can gain energy by applying universal principles
- Only together we can build a sustainable, fair, loving and energetic future
- Positive motivation stimulates human learning curve tremendously more than negative problem solving
- The most important thing living being have in common is energy. You can learn how to increase your energy.
- Emotion is a form of energy, this system is mainly formed when you were a child. Since it is blind for love and justice, adults need to reinvent their emotion system in line with love and justice.
What is your value proposition?
We tend to hand over our power to experts in many areas of our lives, especially in health. Only if you take your own responsibility for your health, by knowing what you need to stay vital, self-development can take place. In western society, your needs (flow conditions) are difficult to unravel. It addresses ” the individual trees but rarely the woods as a whole”. Society is ready to make a step, awareness is growing and demand is increasing: we need to make more health with less and smarter means, by go looking at root causes and by having respect for current health system.
&ZIN is an accessible, contemporary and fun physical place in central Amsterdam, where you bike along in the morning, can take a vitalizing drink, or enjoy accessible workshops and consults about how to vitalize yourself through integral natural coaching. You can also enjoy your vitalizing health class, natural foods and meeting peers in a contemporary surrounding with arts and music. When you are willing to grow in life and health, &ZIN gives you guidance and handles you back the power to: vitalize your-self, develop your-self and enjoy life! This positively affects your loved ones and ultimately the whole society through adding value to the current health care system.
Who is your customer(s)?
People (or businesses) (target group: 25-45years old) wanting to grow in life, in search of applicable knowledge to be able to take responsibility for your own health. Living in The Netherlands and/or willing to visit Amsterdam.
What approaches to you use to reach your customers?
- Marketing
- Community
- Network and co-creation with key partners (colleagues coaches/kinesiology; social entrepreneurs; health practitioners) ; complementary partners
- Referrals
- Newsletter
- Services (quick vitality check) for free
- Publishing
- &ZIN college club: clients gain knowledge from (health) professionals
- &ZIN share club: health professionals share knowledge with each other
What are your primary activities?
Managing and practicing &ZIN (products)
1) &ZIN for you: personal &ZIN consult, several sessions with endure coaching during your search.
2) &ZIN for us café: to meet and share with others and vitalize yourself with fun and healthy food and other inspiration.
3) &ZIN your club services : enjoy the college club, trainings a la carte or yoga / chi lessons.
Who are your peers and competitors? What problems could these players pose to your success or growth?
Peers / competitors: coaches/kinesiology
I believe in people their own strength and having respect for (intellectual) property
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?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Briefly describe your growth strategy going forward
Growth strategy, first NL Amsterdam successfully full &ZIN concept. Then possibility of entering comparable markets like capital cities in Europe.
What dimensions for growth are you currently targeting for your innovation [select all that apply]
New customer group(s).
What makes your business "ready" for growth?
The idea and possible results are clear!
Enthusiasm, spirit of &ZIN!
What are your key growth objectives?
First basic services for &ZIN by making operating possible
What is your timeframe for growth, in the short and mid-term? What are the growth milestones and key activities going forward?
Short term - June 2013: business plan and pilot
Midterm - November 2013 operational
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhat has been the impact of your solution to date?
Still in idea/operating phase in this new combination. Separately coaching/kinesiology is very successful and helpful in my community.
What methods for quantification of social impact are you applying (if at all)?
Future: Qualys (for expl EQ-5D) and Netto Promotor Score (NPS)
Could your solution work in other geographies or regions? If so, where?
Yes, in western society and basically also in other societies, when people are willing to invest in health and are willing to change for the better. &ZIN uses universal principles.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
1) Improvement quality of life individuals/community/society. By learning from each other and filling up the information asymmetry.
2) Reduction heath costs.
- By taking own responsibility and knowing how to stay vital people use less health care (less primary care, 6,7 NL visits a year, CBS).
- People don't get ill that soon (less visits)
- Less chronic illness and obesity (NL 48,2% 2011, CBS)
- Less repeated therapies (NL, 40% unnecessary angiaplasty, VWS)
3) Efficient and qualitative health care
- Less waiting lists
- More integral working
- More therapy adherence
- More fun to work in health
4) Reduction stress
5) Reduction work illness. Healthy workers are more productive workers. 2-4 billion € NL productivity potential (BAH)
6) New health mentality
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideElaborate on your current financing strategy
Share of revenue generation in total income of organization (in percent)
Direct sales to patients or other beneficiaries (in percent)
Of the possible sources of these sales listed below, check all that apply to your current strategy
Friends and family, Individuals, Patients, Caregivers.
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
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
Explain your revenue generation strategy in more detail
Clients pay out-of-pocket for services
1) &ZIN for you: personal &ZIN consult, several sessions with endure coaching during your search.
2) &ZIN for us café: to meet and share with others and vitalize yourself with fun and healthy food and other inspiration.
3) &ZIN your club services : enjoy the college club, trainings a la carte or yoga / chi lessons. Clients pay for products:
Share of philanthropy in total income of organization (in percent)
Philanthrophy strategies you are using
Explain your philanthropic approach in more detail
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Expand on your selections; explain how you will sustain funding over the next 1-3 years.
By generating income
Increasing market by collaborations with for expl. hospitals / primary care
