Worker Well Being: From Jobs to Sustainable Livlihoods
New York, United StatesOuanaminthe, Haiti
Year Founded:
Project Stage:
2004
Organization type:
hybrid
Scaling
Budget:
$100,000 - $250,000
Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.
We are building an ecosystem of change for workers and communities simultaneously. SolKomYo is the local social enterprise that is now leading change with Community Enterprise Solutions. The team provides low-cost, high-quality technologies to workers and community members by creating payment plan mechanisms. We empower local women entrepreneurs to sell technologies in the community. We help workers learn to save through financial literacy programs. We help community members save and invest through the creation of self-financed community banks. We are supporting the implementation of innovative agricultural solutions in the community. We will provide best practices about these solutions to the workers. And help youth become change leaders.
Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.
A local social enterprise has been created that is owned and led by community members. Over 8,000 technologies have been purchased by workers and community members which directly impacted over 37,000 people and generated over US$1 million in direct economic impact. In an independent study demonstrated that 96% of the purchasers see tangible benefits including cutting costs, saving energy, and improving health. 1,200+ workers have voluntarily participated in hands-on financial literacy training which included an incentive system that could be spent immediately or saved. Over 98% of workers decided to save for the future indicated the value of the program. 95% of participants were confident that they would have no or less debt in six months. Youth groups have been formed to solve school challenges. Local entrepreneurs have been empowered to offer technology solutions to community members.
Spread Strategies: Moving forward, what are the main strategies for scaling impact?
We believe we can create a model that puts the textile factory at focal point to build concentric circles of community impact co created by a coalition of factory leadership, financiers, suppliers, social innovators, local organizations, and local entrepreneurs. We can leverage this coalition to co create social innovation teams to solve energy, health, financial, water, agricultural and income generation problems. We can put a locally-owned social enterprises at the heart of this. We have achieved this and it continues to grow. We hope to disseminate a model to replicate this all worldwide.
Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?
We created an ecosystem of change with local organizations, institutions, businesses and social entrepreneurs from around the world. Our local hub is where workers and the community can access products, receives information and training. IFC believes at the snowball effect the hub has and decided to invest in our food security initiative. Furthermore every time we sell a product we save the revenue in a sustainability fund for the local org.
Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?
There are unfortunately currently no other organizations focused on addressing the issues in a comprehensive and sustainable way. There are only one off and short lived projects.
Founding Story
In 2011 Co Founder Greg Van Kirk was invited by Ashoka and IFC to diagnose worker and community needs in Ouanaminthe. He saw the myriad critical needs that existed in spite of all of the funding and attention that Haiti had received. In short, he became pissed off and inspired to do something about it with his colleagues. He and his worked closely with Ashoka, IFC, factory leadership and local organizations to identify priority problems and apply and adapt proven social innovations to address them. An ecosystem of change was created that continues to grow and innovate.
Team
The team includes advisors from IFC and Ashoka Senior team members. The initiative is led by Greg Van Kirk is CES Co-Founder and President, Ashoka Lemelson Fellow, Ashoka Globalizer and was recently recognized as Schwab Foundation “Social Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012 (Latin America)” at the World Economic Forum. The team includes an ambitious team of social innovators working together with the local social enterprise team. In the long term Solkomyo will lead and implement all the programs.
Value Chain: Where does your work fit into the apparel value chain? [check all that apply]
Manufacturing.
Your Role: What is your relationship to the apparel industry? [check all that apply]
Non-profit Staff.
Target Population: What stakeholder groups do you engage or empower in your work? [check all that apply]
Factory Workers.
Lever for Change: Select up to 3 ways your work is helping to transform the industry.
Capacity Building, Certification, Organizing, Training.
Does your project utilize any of the innovative design principles below?
Unite More than Voice: Tap into Community Capital and Collective Resources, Transform the Chain into a Web: Link Unlikely Sectors that Open New Pathways to Sustainability.
Innovation Inspiration: When you first conceived of your project, did you think of it as applicable to the apparel industry?
yes
If you answered "no" to the previous question, which industry was your project originally aimed at transforming?
● Replicating in the Apparel Industry: If your project didn't initially target the apparel industry, how are you specifically tailoring it to do so now?
Are you nurturing or inspiring others to be changemakers? If so, how?
We work to empower first time local women entrepreneurs through the Micro Consignment Model. Youth teams through Youth Venture.
● Tell us about the partnerships that enhance your approach. How have you collaborated with others in the industry to increase your impact?
Ashoka, IFC and Levi Strauss Foundation together with Grupo M/CODEVI and local organizations had been critical for our work.
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