Peter Emer's New Entry

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Peter Emer's New Entry: The LIL Project

Melbourne, AustraliaLIRA, Uganda
Year Founded:
2012
Organization type: 
nonprofit/ngo/citizen sector
Project Stage:
Start-Up
Budget: 
$1,000 - $10,000
Website:
http://www.thelilproject.com
Facebook: 
http://www.facebook.com/thelilproject
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

The LIL Project was founded on the principle that every child deserves a fair chance to a quality education. It also strongly advocates for education that is appropriate to the environment in which the children live in. We look to bring young people together to ensure that this vision sustains.

WHAT IF - Inspiration: Write one sentence that describes a way that your project dares to ask, "WHAT IF?"

What if...the project could inspire the youth to utilize their energy, creativity and passion to join the fight against poverty?
About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

The problem the project is trying to address is that many children in poverty stricken communities like the community we are currently working in Lira, Northern Uganda, will never have an opportunity to make it out of those circumstances. This is largely due, not to lack of education, but lack of adequate education. Atop that, the children have no chance of a brighter future because economically sustainable projects in the community don't exist.

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

The proposed solution is a two step process. First connect with the younger generation to take a globally citizen stance which encourages them to have the courage to get involved in changing their world and painting a brighter future. We have done this by engaging in events that attract the youth from different backgrounds to interact under one roof. This is heavily reliant on performing arts in music, dance and exhibitions. Second, develop sustainable projects in the community that allow community social leaders with ideas to be at the forefront of this change in their community. Whether it' ideas in terms of entrepreneurship ideas, developing the education facilities, and other educational opportunities that will ensure a better future.

Awards

North Brunswick Sentinel News Paper Award/ Partnership with The Feast Melbourne (Feastongood)
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

One of the major challenges in this community that we have encountered is that the children are attending school but the quality in the education they are receiving just sees them stuck in the same cycle of poverty and it sees many of the youth leaving school all together to work. In our solution, the step developing adequate education facilities where students are learning skills and knowledge that's relevant to their community which mostly based on agriculture and micro businesses. This set of skills could revolve around business development, management, accounting and strategy development. To raise funds for this, we believe in being self sustainable and we strongly believe that our youth have to be involved in this process.

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.

To date, we have helped develop an orphanage in haiti that was devastate by the earthquake. In 2014 we began working Tohender Orphanage in Lira and through them we we have developed projects such as The LIL Cattle Project, in which we set up a a little dairy business with 3 cows. The children have learned relevant skills such as milking cows and packaging and during their schools holidays, they work in the business. This business has allowed us to feed over 80 elderly members of the community who have no one to care for them. The funds have been used to pay for school fees and renovate the infrastructure at the home. This project has also allowed for employment opportunities for the community for cattle care takers, heardsmen/women. With these kind of socially and economically relevant projects, the project can see that a community with high unemployment rates rises out of poverty.

Spread Strategies: Moving forward, what are the main strategies for scaling impact?

This projects currently raises funds by developing events and products that heavily revolve around the youth. It brings people from different backgrounds together in an environment that encourages a global perspective. With that said, the future of project is to develop projects and education facilities that will ensure that these communities are alleviated from poverty. Apart from this, we aim to seek out honest social entrepreneurs in these communities and empower them with the resources they need as well as they will have a critical role in ensuring that the kids have a future.
Sustainability

Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?

The plan to ensure the financial sustainability of this project is atop sponsors and donations, we are developing merchandise in fashion and live art as a large part of the team is artist in background. This social enterprise hybrid approach will allow us to raise funds and connect across demographics. This approach has continued to show its potential with every event we have held and the support behind it from the general public.

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

In Lira, there is number of NGOs that are operating in it. African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET) is one of them. They are concerned with ensuring equal opportunities for the youth in participation in politics and economy , but we differ as our focus is in tackling the educational component and community development. Divine Waters Uganda deals with providing clean water to the communities . There is several other projects in the region that deal mainly with psychological stability as this area was the main area that the Lord's Resistance Army Rebel Group operated in and killed thousands.
Team

Founding Story

In 2006, Peter had a chance to travel to Kenya where he spent a year. During his stay there he had the opportunity to travel around the country and other neighbouring countries. The first place he visited was the slums of Kibera in Nairobi. He was part of a trip that provided medication to the families that lived in this area. After returning back to NY, his home, the images of children scavenging for food in landfills couldn't escape his head. But the people had no choice. The second place he went to visit was a village in Northern Uganda called Lira. The images were identical. He had a chance to speak to girls young as 12 that saw prostitution as the only choice. This is was the moment.

Team

Peter Emer - Founder/Director - Published Photography and Writer- (Bachelor in Logistics and Supply Chain Management/ Bachelor in International Business) - Full-Time Janice Fung - Marketing Director (University of Melbourne - Masters in Education/ Commerce) Part- Time Guyo Adhi - IT Director (Monash University Masters in IT)- Part- Time Eli Minuz - Creative Coordinator (RMIT University - Bachelor in Graphic Design) Part- Time Tai Nyugen - Visual Director - (RMIT University - Bachelor in Visual Arts) Part- Time Raquel - Volunteer - Part- Time
Background
Please confirm how you heard about the Unilever Awards:

Through a friend

Please confirm your role in the initiative (eg Founder/co-Founder) and your organisational title:

Founder and Director

Which of the 8 UN Global Goals (Sustainable Development Goals) pre-selected for this competition does your solution relate most closely to? [select all that apply]

No Poverty, Zero Hunger.

Leadership and the Unilever Awards
Please provide examples of any previous entrepreneurial initiatives you have pioneered.

By profession before the project i was a photographer. In 2010 i began a project called the haiti relief project which ran until the goals were changed. With this entrepreneurial initiative, i began an arts based business which in collaboration with other artists based in new york, we sold our work in a local gallery and raised funds to rebuild an orphanage in Haiti. Through this, i gained a number of skills from accounting, to marketing and relationship management. We raised thousands with this initiative and were able to rebuild an Orphanage in Haiti. I also acquired public speaking skills that are crucial with expanding the project. Since then we have been invited TEDxTeen 2011 in NYC, to speak at The Feast. These skills along with many other intuitive skills that i have gained have helped with the success of the project.

Beyond your existing team, who else are you working with to achieve your objectives, eg partners, advisors, mentors?

Apart from the existing team, we are working with Patrick from YGAP (Lead by Elliot Costello- Son of Tim Costello founder of World Vision), we also working with Ben Nyugen a business leader and investor in Melbourne, Faith Chinogurei, former HR Director for World Vision and other leaders in the industry.