BoP, Environment, Health, Hunger, Women, YouthLeave a comment

Social Enterprise + Innovation = LifeStraw®; Drawing Closer to the Clean Water Access Millennial Development Goal 0f 2015

April 29, 2011May 2, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

We operate under our own unique Humanitarian Entrepreneurship business model. This “profit for a purpose” approach has turned corporate social responsibility into our core business of creating life-saving products for the most vulnerable. The LifeStraw® Concept The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) call for a reduction of the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by half between 1990 and 2015. Yet, an estimated 884 million people in the world, 37% of whom live in Sub-Saharan Africa, still use unimproved sources of drinking water. Treating water at the household level or other point of use also reduces the … Continue reading Social Enterprise + Innovation = LifeStraw®; Drawing Closer to the Clean Water Access Millennial Development Goal 0f 2015

BoP, Business, Environment, Jobs, YouthLeave a comment

Social Enterprise + Schools = A Self Sufficient Training/Income Model

April 27, 2011April 27, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

Teach a CHILD to fish… Self-Sufficient Schools – A New Paradigm At its simplest a Self-Sufficient School is one that generates enough income to cover the costs of providing a quality education to its students. Generating income Where refining skills is aimed at delivering a product or service of marketable quality – from honey or maize to running a hotel – the natural next step is to actually make and sell this product or service. Schools rarely have difficulties finding a use for income generated in this way! Scaling up Although it requires a substantial effort to create a demonstration business environment … Continue reading Social Enterprise + Schools = A Self Sufficient Training/Income Model

BoP, Business, Health, Women, YouthLeave a comment

Social Enterprise + Propane = Reaching More Children with Immunizations in Mozambique

April 23, 2011April 27, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

Propane+Mozambique=Immunization The challenge: In Mozambique, one of the poorest countries in the world, children are dying “because they live in the wrong place, and that’s unacceptable.” People must walk 20 kilometers for vaccines and medicines. Problem: Vaccines are a temperature-sensitive commodity – but there were no reliable sources of energy for clinic refrigerators, lights or sterilizers Solution: Propane New problem: No propane in Mozambique New solution (2001): VidaGas, a for-profit propane distribution company (imports gas, bottles it, sells it to commercial and residential users) Within five years: 5 million people reached through 251 clinics. In 2001, only one in three people were immunized – by 2006, there were … Continue reading Social Enterprise + Propane = Reaching More Children with Immunizations in Mozambique

Business, Environment, Jobs, YouthLeave a comment

Brighter Future Workshop gets Teens with Disabilities Rolling Again (& Keeps equipment out of landfills!)

April 21, 2011April 21, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

Brighter futures for disabled Teens in the UK BFW exists to enhance the lives of people who are disabled; many have become disadvantaged, and isolated, largely due to the shortage of suitable, reliable and affordable mobility equipment. Our aim is to ensure that disabled people who have little or no mobility can still function in the local community and society in general. From its base in Skelmersdale Brighter Future Workshop trains young people with disabilities to recycle mobility equipment that would otherwise be sent to landfill. The equipment is then distributed into the community at cost-effective prices, enabling disabled people … Continue reading Brighter Future Workshop gets Teens with Disabilities Rolling Again (& Keeps equipment out of landfills!)

Business, Jobs, Youth1 Comment

New Door’s At-Risk Youth Print and Pedal in Social Enterprise

April 20, 2011April 20, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

Opening a New Door for At-risk Youth in San Fransisco New Door Ventures helps at-risk youth get ready for work and life. We provide assistance to young people ages 16-21 who need support in making the increasingly difficult transition from youth to adulthood. Our Clients: At New Door Ventures, we serve at-risk youth, ages 16-21. The youth we work with tend to have many risk factors that can compromise their ability to make a successful transition from youth to adulthood. A typical youth in New Door’s programs would have several of the following characteristics: Living in poverty, A minority, A child of immigrants … Continue reading New Door’s At-Risk Youth Print and Pedal in Social Enterprise

Business, Jobs, WomenLeave a comment

El Puente: Making the Point that Women are Hidden Casualties of NAFTA

April 19, 2011April 19, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

El Puente In 1997, in the aftermath of NAFTA and its displacement, trauma and impact on women and workers, La Mujer Obrera established El Puente Community Development Corporation, to create economic opportunity with/for displaced women workers and other low income community members, especially those living and working in the South Central barrio, the former Garment District of El Paso. El Puente’s mission is true to its name. Virtually unparalleled in the country as a grassroots Mexican immigrant women’s organization involved in development tied to empowerment. To generate economic opportunity, El Puente focuses on: Job Creation Micro-enterprise Development Social Enterprises Small … Continue reading El Puente: Making the Point that Women are Hidden Casualties of NAFTA

Business, WomenLeave a comment

Women’s Bean Project – Sometimes a Woman’s Place is in the Kitchen

April 13, 2011April 13, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

More than a hill of beans… Since 1989 we have been helping women break the cycle of poverty and unemployment. We are a nonprofit organization that teaches job readiness and life skills for entry-level jobs through employment in our gourmet food production and handmade jewelry manufacturing businesses. Women come with the goal of transforming their lives and moving toward self sufficiency. Our Mission: To change women’s lives by providing stepping stones to self-sufficiency through social enterprise. Our Vision: Women’s Bean Project strives to break the cycle of chronic unemployment and poverty by helping women discover their talents and develop skills … Continue reading Women’s Bean Project – Sometimes a Woman’s Place is in the Kitchen

Business, Clothing, Jobs, WomenLeave a comment

Silai for Skills – Sewing the Seeds of Small Business in Bristol

April 9, 2011April 9, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

Silai For Skills Silai for Skills was created with the aim of giving women the right training to earn a decent living from their craft, but also the confidence to set up their own businesses if they wanted to do so. From Founder, Aroona Smith: “We were able to rent premises where women could come on a daily basis to further their skills, build their self- confidence and learn everything that was necessary to set up their own business or just improve their quality of life. We now offer everything from fashion design courses to upholstery and many women have gone on to set up successful businesses … Continue reading Silai for Skills – Sewing the Seeds of Small Business in Bristol

BusinessLeave a comment

Indian Start-ups get ‘UnLtd’ assistance

April 6, 2011April 6, 2011 Jen Hutchinson@dwbdg

UnLtd India is a seed fund and incubator for social entrepreneurs. We work with early-stage social entrepreneurs to help them: Accelerate their progress Develop as leaders Prepare their high-impact organisations for scaling and further investment We have four key programmes: Incubation support – seed funding and support Bootcamp – an intensive accelerator Bombay Hub – a laboratory and co-working space for social change Social Mashup – a national conference for early-stage social social entrepreneurs We’re different because we engage before almost all other investors and support organisations, and because we offer entrepreneurs a complete ecosystem of seed funding, incubation support … Continue reading Indian Start-ups get ‘UnLtd’ assistance

Doing Well By Doing Good

– social innovation for the health of society and the human family –

Month: April 2011