I’m writing this from halfway around the world in Doha, Qatar where I’m waiting for my flight to Mumbai. Although I’m a little groggy for the 12+ hour flight here, I can’t sleep because I am so anxious to get to India and start what will no doubt be a life-changing experience. I am thrilled to be traveling to India to study social entrepreneurship, a topic I have had a growing interest in over the past year, and something I think is a key tool in reducing poverty and improving the health and wellbeing of people around the world.
As we’ve read and discussed in class, and as I learned firsthand in trying to write a paper on the subject, social entrepreneurship is difficult to define. What interests me most is the characteristic of social entrepreneurs to continuously find creative solutions to problems. In our course text, David Bornstein’s How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, there are many stories of entrepreneurs who come up with a great idea to solve a social problem, such as lack of electricity access in rural Brazil or need for support for street children in India. But they do not just stop with one idea. If a challenge comes up, they come up with another idea to get around it. Or, if one thing works, they figure out what they can add to help people even more. I’ve never thought of myself as overly creative, but I hope I can channel some of the creativity from the many social entrepreneurs we will meet on this trip.
One thing that social entrepreneurs—like all entrepreneurs—need is start up capital. We were assigned to look at three Web sites that focus on funding projects and people in developing countries: www.globalgiving.org, www.kiva.org, www.globalindiafund.org, and www.samhita.org. I love the idea behind all of these sites, which is that people, in general, are very generous. When a natural disaster strikes, or a community member gets ill, or a family member loses their job, people reach out and help in anyway they can—no matter how small. By making giving easy, particularly across international borders, these sites create a network of helping hands around the world.
Each site takes a slightly different approach. GlobalGiving lets donors make tax-deductible contributions to projects around the world, who otherwise might not be able to afford tools to collect donations. The site presents projects by topic and region, making it easy for donors to find something of interest, and it gives specific details about what your gift can buy (for example, $10 can buy a backpack full of supplies for a child in Liberia). According to the site, GlobalGiving has had 205,406 donors give $48.7 million to 4,260 projects since 2002.
Kiva has a similar setup except instead of making donations, users making small loans. It also has great stats—since 2005, 602,445 lenders have loaned $232 million with a repayment rate of 98.79%. I love this idea because it helps people around the world start a small business, without relying on donations. You can choose to give to individual entrepreneurs, based on their vision for their business, or to community banks, who lend to many individuals. I also love that Kiva relies on volunteers to run its network, edit Web stories, and so on, so that 100% of your loan goes directly to the entrepreneur.
In class we have talked a great deal about Dr. Vyas’ efforts with Global India Fund. Key to this site’s model is that Global India Fund, along with Samhita, takes on the due diligence of vetting all the organizations on its site so that donors can feel confident they are making a contribution to a reliable, transparent organization that is effective and also uses its resources efficiently.
All of these sites let users make a real difference in the lives of people around the world. It is truly amazing what just $10 or $20 can do. I encourage you all to check them out.
More from India...
Sunday, July 31, 2011
People Watching: Observations at a Major Indian Airport
Waiting for some of my colleagues to arrive at Mumbai International Airport, provided the great opportunity to people watch as planeloads of passengers streamed out of the airport into a waiting India. In keeping with the rise of India as one of the world’s important economies, its visitors and returning residents brought with them explicit evidence of economic and social success: bulging suitcases, fashionable clothes and shoes, electronics and much more. One striking element was the enormous range of people from across the international, social, business, and religious spectrum that passed through that airport exit.
Standing quietly in a corner of the exit lounge I noticed a female member of the Airport janitorial staff also observing the crowd, her face slightly drawn in as she watched the stream of plenty pass her by. She was dressed in an Airports Authority provided uniform, complete with a simple but tasteful sari, a nice long sweater coat, and comfortable closed toe and well-soled shoes but still it was clear that she did not fully belong to the class of people walking by us. No doubt she benefits to some degree by her employment at a major international airport which is enormously busy at all hours of the night and day but her demeanour and expression indicated the possible existence of another life outside the airport, perhaps in some chawl or one of those tenement areas we would visit later in our trip. At one point her supervisor swung by and held a brief conversation discussing work shift issues in what I noted to be a very polite tone.
Every so often, spying some minor trash falling off a luggage cart, the housekeeper would step out from her place in the corner to sweep the lobby area with a long-handled, ergonomically sound, Swiffer-style floor-sweeping implement, a great improvement in of itself from its predecessors -- the handheld dirty floor rag and a bucket of equally grimy water or the 2 foot long traditional short broomstick or “jhadoo” that was most certainly not ergonomic. Clearly, her occupational work conditions have improved with respect to her work clothes, which lend a certain amount of respect to her person, and work implements, which demonstrate improved ergonomics and reduced manual and inhalation contact with unsanitary environmental conditions such as unhygienic and dusty floors.
Suddenly, a family of passengers passed through the lobby on their way to the main exit door: a harried mother travelling alone with a mountain of luggage, followed by her 6 or 7 year old feisty take-charge daughter pushing a cart herself, who was busy shepherding her mom in front and her baby brother behind, and of course the toddler brother pushing his own stroller but barely able to see over its top and weaving a crazy path across the lobby floor much to his sister’s chagrin. In that instant, the janitor immediately became animated and both of us broke into amused grins as we watched the hilarious progress of this family across the lobby and out the exit. After that brief piece of entertainment, the janitor turned to me and still smiling made the sapient, and in some sense proud, observation that the little girl was a tough cookie who would manage well in life!
It made me wonder what else the janitor was thinking about in making her remark. Did she have a young daughter who she hoped would someday do well in life? Was she thinking about how her own professional work conditions have improved over the years? At how she’s given more respect as a woman floor sweeper and dignified with a respectable uniform, treatment, and working implements, in a country that has traditionally held a challenging views of social class? It would appear there has been progress in India over these past 10 years yet some essential economic and social differences remain. The hope lies as always in the children of the future generation who are always able to draw a smile out of adults, and I suspect the janitor on some level thinks the same.
Standing quietly in a corner of the exit lounge I noticed a female member of the Airport janitorial staff also observing the crowd, her face slightly drawn in as she watched the stream of plenty pass her by. She was dressed in an Airports Authority provided uniform, complete with a simple but tasteful sari, a nice long sweater coat, and comfortable closed toe and well-soled shoes but still it was clear that she did not fully belong to the class of people walking by us. No doubt she benefits to some degree by her employment at a major international airport which is enormously busy at all hours of the night and day but her demeanour and expression indicated the possible existence of another life outside the airport, perhaps in some chawl or one of those tenement areas we would visit later in our trip. At one point her supervisor swung by and held a brief conversation discussing work shift issues in what I noted to be a very polite tone.
Every so often, spying some minor trash falling off a luggage cart, the housekeeper would step out from her place in the corner to sweep the lobby area with a long-handled, ergonomically sound, Swiffer-style floor-sweeping implement, a great improvement in of itself from its predecessors -- the handheld dirty floor rag and a bucket of equally grimy water or the 2 foot long traditional short broomstick or “jhadoo” that was most certainly not ergonomic. Clearly, her occupational work conditions have improved with respect to her work clothes, which lend a certain amount of respect to her person, and work implements, which demonstrate improved ergonomics and reduced manual and inhalation contact with unsanitary environmental conditions such as unhygienic and dusty floors.
Suddenly, a family of passengers passed through the lobby on their way to the main exit door: a harried mother travelling alone with a mountain of luggage, followed by her 6 or 7 year old feisty take-charge daughter pushing a cart herself, who was busy shepherding her mom in front and her baby brother behind, and of course the toddler brother pushing his own stroller but barely able to see over its top and weaving a crazy path across the lobby floor much to his sister’s chagrin. In that instant, the janitor immediately became animated and both of us broke into amused grins as we watched the hilarious progress of this family across the lobby and out the exit. After that brief piece of entertainment, the janitor turned to me and still smiling made the sapient, and in some sense proud, observation that the little girl was a tough cookie who would manage well in life!
It made me wonder what else the janitor was thinking about in making her remark. Did she have a young daughter who she hoped would someday do well in life? Was she thinking about how her own professional work conditions have improved over the years? At how she’s given more respect as a woman floor sweeper and dignified with a respectable uniform, treatment, and working implements, in a country that has traditionally held a challenging views of social class? It would appear there has been progress in India over these past 10 years yet some essential economic and social differences remain. The hope lies as always in the children of the future generation who are always able to draw a smile out of adults, and I suspect the janitor on some level thinks the same.
Global Philanthropy: A Reaction to Four Organizations
In preparation for our two week visit to study social entrepreneurship in the developing world, four organizations involved in global philanthropy were studied to better understand the current state of the field and to provide the necessary context for evaluating some of our experiences in India. The organizations include Global Giving, KIVA, Global India Fund, and Samhita, each of which embodies several strengths while offering potential areas for enhancement. There are some similarities as well as unique features in each of these four models.
Global Giving (www.globalgiving.org) provides a forum for interested donors to identify causes and/or regions or countries of interests to donate their money. They operate across the world and provide reports back to the donors on progress within their project of choice. Global Giving vets social enterprises interested in participating in their network and conducts a rigorous due diligence review to verify conceptual viability and other administrative capabilities. Global Giving offers a range of giving options and the unique guarantee of allowing the donor to re-allocate their donations to another project if they are not fully satisfied with their giving experience.
KIVA (www.kiva.org) provides a forum for lenders to offer microloans and participate in the microfinance arena. In turn KIVA sends 100 percent of these loans to microfinance institutions all over the world and works with these field partners to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. KIVA does not charge interest to its microfinance field partners who administer the loans. KIVA also raises funds through grants, corporate sponsors, and foundations. KIVA’s process includes a due diligence review of its field partners. KIVA also offers a unique fellowship program so its lenders can volunteer with microfinance partners to observe the value first hand.
Global India Fund (www.globalindiafund.org) represents an inspiring innovation in the philanthropic sector by creating a social marketplace in which donors are provided with a variety of smart giving options through a dynamic on-line portal, local Indian non-profits are given a face and voice, and connected with the global donor community. GIF focuses on India given the intense need for efforts to combat significant public health issues in that country. It also offers transparency in how donor funds are used and provides reports back to its donors. GIF works with a partner organization in India called Samhita and together they offer a well-defined value proposition in which information, credibility, resources efficiency, output, outcomes and impact are clearly displayed for new donors and partner to review. GIF has also created a well-defined credibility framework including a due diligence review process on its partner institutions.
Samhita (www.samhita.org) is a philanthropic initiative of the Nadathur Trust that functions as a social marketplace in which NGOs get visibility, can raise funds, find volunteers, find talent, access expert advice and knowledge resources and people can support social causes by donating, volunteering, writing, providing expert advice and spreading awareness. It’s ultimate goal is to provide a forum for visibility, resources, and support for all stakeholders in the social sector. It works in partnership with the Global India Fund and showcases NGOs that have passed a rigorous due diligence review process and are available for selection by potential donors.
These four organizations offer some unique giving strategies between them. In some key ways the Global India Fund and Samhita may be regarded as building and improving upon earlier giving models in a more holistic and transparent manner (eg., in clearly defining value propositions and credibility frameworks as well as including a range of stakeholders across the social sector spectrum. This initial assessment lays the groundwork for understanding the upcoming experiences in India and in helping to determine potentially innovative ways of seeing these situations and generating new solutions.
Global Giving (www.globalgiving.org) provides a forum for interested donors to identify causes and/or regions or countries of interests to donate their money. They operate across the world and provide reports back to the donors on progress within their project of choice. Global Giving vets social enterprises interested in participating in their network and conducts a rigorous due diligence review to verify conceptual viability and other administrative capabilities. Global Giving offers a range of giving options and the unique guarantee of allowing the donor to re-allocate their donations to another project if they are not fully satisfied with their giving experience.
KIVA (www.kiva.org) provides a forum for lenders to offer microloans and participate in the microfinance arena. In turn KIVA sends 100 percent of these loans to microfinance institutions all over the world and works with these field partners to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. KIVA does not charge interest to its microfinance field partners who administer the loans. KIVA also raises funds through grants, corporate sponsors, and foundations. KIVA’s process includes a due diligence review of its field partners. KIVA also offers a unique fellowship program so its lenders can volunteer with microfinance partners to observe the value first hand.
Global India Fund (www.globalindiafund.org) represents an inspiring innovation in the philanthropic sector by creating a social marketplace in which donors are provided with a variety of smart giving options through a dynamic on-line portal, local Indian non-profits are given a face and voice, and connected with the global donor community. GIF focuses on India given the intense need for efforts to combat significant public health issues in that country. It also offers transparency in how donor funds are used and provides reports back to its donors. GIF works with a partner organization in India called Samhita and together they offer a well-defined value proposition in which information, credibility, resources efficiency, output, outcomes and impact are clearly displayed for new donors and partner to review. GIF has also created a well-defined credibility framework including a due diligence review process on its partner institutions.
Samhita (www.samhita.org) is a philanthropic initiative of the Nadathur Trust that functions as a social marketplace in which NGOs get visibility, can raise funds, find volunteers, find talent, access expert advice and knowledge resources and people can support social causes by donating, volunteering, writing, providing expert advice and spreading awareness. It’s ultimate goal is to provide a forum for visibility, resources, and support for all stakeholders in the social sector. It works in partnership with the Global India Fund and showcases NGOs that have passed a rigorous due diligence review process and are available for selection by potential donors.
These four organizations offer some unique giving strategies between them. In some key ways the Global India Fund and Samhita may be regarded as building and improving upon earlier giving models in a more holistic and transparent manner (eg., in clearly defining value propositions and credibility frameworks as well as including a range of stakeholders across the social sector spectrum. This initial assessment lays the groundwork for understanding the upcoming experiences in India and in helping to determine potentially innovative ways of seeing these situations and generating new solutions.
contemplating the unknown.
As I sit here sipping my tea, I postulate my plans. Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Valsad – what do these mean? All my bags are packed, visa is purchased, shots administered, Imodium in tow. I am going to India. This will not be a backpacker’s trekking dream, venturing from the Himalayan-lined Amritsar to the delicious beaches of Goa. I am going to learn. I am going to understand change. I am going to try and fully comprehend what is a social entrepreneur.
For the last four weeks we have read materials on and discussed the ideas that define social entrepreneurship in our class. However, I still remain unsure over what is a social entrepreneur. What characteristics define this concept that might actually be a fad? Does is really matter what terms we use as long as, in the end, social change takes place?
As I spend the next two weeks in India, I will be taking the time to reflect upon the idea of social entrepreneurship Currently, my understanding of this dense term is pretty basic – a social entrepreneur is someone how has a passion and drive for change and thereby finds a means to create an economic enterprise that would allow the social change to be sustainable.
That are some organizations already in place that are fostering an environment that is supportive and empowering for social entrepreneurs and their passionate endeavors. Ones in particular include: Kiva, Global Giving, Global India Fund, and Samhita. These four organizations are very different in how they provide support for social entrepreneurs but their work is equally important.
Kiva – based out of San Francisco, Kiva is a non-profit that focuses on connecting people through microloans. The idea is that individuals from around the world can donate funds as small as $25 USD towards a project aimed at alleviating poverty. Kiva works in over 59 countries, having provided $233 million USD in loans. With a repayment rate of 98.79%, it’s very apparent that Kiva’s program works. These loans are crucial for the livelihood of impoverished communities; the individuals receiving the loans are ones that have no access to traditional banking systems. One hundred percent of the loan provided from a donor goes directly to the project, while Kiva funds its efforts through grants and fundraising. It’s amazing to see a truly philanthropic organization that is out to bring about change without trying to line their pockets. After exploring Kiva’s website, I have to say I am truly impressed by their work and hope to be afforded the opportunity to work with them in the near future.
Global Giving – Global Giving provides funding to organizations with social change projects. GG works with over 1,000 grassroots charity projects that have undergone a selection screening process. By providing a database with projects, GG boasts of having an “efficient, transparent way to make an impact with your giving.” The difference between Kiva and Global Giving is that GG charges a 15% fee for donations made towards a project, versus 100% of the loan for the project via Kiva. To be fair, GG does make it clear that a donor does not have to agree to the 15% fee.
Global India Fund and Samhita – I pair these two organizations because of my work with them as well as their link to each other. I have been volunteering with the GIF (even though it feels more like working with Samhita) since January, serving as a “non-profit consultant,” helping the Indian NGOs in the Samhita database develop their donor profile. This work includes grammar and spelling checks as well as editing and consultation on transparency and development of online information. My first (and only) organization I worked with was the Kaivalya Trust, funding the Kedi Residential School for Tribal Girls in Valsad (just north of Bombay). My time spent working with the Kedi School on their online profile provided insights into the GIF and Samhita organizations and the work they do. Samhita provides an online database of various organizations working in the social sector in India to help direct national and international donors towards projects they’d like to fund. Global India Fund provides the link for US donors to the Samhita-sponsored NGOs. The support by these two organizations ensures that thousands of projects get funded and bring about social change.
After reflecting upon all of these organizations I realize this biggest similarity: they are all dedicated to connecting grassroots, drivers-of-change with international donors who are looking to help through monetary support. I use to scoff at the idea of just donating money – I want to make a greater difference then throwing some good ol’ American dollars at an organization. While there is extreme value in time and efforts, donating skills and expertise, I am realizing the importance of funds. I cannot simply hop on a plane and venture 6000 miles to Nepal to work on a sustainable farm for a rural elementary school. Neither can other members of the International Organization for Bleeding-Hearts (I might have made that up). But money does and can go far – donors are investing in the well-being of a community and the overall drive for social changes. That’s definitely worth putting my money where my mouth is.
India, here I come!
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