Tag archives for social entrepreneurship
Time to Scale Your Social Venture: The 3 Signs!
Paul Rice, CEO of Fair Trade USA, discusses how his organization has grown and scaled-and the three simple questions that led him and Fair Trade USA to new heights.
Luxurious Gifts From The Middle East Provide Holiday and Economic Cheer
For this holiday season, we are showcasing Oddysey Imports, which provides luxury goods made by social innovation leaders and artisan workshops in Egypt and Lebanon.
Saving Beirut’s Heritage Wins Artist an Award in New York
I recently received a very kind note from the husband of Benedicte de Blavous Moubarak, who salvages iron and other materials from other Beirut homes while offering economic opportunity to residents who need it the most.
CSR in the Balkans: A Young Professional’s Perspective
I recently interviewed Dessislava Todorova, the Editor in Chief at CSR Bulgaria, while I traipsed through the Balkans several weeks ago. She was the runner up in the Global Reporting Initiative’s case study competition, and has emerged as a leading voice of CSR in Bulgaria.
How a Social Entrepreneur Builds a Future out of Beirut’s Past
Benedicte de Blavous Moubarak founded 2B Design in 2004, with the idea that she could bring together people who may practice different religions, but were marginalized, often because of disabilities, and could not find gainful work. The result are pieces that reflect Beirut's glorious past.
Social Entrepreneurship in Bosnia: A Brilliant Mozaik
Zoran Pulijic started Bosnia's Mozaik in 2000 with the belief that locals know the best way how to build opportunity in their towns and villages. Pulijic and his colleagues developed what they describe as its Community Driven Development (CDD) methodology, which works to achieve maximum participation with community members on local development projects. Residents who work on a project within their town take the role traditionally outsourced to a consultant: they analyze needs, evaluate strengths and weaknesses, create a plan of action, and work on improving their capacities in order to carry out new community improvement initiatives.
Inspired by Trash, Texan Creates Green Homes and Jobs
There's more to Huntsville, TX, than an execution chamber and Sam Houston's historic home, including a large university, a quaint downtown, and home builder Dan Phillips. Founder of Phoenix Commotion, a company that focuses on building low cost, sustainable, and affordable housing, Phillips has built at least 13 homes for single parents, artists, and low-income families.
Fair Trade Has a Future in Bulgaria
Fair trade is one window through which Bulgarians can participate as a buyer and seller of niche products. Consumers here are getting a taste of fair trade coffee through Starbucks’ opening of several new stores this year.
Gypsies, Champs and Teas: Gypsy Tea Is a Fair Trade Hit
Fair trade sourcing tends to focus on coffee and chocolate, but tea is also an important product that can provide opportunity, rather than hardship, for those who cultivate and harvest it. To that end I had a chat with Zhena Muzkya, founder of Gypsy Tea, based in heavenly Ojai, California.
CSR: A Dubious Option in the Developing World
Ann Bernstein leads the Centre for Development and Enterprise in Johannesburg, South Africa. In her new book, The Case for Business in Developing Economies, she makes the case that the problem is not unethical corporations. Instead, she insists there are not enough businesses operating in countries like South Africa, which suffers from an unemployment rate that is anywhere from 24% to 33%.
Project Runway’s Valerie Mayen Boosts Support for Cleveland’s Design Industry – Please Vote!
Spearheaded by Valerie Mayan, Buzz & Growl gives designers and seamstresses space and resources to continue their work and education where opportunity otherwise does not exist. Most struggling designers do not have access to costly professional equipment or space to create proper, sellable work. They are relegated to sewing in confined spaces with improper tools, halting their creative potential and success. You can change that by voting for this project to get a Pepsi-Cola grant!
Khunu Introduces Womens Outerwear
Now just in time for the holidays, Khunu has rolled out an impressive collection of women’s outerwear, or as the company describes it, adventurewear. The sweaters are well tailored, and women will love them for their slimming effect—the quality of yak wool allows such sweaters to keep their shape. Currently the line is available for order on the internet: and within the United States, shipping by USPS Priority Mail is free.