World Challenge 09 - Global Competition showcasing Enterprise and Innovation at Grassroots Level

Now in its fifth year, World Challenge 09 is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. World Challenge 09 is brought to you by BBC World News and Newsweek, in association with Shell, and is about championing and rewarding projects and business which really make a difference.

Plan Bee won the World Challenge 08. The Pakistani project helps female beekeepers boost their income by selling high quality honey. The northern areas of Pakistan are among the poorest and most isolated regions in the country. Effective development assistance has yet to reach these hilly, remote areas and it is the women and children who are most affected. The only workable and sustainable solution is to capitalize on local resources, building on what is achievable as well as culturally acceptable.

Your chance to nominate a project
We are looking for your nominations for innovative projects or ideas that demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit working for the benefit of the community whilst adopting a responsible approach.

Nominations close at midnight (GMT) on the 22nd May 2009.

Nominate a project or small business for World Challenge 09

India Social Enterprise Fellowship Challenge

Justmeans is recruiting a Social Enterprise Fellow to work out of our Pune, India office. The fellow will, among other things:

•Develop and scale our research team
•Develop a business strategy for Justmeans expansion into Asia in the first two quarters of 2010
•Work with one of our partners to launch an annual conference on sustainable development in India
•Work with our CEO, Martin Smith, to identify and secure founding academic and corporate partners for the launch of Justmeans Asia
•Work with Ashoka Fellow and COO Kevin Long to develop an appropriate mobile technology strategy for India and beyond

Read more about the India Social Enterprise Fellowship. To get the fellowship, you need to win a challenge -

Applicants must answer one of the questions below reflecting their philosophy related to the Justmeans strategy. Then, applicants will invite their friends and network to vote and comment on their idea. Once an idea is submitted, further application instructions will be provided.

Questions:
1. How should Justmeans bring its platform to Asia?
2. Why should Justmeans be in Asia?
3. How should Justmeans use mobile technology in Asia?

SEE ALL DETAILS ON THE FELLOWSHIP HERE

Indicorps initiates the Young Professionals Initiative

Indicorps invites YOU, a young Indian professional, to commit your time and skills to India!  Young Professionals Initiative (YPI), a new sabbatical program at Indicorps, allows you to meaningfully bring your knowledge and talents to your land of heritage.  This pilot program of YPI gives you an opportunity to participate in short-term, goal-oriented service projects that can have an enormous impact.

 

The projects include:

 

• Legal: Amend Gujarat court processes to reduce sizeable backlog of cases
• Finance:  Assist a socially responsible start-up to create robust franchise systems and strong local entrepreneurs
• Information Technology: Integrate information systems for bottom of the pyramid start-up business
• Marketing:  Capture stories to generate interest in Ahmedabad's unique 600-year heritage
• Environmental Planning: Reinvigorate urban environmental policies for walled-city of Ahmedabad
• Education: Formulate innovative public-private partnerships to increase the adult literacy rate
• Education Policy: Strategize comprehensive action plan for statewide vocational programs

 

YPI hopes to empower young professionals to understand that their potential extends beyond 'traditional' jobs.  As with all Indicorps programs, YPI Associates will be constantly challenged and encourage to explore their roles as changemakers. 

 

The program begins with a week-long orientation and includes a mid-point and close-out workshop to track progress and share experiences.  Successful candidates for YPI will have at least three years of work experience in a capacity relevant to their applicable project.

 

YPI Term: 1 July to 1 December 2009

 

For more information and to apply, please visit us online at:  www.indicorps.org/ypi.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis (preference will be given to applications before 1 May 2009) until the start date.

 

Please contact us at ypi@indicorps.org with any questions.

 

Warm regards in service,

The Indicorps Team

Dell Social Innovation Competetion shortlists projects

Out of the 527 ideas, Dell has selected 100 ideas to move forward and compete in the next round of the competition. Check out the semifinalists listed on the website. Really happy to see some interesting ideas to change the world.

More ideas on Dell Social Innovation Competition website.

Self Sustainable Apartments


Rural Research & Consultancy


Solarcycle


SWEET India: Safe Water for Everyone using Efficient Technology

Master in E-Government - SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS

SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS for the International Professional Master in E-government at the University of Trento, Italy are being offered. The masters constitutes an excellent opportunity to learn technologies and work with companies on concrete projects, and hence with great employment opportunities. A strong background in basic Computer Science is required.

International Master in eGovernment
November 2009 - September 2010
Trento, Italy

To apply for admission to the Master in eGovernment, please complete the Application Form online:
http://disi.unitn.it/edu/appform/login.xml

Application Deadlines:
- April 30, 2009 for Non-EU applicants
- May 31, 2009 for EU applicants

If you are interested in the program or would like to know more about it please follow the link: http://latemar.science.unitn.it/egov.html

Contact - Anelia Grigorova <anelia@dit.unitn.it> 

Global Impact Corps: Volunteer Abroad Opportunities

Global Impact Corps: Innovative, Effective Volunteering Abroad

Be a Global Impact Fellow in Ghana, Honduras, or India
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Opportunities

http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad

Unite For Sight has been featured weekly on CNN International and in The New York Times

Unite For Sight is the world's leader in socially responsible, effective volunteering abroad. We engage, inspire, and train high-impact volunteers who support and assist eye clinics globally.Unite For Sight supports eye clinics worldwide by investing human and financial resources in their social ventures to eliminate patient barriers to eye care. With the assistance of volunteers like you, Unite For Sight has restored sight to 21,190 patients and provided eye care to more than 700,000.

All volunteers participating in Unite For Sight's international programs are Global Impact Fellows. Our goal is to build entrepreneurial leaders who gain skills in social change through Unite For Sight's immersive global health experience. Through hands-on, structured training, we instill in our Global Impact Fellows a thorough understanding of sustainable best practice principles in volunteerism, global health, and international development. Global Impact Fellows gain skills and are nurtured to become new leaders in global health.

Why Become A Global Impact Fellow?

• Experience the thrill of contributing to change on the highest level
• Be part of global problem solving
• Receive hands-on training in community-based program delivery
• Be immersed in effective global health and eye care programs
• Be inspired to become a leader in global health
• Join a movement of social innovators committed to global health and sustainable development
• Be engaged in ethical, high quality and high impact volunteerism
• Volunteers are encouraged to pursue entrepreneurial projects and research studies
• Become part of an alumni network that supports leaders in social change

Locations (volunteer for 10 days, 20 days, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, or more)

• Accra Region, Ghana
• Rural Villages, Ghana
• Tamale, Ghana
• Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Bihar, India
• Chennai, India
• New Delhi, India
• Orissa, India

Complete Details:http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad

2 PhD scholarships on "Responsible Business in the Blogosphere"

At CBS Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (cbsCSR), Department of Intercultural Communication and Management, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, two PhD positions are vacant to be occupied from 1 August 2009 till 31 July 2012.

Closing date for applications is 29 May 2009 at 12.00 noon.

The purpose of the 3-year research project on "Responsible Business in the Blogosphere" is to investigate how corporate reputations as "responsible business" are constructed and co-constructed on-line in virtual social networks.

The research project will analyse the socio-economic value of such virtual construction of "responsible business", i.e. perceptions of corporate economic, social and environmental responsibility – corporate social responsibility (CSR). The project will – in dialogue with international corporations - develop new measurement methods that take into account the creation and influence of collective on-line-user's opinions about companies that affects corporate value creation.

The PhDs will be part of an international and interdisciplinary research team consisting of senior researchers from Copenhagen Business School (CBS) and Denmark's Technical University (DTU) including 2 post docs and 4 PhD students starting on 1 August 2009.

This 3-year project is supported by a research grant from The Strategic Research Council under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

For more specific information on each position and the application process please visit the CBS job database at http://frontpage.cbs.dk/jobs/stil.pl?func=details&id=1274

Jonas Eder-Hansen
Research Director
CBS Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (cbsCSR)
Copenhagen Business School

e-mail: jonas.eder-hansen@cbs.dk

web: www.cbs.dk/cbscsr

Fellowships for Business Professionals to work in Nonprofit Sector

ProInspire (www.proinspire.org) is accepting applications for the founding class of Inspire Fellows. Inspire Fellows are high performing, young business professionals, that want to use their skills to make a difference in the nonprofit sector.

The ideal Inspire Fellow has 2-5 years of work experience at a top consulting firm, investment bank or corporation--and is looking to build a career in the social sector. A Fellow should have skills in analysis, financial modeling, project management, or strategic thinking through their prior work experience and training.

Program Overview
The pilot program begins in August 2009, and Fellows will work for leading nonprofit organizations in the Washington D.C. area for 1-year. Fellows will participate in a 2-day foundational training course, ongoing workshops, mentorship programs, and networking events to support their transition into the nonprofit sector.

Fellows will be hired by well-known nonprofit organizations that are using innovative approaches to address social problems. Hiring partners include organizations focused on economic development, education, microfinance and global health.

Selection Criteria
Successful candidates will have:
• A minimum of two years of business experience
• Passion for using their business skills to have a positive impact on society
• Humility and desire to learn from experienced nonprofit professionals
• Comfort with ambiguity
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly
• Experience in one or more functional business areas, including finance, strategy, marketing, operations, information technology and general management
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and project management skills
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills
Note: Hiring partners do not sponsor work visas.

TO APPLY, visit www.proinspire.org.

 

Applications are due by Wednesday, April 8th.

 

Similar Fellowships are offered by Atlas Service Corps - check www.atlascorps.org too - Deadline April 1st.

Ashoka and Staples Launch Annual Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition

Global Competition Will Recognize Entrepreneurial Youth Addressing Social Issues in their Communities

ARLINGTON, VA — March 25, 2009— Ashoka, the world’s community of leading social entrepreneurs, and Staples Foundation for Learning (SFFL), a private foundation created by Staples, Inc., announced today the launch of the third annual Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition. The global competition is part of Ashoka’s Youth Venture, an initiative that SFFL has helped expand globally to seven countries in North America, South America and Europe. Youth Venture identifies and fosters young entrepreneurs all over the world who are identifying problems and creating Ventures to address social issues in their communities.

The competition asks Youth Venture teams, which are made up of students between the ages of 12-24, to explain what course of action they have taken to address a social issue affecting their community.

Nominations will be accepted through April 17, 2009. In May, an elite panel of judges will select five finalist Venture teams for their outstanding impact, innovation and potential. The Summit will provide youth with innovative workshops on skill-building, leadership and collaborative opportunities.

Prizes
- ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP for up to two members of each of the Five Winning Teams to travel to Boston, MA, USA, to attend the Staples Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Awards ceremony and much more!
- The Youth Social Entreprenur Excellence Award (1 Winner): US$5,000 Value
- The Youth Social Entrepreneur Achievement Award (4 Winners Selected): US$500
- FREE Attendance: Youth Venture National Summit in Boston, MA: (ALL 5 Winners)
- FREE Project Management Consultation: (ALL 5 Winners)

For additional information on the Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition, please visit the competition web site at: www.GenV.net/StaplesYV


About Youth Venture
Ashoka’s Youth Venture® is a global movement of young changemakers. Youth Venture inspires and invests in teams of young people to start their own sustainable social Ventures and connects them into a powerful global network. Collectively, these young changemakers are redefining the youth years as a time of initiative and positive change. For more information, please visit www.genv.net.

About Ashoka
Ashoka is the world’s community of leading social entrepreneurs—individuals with innovative and practical ideas for addressing social needs. Working with these social entrepreneurs, Ashoka builds communities of innovators who work collectively to transform society and design new ways for the social sector to become more productive, entrepreneurial and globally integrated. For more information, please visit www.ashoka.org.

MNN Nonprofit Excellence Awards - Apply Now or Nominate

On June 8th, the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network will host an event that will celebrate Massachusetts Nonprofit Awareness Day, in honor of nonprofits and nonprofit leaders.

As part of this event, Nonprofit Excellence Awards will celebrate the individual efforts of nonprofit organizations throughout the state. The award celebration is planned as a formal luncheon at the State House. Award winners will receive a plaque, a complementary ticket for the event, and their legislators will be invited to present them with their awards

MNN wants the public to know and appreciate the people and organizations that are making a difference in their lives day in and day out. Interested people can nominate an organization, individual, or their own organization for one of these important statewide awards.

Some of these awards include:
MNN Nonprofit Collaboration Award
MNN Nonprofit Innovation Award
MNN Nonprofit Governance Award
MNN Nonprofit Management Award
MNN Nonprofit Advocacy Award
MNN Nonprofit Leadership Award
MNN Nonprofit Young Professional Award

For award descriptions and TO APPLY go to www.massnonprofitnet.org/awards

Applications are due on April 15

Grants for Entrepreneurial Education Based Programs in India

At TeachAManToFish they believe that economic self-reliance is not just for individuals, but that schools can also help support the cost of the services they provide through their own income generating activities.

The Competition
To find the best school-based income-generating initiatives in India, projects which are both educational and financially sustainable.

The competition represents a great chance to unleash students and teachers natural entrepreneurship, harness local creativity, and build momentum for Education That Pays For Itself across India.

From student-run cybercafe's funding classroom improvements, to schoolyard chicken-runs laying aside profits to pay for books, the competition aims to encourage education initiatives to come up with ways to boost their financial resources at the same time as teaching practical and business skills to their students.

Winners will receive the funding and consultancy support needed to help turn their ideas into reality.

The Grants and Beneficiaries:
There are 3 grants available, to the maximum value of $5,000 each. These grants are available to:
1. Registered secondary schools, vocational colleges, & tertiary education institutions
2. Non-profit organizations, NGOs and social enterprises working in partnership with secondary or tertiary level education institutions.

In either case, beneficiaries should be in the age range of 12-25 years old and predominantly from low income families.

APPLY HERE

Hat Tip: Let Me Know

Atlas Corps gets a spotlight in the Washington Post

Atlas Corps (my fellowship organization) is highlighted in the Front Page of the business section of the Washington Post. Please check out the article, spread the word and leave a comment at the bottom of the article: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washbizblog/2009/03/value_added_17.html

I wondered what the possible business applications of Twitter could be. While I was wondering, I got a pitch from entrepreneur Scott Beale, who used Twitter, Facebook, Craigslist and a bunch of other web sites to win $100,000 from online contests to fund his District startup.

The start-up is a non-profit. Don't press the snooze button yet. Beale approached the project as if he were building the next Google.

The article is, in part, how we are winning online contests to support our organization. So, if you want to keep things going strong, we would LOVE to have your support for an online contest that we are participating in currently - your help with a $10 donation now help us win $10,000: http://www.razoo.com/organization/Atlas-Service-Corps

Also, Atlas Corps is currently looking out for Class of 2009 Fellows. The application deadline is April 1, 2009. Do you know amazing nonprofit leaders who would like to be Atlas Corps Fellows? If so, they need to apply soon: http://www.atlascorps.org/apply.html

Top 50 Social Entrepreneur Blogs To Watch In 2009

Evancarmichael.com - The newest breed of superheroes are not on the big screen, but in the small business community! People have long been awaiting for a “hero” or social entrepreneur to arrive with the special ability to recognize society’s problems and bring about global changes. Entrepreneurs who have the burning desire to create “social value” and develop long-term solutions are real life Supermen/Wonderwomen. So if you wish to help the disadvantaged by empowering them with tools for success, check out EvanCarmichael.com’s “The Top 50 Social Entrepreneur Blogs To Watch in 2009” to start improving the lives of others right now.

Check out The Top 50 Social Entrepreneur Blogs To Watch In 2009

IYF Seeks Dynamic Young People Leading Social Change

There’s a lot of talk about the problems facing our world today, but it takes a special person to find a solution and put it into action – a social entrepreneur. The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is in search of 20 young social entrepreneurs from around the world for its YouthActionNet® Global Fellowship Program.

Sponsored by Nokia, the YouthActionNet® Global Fellowship Program recognizes young social innovators for their outstanding achievements. Past winners have undertaken a range of special projects, including: providing low-cost, solar lighting to rural families in Nicaragua; using mobile phone technology to combat pharmaceutical fraud in Africa; and employing low-income women in the Philippines to transform discarded fabric into fashionable accessories. Profiles of the 2008 Global Fellows can be viewed at: www.youthactionnet.org

The Global Fellowship is open to qualified candidates between 18 and 29 years old. Applicants must be proficient in English and have founded existing projects or organizations with a clear vision for social change. This can include leading a new project within an existing organization. Winners will be announced on August 1, 2009.

The yearlong Fellowship includes:
• An all-expense-paid trip in November 2009 to attend the YouthActionNet® Global Fellowship Retreat that enables the 20 youth leaders to share best practices and learn from each other;
• Recognition for their efforts at the Annual YouthActionNet® Global Awards Ceremony;
• Networking with leading international nongovernmental organizations, development agencies, and donor institutions; and
• Virtual learning sessions, as well as access to global advocacy platforms, media coverage, and funding opportunities.

The deadline for applications is April 15, 2009. Application information is available at: www.youthactionnet.org

Atlas Corps Intl. Fellowship (Bogota, Colombia)

Atlas Corps is seeking the best rising and mid-career nonprofit leaders from the United States to apply for a one-year fellowship in Bogota, Colombia.

Successful candidates will be placed at nonprofit organizations in Bogota, Colombia, including Compartamos con Colombia, Give to Colombia, and Oxfam GB.

The 2009-10 program, which begins in early September with a week-long orientation and training session, will provide a full-time on-the-job training experience as well as knowledge and skill-building opportunities aimed at creating future nonprofit leaders.

Each Fellow will receive assistance applying for a travel visa, international travel to and from the host placement, a modest living stipend, medical insurance, and a $2,500 end-of-service award.

Successful applicants will have three or more years of experience in the nonprofit sector; a bachelor's degree; excellent written and verbal English and Spanish skills; and be committed to returning to the U.S. at the end of the program.

The DEADLINE to apply is April 1, 2009.

For more details, contact Kimi Wetterauer.
Phone: 202-736-5714
Email: applybogota@atlascorps.org
Web Site: www.atlascorps.org

HYSTA Business Plan Competition Announcement

Message from the HYSTA Emerging Leaders Forum

You are cordially invited to enter a second Business Plan Competition hosted by HYSTA, as part of our Entrepreneur Bootcamp. HYSTA is a prominent Bay Area non-profit organization focusing on promoting entrepreneurship. Just like E-Challenge, our Business Plan Competition provides an excellent platform for you to present your business ideas to Silicon Valley VCs.

Please consider the following benefits of our competition:
- Winner will get a prize of 3-month free rent at Plug and Play Incubator;
- Runners up will get a 50% rent discount for 3-months at Plug and Play;
- Pitch in front of VCs from Accel Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Mayfield/GSR Ventures, and Incubic Ventures (seed/early-stage investor);

Since you already have your executive summary ready, why not double your chances of getting VC attention (and eventually funding) by participating in both competition? Our competition is a simple one-day pitch event requiring minimum additional effort, but getting you in front of more top-tier VCs.

To participate in HYSTA Entrepreneur Bootcamp Business Plan Competition, startups should submit a clear, concise two page executive summary to: submit.bootcamp@hysta.us including the following information:
· Company's Name
· Name of the Participant(s)
· Email and Phone Numbers for Each Participant

All Executive Summaries will be handled with high confidentiality.
Example can be downloaded via this link: ES_Template.doc.
Executive Summary Submission Deadline: Midnight, March 1, 2009

The 2009 EBC Competition will be held on Saturday March 14. Please note that the pitch will be in front of an audience of investors and general public, so please plan your presentation accordingly.

Please refer to the following link for full details:
http://sites.google.com/a/hysta.us/bootcamp/call-for-entr...

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at davidzhuang@stanfordalumni.org

David Zhuang
Co-Director
HYSTA Emerging Leaders Forum

Your Last Chance to win $10000 and expand your Social Venture

Only few days left to apply for the Best Buy @15 Challenge to win $10,000! The Application Deadline is Monday, October 27th.

For more details, check out http://www.genv.net/bestbuy or contact 1-866-788-1628 / bestbuy15@youthventure.org

 

 

REMINDER: There is only a handful of days left to apply for the Best Buy @15 Challenge to win $10,000! The Application Deadline is Monday, October 27th. CLICK HERE to watch the video and learn how you can win $10,000 to expand your Venture!   For Questions about the @15 Challenge or the Application go to www.genv.net/bestbuy or contact 1-866-788-1628 / bestbuy15@youthventure.org