Asian Philanthropy Forum

Ingenuity Fund Challenge: Win Trip Abroad to Witness Grameen Foundation's Work

by guest blogger, Seena Aras, Director of Online and Annual Giving at Grameen Foundation

Despite incredible economic progress over the past two decades, Asia remains home to the majority of the world’s poor people. 

Grameen Foundation creates economic opportunities that help the world’s poorest, especially women, improve their lives and escape poverty. We focus on five core countries in Asia—China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines—where we have provided support for many years.   Together, these countries are home to more than 60 percent of the world’s poor people, living on just $2.50/day, and more than 70 percent of the world’s poorest people, living on just $1.25/day.

Now, you and a guest can have the chance to take part in our innovative delivery of microfinance and technology services to the world’s poorest people—all by joining The Ingenuity Fund Challenge and competing for the grand prize trip. 

The Ingenuity Fund Challenge is a way for you to tap into your own creativity and make an impact on ending the cycle of poverty endured by millions around the world. By joining the Challenge, you’ll have the opportunity to develop the most compelling ways to educate your friends, families, and networks about Grameen Foundation. Through March 31st, 2010, Challenge participants will develop compelling, creative personal Ingenuity Fund Challenge fundraising pages on Grameen Foundation’s website and raise awareness of and funds for Grameen Foundation’s work through personal networks, social media, and other offline activities. The participant with the most creative, ingenious web page and outreach effort will win the grand prize of an overseas field visit.

Our donors like Annie Chen and Raja Malkani have witnessed firsthand our work in Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of China. During the trip, Annie visited Chifeng Zhaowuda Women’s Sustainable Development Association (CZWSDA), a microfinance institution, where she met microfinance clients and saw how their small enterprises improved their lives and those of their families.  Raja met microfinance borrowers stitching and selling clothing, operating seed shops, and growing and selling crops. “It’s amazing what microfinance can do for such people,” Raja said. “The borrowers I met didn’t just gain financially; they gained self-esteem and a sense of independence, too.”

“I like the fact that microfinance is built on a model that involves empowering individuals to explore and develop their own potentials and strengths, rather than on giving handouts,” Annie said. 

If you are up to the challenge, please check out our resource page to read the full details and eligibility requirements in the contest rules.

Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship looking for social entrepreneurs in Asia

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is searching for outstanding social entrepreneurs in Asian countries where we do not currently have national competitions.  Schwab Foundation is looking for social entrepreneurs who are innovators implementing practical and sustainable solutions on the ground to address problems in a wide variety of areas, including (but not limited to) health, education, poverty alleviation, the environment, financial inclusion and enterprise development.

In terms of benefits, the winner(s) will join the Schwab Foundation’s community of accomplished social entrepreneurs around the world – a community that shares knowledge and experience while exchanging best practices. The Schwab Foundation seeks to help social entrepreneurs showcase their innovative, market-based social impact initiatives, thus, enhancing opportunities for business growth. Our social entrepreneurs have access to the meetings of the World Economic Forum (our sister organization) and are provided with an unparalleled platform to connect with government, corporate, intellectual and media leaders.

Candidates working in the following countries are encouraged to apply: China, South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

To apply or to view the criteria, selection process and benefits, please visit: http://www.schwabfoundseoy.org/asia.  Competition closes on 31 March 2010.

Photo courtesy of oleg.kellerhof

American Pakistan Foundation launches on 12/11/09

The Pakistani-American community is small but they give at a level that is above the national average.   According to a study on philanthropic giving by the Pakistani diaspora in the U.S., the Pakistani-American community gives over $1 billion annually, including money, goods and time.   In an effort to further encourage this giving in a secure and transparent channel, the American Pakistan Foundation was founded in May 2009.

Organized by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the attendees of the meeting agreed that the Pakistani-American community has a vital role to play in the development of Pakistan by forming a not-for-profit development organization devoted to improving the social and economic condition of the people of Pakistan and to promoting greater understanding and trust between the two nations.

The American Pakistani Foundation strategy:

1. Develop a secure and transparent channel for funding programs to improve donor trust through the establishment of an effective mechanism for improved evaluation, monitoring and reporting to meet international donor and foundation expectations.

2. Establish partnerships with the Pakistani civil society and development organizations and credible NGOs with existing programs to prioritize and meet the most urgent needs of the Pakistani people.

3. Complement existing Pakistani-American philanthropy by bringing more major foundation and corporate funding to facilitate expansion of existing efforts.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the guest of honor and will deliver the keynote address at the American Pakistan Foundation's Inaugural Benefit on Friday, December 11, 2009.

A brief look at British Asian philanthropy

- by Dien S Yuen

I was in London several weeks ago and had the opportunity to learn about British Asian philanthropy and the work of the Asian Foundation for Philanthropy.  

In the U.S., the term Asian American is often used to refer to those of Asian origin, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, etc.  On the other hand, the British Asian refers to those of South Asian origin, particularly Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis.  The other groups are lumped into 'orientals' and in the ethnic section of UK's census forms, the Chinese are treated separately, i.e., not as "Asians."

There are approximately 2,331,423 British Asians, constituting about 4% of the population of the United Kingdom (UK) (Indians are 2.7%; Pakistanis 1.5%; Bangladeshi's 0.5% and other Asians (0.4%)).  British Asians make up 50.2% of the UK's non-European population, according to the 2001 UK Census.  The South Asian diaspora accounts for 10% of UK's economic output.   According to a 2002/2003 study, there are 71 Asian millionaires, with 47 of them under the age of 40.

In the past, I have blogged about the lack of information, resources, and studies about Asian American philanthropy.  It seems as if the same case also applies to the UK as well.  There are virtually no studies or research on Asian giving patterns in the UK.  If you know of any, please let me know.

Asian philanthropy news 12/26/08

 

*  A MasterCard survey of 6,019 people across 14 countries found that Indonesia was the most charitable country with 88.3% of consumers planning to make donations.  New Zealand came in second and Australia (66%) came in third in the Asia/Pacific region. 

*  GE Foundation announced a one-year $225,000 grant to the US-Vietnam Trade Council Education Forum and STAR Vietnam to enhance its work to improve the rule of law in Vietnam.  The program will focus on transparency and public participation in the law and rule making process which will strengthen rule of law and should lead to increased economic development and growth.

* Acumen Fund, a global venture capital fund that invests in sustainable, scalable businesses that provide affordable water, housing, health and energy services who earn less than $4 a day announced four new investments in Pakistan.  As of June 30, 2008, Acumen Fund Pakistan's portfolio totaled $6.4 million in committed investments in enterprises focusing on drip irrigation, micro insurance, housing, peri-urban health clinics and other critical needs.

Photo courtesy of Oxfam International

Baluchistan earthquake

On October 29th, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Pakistan in the province of Baluchistan.  The tremor triggered landslides that instantly buried hundreds of homes.  The initial earthquake has been followed by as many as 1,000 aftershocks, causing more damage.

Ziarat and Pishin were the two worst-hit areas in Baluchistan. A total of eight villages were badly affected in the Ziarat area while in Pishin four or five villages were moderately affected. 700 families in Ziarat and 100 in Pishin were affected in the quakes.   A total of 6,000 people were displaced in these two areas, and the government has confirmed that 165 people were killed and 297 were injured in Ziarat. Two were dead and 17 others injured in Pishin.

Innovative competition focuses on human rights

I have written several times about the International Bridges to Justice project, JusticeMakers, but I finally signed up myself and read through some of the proposals. You can vote for your favorite project and that project could win a $5,000 prize to further their work. Remember the deadline is November 11th!

Kudos to the IBJ team for building such a user-friendly site. You don't need to be a program officer to understand some of the work these justicemakers are doing.  What will you find on the site? You will find some amazing information...

Development of Juvenile Career Project:  In 2007 there were approximately 4500 children in prisons. At any given time, more than 3000 inmates have not been convicted of any offences; their trial have yet to start or have not been completed. Almost 50% of the children are in jail for three or more months and their figure remain around 2000 to 2100. The majority of the children are charged with petty thefts, drug trafficking, mobile phone snatching, one wheeling, kite flying, kidnapping, rape and murder etc."

Global handwashing day - Oct 15th

October 15th is global handwashing day.  It is the first-ever event launched by the Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap (PPPHW) and is designed to introduce the idea of an annual event that raises awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap. 

According to the campaign website, poor hygiene and lack of access to sanitation contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrhoeal disases and account for 1.5 million diarrhoea-related under-five deaths each year.  The World Health Organization stated that, of the 161,000 children that died in Indonesia in 2006, 19% died from diarrhoea and 14% from pneumonia.  Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections.  Yet, despite its life-saving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced and difficult to promote.

New South Asian coalition in the US

From press release:

31 South Asian community organizations from 12 regions throughout the United States announced the formation of a National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO). The newly formed coalition released a detailed action and policy agenda focused on nine key issue areas affecting local South Asian American communities, including immigration, gender equity, and access to services.

Coalition partners include community-based groups that provide social services, organize, and advocate for South Asians in 12 metropolitan areas around the U.S. The groups range from member-led organizations, social service providers, and volunteer collectives that focus on a wide variety of issues such as mental health, domestic violence, racial and religious profiling, and housing and economic development. Their constituents and members include low-wage workers, youth, and LGBTIQ individuals. Some of the groups were established decades ago, while others were formed in the past 5 years.