-
Mixing Oil and Water in SME Development
Like oil and water, many would argue major energy companies don’t mix with advancing social impact. However, in an industry better known for oil spills and fat profits, the Shell Foundation is shattering stereotypes by providing financing for energy and infrastructure organizations too small for commercial funding and too large for microfinance.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
-
Milaap Providing Vocational Training to Rural Students Via Microlending
It’s estimated that about 423 million of India’s working-age population will be unemployed or unable to participate in the job market by 2030. Milaap, a microlender and microfranchising hub, has partnered with with GRAVITY to enable anyone to lend money to help students get vocational training through Milaap’s online platform.
- Categories
- Education
-
Making Education Relevant Where You Least Expect It
I recently visited a school in Maharashtra with rural education social enterprise Lend-A-Hand India. The principal says the Introduction to Basic Technology program implemented there has yielded phenomenal results: "When we find these kids, they don’t even have clothes on their back. Now, they are thinking about starting their own businesses."
- Categories
- Education
-
Guest Post: Why My Classroom is a Startup
I have always dreamt of starting my own chain of low cost affordable schools.That dream motivated me to join the Teach For India Fellowship. My small classroom was without the basic necessities. So my 27 students and I are learning the basics of sustainable business. For me, the students are not only the product, but also the customer.
- Categories
- Education
-
Spin Cycle to Empowering Women
Innovation creates capacity, allowing women to balance their time spent on productive activities. A washing machine can dramatically change the life of a mother and create time for more meaningful activities, including reading books to their children and educating themselves. But in order to truly empower women, we must go beyond the spin cycle.
- Categories
- Education
-
Cultural, Economic Shifts Lift Entrepreneurship in MENA
Theodore Khattouf, president and CEO of AMIDEAST, said the Middle East and North Africa region will need to create 90 million new jobs over the next decade to absorb the number of people seeking work. The keynote speaker at the Global Summit on Educating Entrepreneurs hosted by the William Davidson Institute framed the potential and the challenges.
- Categories
- Education
-
The Best of May on NextBillion: Challenging Assumptions
In May, our most-read posts had a common theme: challenging assumptions. Specifically, we featured voices and counterpoints that ran against the mainstream, both supporting our sector and questioning it. So it seems fitting that we also announce a new staff writer who has dueled conventional wisdom on the subject of BoP marketing and advertising.
- Categories
- Education
-
A New NextBillion in the Works
Earlier this month, we announced several changes to NextBillion’s staff, including new writers and new editor roles. Today, I wanted to let you know about a couple more changes to the physical appearance of the NextBillion network, present and future. We hope to hear from you. What features would you like to see in the next, NextBillion?
- Categories
- Education