May 23, 2012 | Community Development, Entrepreneurship, Female Empowerment, INJAZ Al-Arab, Soraya Salti
What sets Kravis Prize winners apart from other social entrepreneurs is their aim to empower those who do not have their own voice. 2012 Kravis Prize winner Soraya Salti’s INJAZ Al-Arab is a perfect example. Youth unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa is the highest in the world and INJAZ Al-Arab is working to remedy this problem. As part of the Global Journal’s series on the New Global Generation of Female Change-Makers, the publication interviewed INJAZ Al-Arab Executive Director Soraya Salti, who discussed the importance of youth entrepreneurship. “[The youth] realize that due to population demographics governments are no longer hiring – they can’t cope with the influx of graduates – and the private sector discriminates against them. So their only avenue for economic inclusion is entrepreneurship, and we see that reflected very, very strongly in the motivation of young females we work with. They take the entrepreneurship experience and opportunity we give them as a raison d’etre. They put their hearts and souls completely into it.” Salti also offered some insight into how and why the government is beginning to work with the organization: “I think it was a moment of awakening for governments, that the biggest national security issue is unemployment. In the short-term, we have been looked upon as a solution provider – by the Jordanian government, by the Saudi government, by the Bahraini government. It’s made our life a lot easier in a way, because so much of our effort went into piloting, and proof of concept, and convincing ministries of education to really take us seriously and invest and give us the... read more
May 16, 2012 | BRAC, Fazle Abed
Here at the Kravis Prize, we’re proud that our winners are acclaimed leaders in their fields. Their groundbreaking work has even received recognition from renowned political leaders. On May 6, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, 2007 Kravis Prize winner and BRAC Founder, and Grameen Bank Founder Muhammad Yunus on a recent visit to Bangladesh to discuss U.S.-Bangladesh relations with Clinton. Clinton said BRAC, the world’s largest non-governmental organization, and Grameen Bank were “viewed internationally as the two best development organizations in the world.” Abed and Yunus are “national treasures,” she added. That’s very high (and well-deserved) praise from our very own U.S. Secretary of State! “Work for strong democracy, Hillary urges Bangladesh leaders” [The Hindu, May 7,... read more
May 10, 2012 | Female Empowerment, Health, m2m
Here at the Kravis Prize, we’re proud to say that our winners effect change and actively contribute to solving the leading issues in today’s society. Case in point: Today, mothers2mothers, along with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Representatives Trent Franks, R-Ariz., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and James McDermott, D-Wash., are announcing a new bipartisan House resolution: “Recognizing the Potential for the Virtual Elimination of Pediatric HIV and AIDS and Keeping HIV Positive Mothers Alive.” Even greater news, you can get involved! Take the step towards eliminating pediatric AIDS by 2015 and saving mothers in honor of Mother’s Day! Find out more here and take action to support the... read more
May 4, 2012 | Community Development, Landesa, Roy Prosterman
In the mid-1960s, 2006 Kravis Prize winner Roy Prosterman founded Landesa, using his knowledge and expertise to fight global poverty. Armed with his background as an attorney, he set out to tackle one of the root causes of poverty – rural landlessness. The organization’s work spans across the globe, including India. In fact, Landesa has partnered with India’s Andhra Pradesh government for a legal aid program. Through the program, young people can be trained as paralegals and spread their knowledge to help others understand their rights and secure title, or “patta,” to their land. Reuters shared one individual’s story: “My father-in-law pawned the land for food,” said Kowasalya Thati. “When he returned the grain later, the land owners refused to give it back. They claimed it and we had no document to prove otherwise. For 28 years, we had to work on the land we once owned. Without land, we had nothing … not even enough food. It’s a miracle we got it back.” Landesa says there are plans to bring these barefoot lawyers to other states in the country, further expanding the organization’s impact and reach. Landesa’s India country director Gregory Rake says, “The community-based paralegal model has emerged globally as a cost-effective solution to the problem of access to justice for rural communities.” In fact, a similar scheme is already running in India’s impoverished state of Orissa and will aim to provide half a million poor families with security over their land. “FEATURE-Barefoot lawyers bring food security to India’s tribes” [Reuters, May 2,... read more
Apr 27, 2012 | FAWE, Female Empowerment, Health
Here at the Kravis Prize, we’re proud to say our winners are at the forefront of their field and exemplary leaders in the nonprofit world. Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), for example, is constantly innovating and implementing new programs that tackle the multi-faceted problems in education. FAWE partnered with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to develop a three-year program focusing on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR). Launched in 2010, the initiative aims to ensure that by 2013, some 10,800 adolescent girls from a total of 30 schools and close to 10,000 individuals, including teachers, in surrounding communities will have improved knowledge and skills in regards adolescent girls’ sexual and reproductive health and better access to reliable information and services on reproduction and sexuality. The program was introduced in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. FAWE’s latest newsletter revealed the progress they’ve made: “To date, 600 girls have received scholarships and support to remain in school and are scheduled to complete secondary school by the end of the project in 2013. … To date, 150 teachers and 125 community facilitators have been trained in ASRHR and are in turn training other teachers and community members in the target schools and communities. At school level, community members and schoolgirls are being trained in the production of reusable sanitary towels.” Find out more about the program here. You can also read more about FAWE and their work on our... read more
