Inspired By Ashoka

08/17/05

Okay, the website is looking good, one more draft and I am ready to send out the email.

Yesterday I visited Susan Katsube at The Hunger Project's HQ and learned about THP's work in Uganda. They are doing some interesting things, specifically building Epicenters in each district. These are actually similar (if much bigger versions) to what we want to do in Kanga. They incorporate small scale farming for the PLWAs and life skills/family plannign for the orphans (and blessed with financing, the Epicenters go as far as including health care and irrigation.) My only criticism is that the only villagers that can benefit from the projects are the one that can get to the Epicenters, and with only one in each district, that's a small fraction of the population. It seems like smaller centers in more villages would help more people with the same resources. In anycase, I do want to visit one of these Epicenters, as it is innovative and successful. It just depends on what turns the documentary takes. On my way out of Kisozi Complex where THP's HQ was, I noticed the office of Ashoka, and on a whim, walked in. I introduced myself to the fellow who happened to be the Director Of Communications for East Africa, and we ended up talking for an hour about the work of Ashoka and the Ashoka Fellows. This is really one of the best, most interesting organizations out there. (www.ashoka.com) The basic concept is investment in social entrepreneurs, who have created socially responsible, sustainable and replicable (and therefore expandable) business models. I am going to try and connect with a few of these Ashoka Fellows. The work spans all fields, from health work to education to making money out of garbage. Really amazing stuff. Why I really responded to is that Ashoka Fellows are just small independent people doing amazing work in their communities, like what I see Robert doing in Kanga, and Ashoka just provides incentive and support, like what I am trying to do. I see this as a more sustainable way of approaching the problem, as opposed to some big NGOs that blanket aid on top of a problem, but then expect it to be done their way.

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