From Bottom Billion to Next Billion

Republished with permission from The Grameen Foundation

Luckshmi Sivalingam is a Program Officer for Grameen Foundation’s Solutions for the Poorest program.

Before joining GF, I interviewed fifty clients of a Nepal savings and credit cooperative as part of an impact assessment. I saw that particularly for those living in extreme poverty, the solution to changing their situations can’t be limited to providing access to microfinance’s traditional product: an enterprise loan.

THP client on her new farm in West Bengal

Nearly all the clients I spoke with said that if they’d undergone appropriate skills development or received training on value addition for the goods and services they were selling, then their microenterprises could have generated the additional income required for them to progress out of poverty.

The Solutions for the Poorest team at GF is joining a small but growing group of microfinance practitioners that are looking at how the industry can better meet the needs of the very poor.  One approach we are testing couples livelihoods support with microfinance in a financially sustainable manner, contributing to what has been termed the “double bottom line.”

Solutions for the Poorest has partnered with BASIX/The Livelihood School India, a pioneering livelihood promotion institute, to design an integrated and sustainable methodology to provide financial and non-financial services to the extreme poor—individuals that BASIX wouldn’t typically serve through its everyday microfinance activities.  Also, my colleague, Malini, and I recently travelled to Calcutta to visit Bandhan’s Targeting the Hard Core Poor (THP) program.  THP targets female-headed households, like Shahida Bibi’s, with no or very erratic opportunities to make income. The program provides these women with the skills and assets required to jumpstart a microenterprise.  Supplemented with confidence-building measures, this support cultivates a seemingly limitless entrepreneurial spirit.

Shahida, her seven children, and her disabled husband survived on just $2 a week. Shahida was a housemaid, but without any productive skills and regular income, she wasn’t considered creditworthy by other MFIs.  THP provided her with four goats to help generate a more consistent income stream. This income has allowed Shahida to provide for her family while also nurturing the habit of saving.  In eighteen months, she sold one goat for $43 and diversified her income stream by buying chickens, selling eggs, and later selling coconuts and vegetables to her neighbors.   Shahida has now grown into a real business woman, generating a weekly income of Rs. 2,000 (about $42 dollars).  She’s already planning for additional ventures.

Shahida and her children share their story

Addressing the issue of global poverty in a holistic and practical way has made the past month’s immersions in Solutions for the Poorest initiatives an intellectually stimulating and inspiring experience for me.  I look forward to continuing our work to propel the bottom billion into the next billion.

Vote for Grameen Foundation & help us win a $200,000 grant to fight global poverty! Learn more about how you can help!

To make a donation to the Grameen Foundation, NetIP North America’s 2010 Philanthropy Partner, click here.

Celebrate Holi with the NetIP Family and Support an Important Cause

On behalf of NetIP’s North America Board and Chapter Officers, here’s wishing our readers and the NetIP Community a happy and colorful Holi. Cultural Awareness, along with Professional Development, Community Service and Political Awareness, is a core pillar of the Organization and our chapters are committed to providing a unique platform to promote South Asian Culture across US and Canada. It is in this spirit that many of our chapters are hosting fun and unique Holi events in the coming weeks that also have a strong community support undertone (many of the events are to support Grameen Foundation’s effort in Haiti) If, like me, you spent the day inside an office wishing that you part of the festivities, you’ll love what’s on offer. Check out just some of the exciting activities planned in various cities -

“HOLI COW” by NetIP LA-OC — A Beach Party Organized for the Haiti Relief Efforts

A fun Holi event to benefit Haiti

A spectacular afternoon at the Will Rogers State Beach, under the warm March sun, as NetIP LA-OC & AIF celebrate the “Ultimate Holi Beach Party of the Year” to benefit the AIF Haiti Relief Fund. You’ve all been wanting to help out with the Haiti relief efforts and this is your chance to do so in style and with tons of fun. Come as we celebrate our culture and heritage through vibrant colors, water, sand and games. Bring your family and friends to this joyous occasion and experience our hospitality through these festivities!!

Click here for NetIP LA-OC’s Holi Facebook event

——————————-

“HOLI HUNGAMA” by NetIP New York — An Evening of Fun, Fashion & Flair

Holi Hungama - An evening of fun, fashion and flair

A fashion show courtesy of BIBI Magazine, music by DJ Sammy J, performances by NYC Bhangra a lot more! Don’t miss this exciting evening by NetIP NY!

A percentage of the proceeds will go to support the Grameen Foundation.

Click here for NetIP NY’s Holi Facebook event

——————————-

The Sixth Annual Holi Hungama by NetSAP DC

NetSAP DC's Holi Hungama

Join NetSAP DC to celebrate Holi in the Park! Everyone is welcome to attend and this event is free to members and non-members.  Bring your own gulal (holi color) and picnic baskets and play holi with some new NetSAP DC friends! Gulal can be purchased at most South Asian stores in the metro area.

Given the recent devastation in Haiti, NetSAP DC will be collecting monetary donations for the Grameen Foundation’s Haiti Fund.  We will also be collecting nonperishables and toiletries for the Arlington Food Bank.

Click here for NetSAP DC’s Holi Facebook event

——————————-

“Holi Hai” by NetIP Dallas — Bid Goodbye to Winter and Embrace the Spring with Holi Festivities

Come join NetIP Dallas as we wave goodbye to WINTER and embrace the SPRING!! There’s no better way to kickoff this spring season with friends and family than smothering them with gulal (holi color). Just think of how much fun a snowball fight is.. and now imagine doing the same thing with colored powder! A limited amount of colors will be provided by NetIP Dallas, but it is recommended that you purchase your own at a local South Asian store (darker colors are more fun) =)

Network of Indian Professionals 7th Annual Officers Leadership Conference

The City of Angels welcomes the Network of Indian Professionals

7th^th Annual Officers Leadership Conference

Celebrating 20 years of South Asian Empowerment

Los Angeles, CA, Feb 10^th 2010: The Network of Indian Professionals’ (NetIP) 7^th Officer’s Leadership Conference (OLC) was held Feb 5 to Feb 7, 2010 at the Wilshire Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles. The OLC served as the national kick-off for the 2010 NetIP calendar year. It provided an open forum for leadership to be recognized, for officers both new and returning to network and form good working relationships. The goal of the OLC has always been to provide an opportunity for NetIP chapter leaders to discuss opportunities and challenges, as well as to collaborate on leading practices as an organization. NetIP North America is the parent organization to its 24 chapters.

“The main goal of this leadership conference was to Inspire and Motivate all our chapter leaders from 24 cities. Based on the overwhelming response, I believe we surpassed our highest expectations. NetIP as an organization has incredible potential, and we’re on our way to becoming a household name, not just in the South Asian community but across North America.” -Shubha Rao, VP Internal Affairs, NetIP North America. Rao’s team put together and managed the conference and logistics in less than 8 weeks.

Attendees from NetIP’s 24 chapters, from coast to coast graced the conference to give feedback and learn about the goals and vision for the organization as a whole. Day one at the conference included a surprise live on-air segment with Brand Strategist Pooja Dhawan and NetIP’s media partner, Hum Desi Radio.

Sundip Arora, President, Network of Indian Professionals of North America was pleased with the conference and the performance of his board. “20 years on, NetIP has made unbelievable strides and leaders from chapters around the continent got a first-hand feel of our progress at our Officer’s Leadership Conference. My goal this year for the OLC was for Chapter Officer’s, new and returning, to Learn, Share, Inspire and Be Inspired. We achieved this through two days of intense collaborative sessions and workshops. NetIP North America is very proud to be part of the biggest OLC in our history and to have set another defining moment for our 20th anniversary.”

Along with ambitious plans to streamline technology across the 24 chapters and the North America parent Organization, NetIP revealed its new intranet which uses google collaboration to make internal communication and reporting seamless. The new VP of Technology, Anish Mistry, explained his efficient plan for the year ahead which included a revamped NetIP.org website and his goal to increase back-end content management efficiency.

Sri Narasimhan, NetIP North America’s VP of Finance and Administration, and his team went over legal, tax and financial reporting requirements for the incoming Chapter Officers. Latha Nehru, VP External Affairs, and her team explained NetIP’s Grameen Foundation initiative in Haiti as well as their plans to forge alliances with other non profits in an effort to raise visibility for NetIP.

The Los Angeles-Orange County (LA-OC) chapter of NetIP helped manage logistics and hosted the evening socials for the weekend. “I was very excited to see that months of hard work had culminated in a successful OLC. The conference setting and venues allowed chapter leaders to network and share ideas in a both professional and social environment.“ -Sapan Shah, President, NetIP LA-OC. The Los Angeles Orange County chapter of NetIP was the host for the conference.

Director of Operations, Santosh Perla, kept the momentum going right from the weeks before the conference with an eagle eye on deadlines. At the conference he kept attendees motivated and energized during a packed presentation schedule.

“More than a forum to share ideas, the OLC was a showcase of the many resources NetIP-NA provides to individual chapters seeking to make an impact in their respective communities.  Our chapter left the OLC with a greater understanding of the tools available to mobilize our membership and enhance the value of the NetIP brand locally.” Ashwin Janakiram, President NetIP Chicago

This year NetIP’s largest event, the Annual Conference is being held in Seattle on August 20-22, 2010. Conference Co-chairs Neha Sharma and Sarika Punjabi presented their conference strategy and theme “Unique by Nature”.

“This OLC was my first NetIP conference experience and I was blown away by the professionalism of the organization. The high caliber of the young professionals in leadership positions in NetIP was very inspiring. It was a great opportunity to connect with people across North America and share experiences. I hope to bring the insight, enthusiasm and strength of NetIP National and other local chapters back to NetIP San Francisco Bay Area. NetIP has great potential for national and local impact on the young professional South Asian community.” Purvi Patel, President NetIP San Francisco Bay Area.

At the conclusion of a weekend packed with valuable take-aways, action items and resources, NetIP and its chapters are uniquely positioned to forge ahead amongst its demographic. NetIP provides the only platform for South Asians in North America to network and grow in their professional and personal lives.

About NetIP

The Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP) is a professional, non-profit organization dedicated to the overall achievement and advancement of South Asian professionals. The primary focus of the organization is to foster a bond among South Asian professionals to unite and support each other locally, as well as to give back and contribute positively to the communities in which they live and work.

Today, the organization includes over 5,000 members and more than 40,000 subscribers in 24 cities across United States and Canada. NetIP has become a premier networking brand over the years. It is the unequivocal voice for an emerging group of South Asians, who excel in every aspect of western society, from business to politics to the arts. The rise of NetIP and its affiliated chapters reflects a general “Coming of Age” by South Asian professionals.

# # #

If you’d like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview contact Pooja Dhawan, Brand Strategy for NetIP North America, by email at pooja@netip.org

NetSAP DC’s January Third Thursday Benefiting the Grameen Foundation

Reprinted with Permission from Purti Ruchi Bali, President of the Network of South Asian Professionals DC

Originally posted on January 25, 2010 at http://netsapdc.wordpress.com/

January Third Thursday, January 21, 2010

We (NetSAP DC) held our first Third Thursday of the year at Hudson in Dupont Circle and had a great turnout. By my humble estimate, I think we had about 50 attendees (its hard to gauge as people come in and out of the happy hour). We had free appetizers and great bar specials. To add a professional element to the Third Thursday, we asked all attendees to wear name tags and attach star or smiley face stickers to indicate their professional industry (for example, my purple star meant that I’m a consultant). Most people were good sports and we got a lot of compliments for the simple and effective idea.

Hudson did get crowded as do most of our Third Thursday locations and this only reinforced the fact that Third Thursdays are our most popular event. Our Special Event Director is working hard to secure larger and new venues for this monthly event. We also took cash donations at the door to fundraise for Haiti relief efforts. The cash donations along with 50% of the door cover charge will be donated to NetIP’s National Charity Partner, the Grameen Foundation. In total, NetSAP DC donated $222.00 to the Grameen Foundation! Thank you for your donations! If you didn’t get a chance to attend this month’s Third Thursday, don’t worry there are 9 more to go this year!

Editor’s Note: Proceeds from this event where donated to The Grameen Foundation’s Haiti Relief Fund. The Network of Indian Professionals North America has pledged to support the initiatives of the The Grameen Foundation in 2010.

Edited by Latha Nehru, VP of External Affairs, NetIP NA, www.NetIP.org

Chapter Spotlight: NetIP Dallas’ January Third Thursdays ~ Supporting The Grameen Foundation’s Haiti Fund

President Riya Bhattacharjee, Professional Development Pillar Chair Hosi Kamiya, and VP of Events Jasmin Rohmam signing up a New Member

On January 21st, the Network of Indian Professionals Dallas Chapter kicked off the decade by hosting a very successful Third Thursdays networking event at Bengal Coast Restaurant in Uptown, Dallas. The event was a huge success and drew over 75 attendees, many attending a NetIP event for the first time. NetIP Dallas was able to sign up 20 new members on the spot by featuring a one day onsite membership promotion. Special guest attendee Ajay Patel ,Co-Vice-President and National Liaison of NetIP Atlanta, was quoted on saying how impressed he was with the venue, event execution, and pricing strategy, which he was looking forward to sharing with the NetIP Atlanta Board.

Due to the recent events in Haiti, NetIP Dallas donated all proceeds from this Third Thursdays event to the Grameen Foundation’s Haiti Fund. In line with National’s commitment towards the Grameen Foundation, NetIP Dallas felt that it was critical to donate proceeds towards an effort that not only helps with immediate disaster relief, but will also provide long term relief for the people of Haiti. Grameen’s principle of providing micro-finance loans that will create jobs and help rebuild the city of Port-au-Prince is what attracted NetIP Dallas to this organization.

Unique fundraising efforts of the night included a raffle with 2 pairs of Dallas Mavericks tickets (the best team in the NBA after all), Pearl Earrings donated by Dallas Diamonds ($300 value), and an Aveda spa package. Profits from the raffle ended up raising over $500! Bengal Coast was kind to donate delicious appetizers, which included chicken sticks, vegetable pakoras, and Goan chicken lettuce boats. Dallas’ very own DJ Masai stirred up the night by generously providing his services, getting the crowd to celebrate the new year with a BANG! All attendees went home with a NetIP Dallas t-shirt sponsored by the 2010 Census, perfect for the next NetIP Dallas community service event! This was a great kick off event for the decade and just a hint at what is yet to come!

NetIP Dallas President, Riya Bhattacharjee, was very pleased with their kickoff event and the fact that they have already tripled membership numbers from this time last year. “New year.. new board.. new start .. all you large chapters, watch out for this new addition to your competition!”

Attendees NetIP Atlanta National Liaison & Co-VP Ajay Patel and VP of External Affairs for NetIP North America Latha Nehru

Some NetIP Dallas Upcoming Events Include:
2/13 Tax & Financial Planning Workshop at Bengal Coast
2/18 February Third Thursdays ~ Supporting CHETNA at Red Room
2/20 CHETNA Gala at Fun Asia
2/23 Dinner Circle at Queen of Sheeba
2/25 Investment 101 Workshop
3/06 Job Hunting 101
3/07 Holi at the DFW Hindu Temple
3/13 Carnaval-International Dance Experience at the Hyatt Regency DFW

NetIP Dallas was formed in 1994 and received the 2009 Boscar for Most Improved Chapter. NetIP Dallas began hosting Third Thursday’s in August 2008 after their then Community Service Chair Latha Nehru attended a NetSAP DC Third Thursdays earlier that year and was very impressed with the concept. Third Thursdays continue to be NetIP Dallas’ highest attended event month after month. For more information about NetIP Dallas and any of their upcomming events please visit www.NetIP-Dallas.org or www.Facebook.com/NetIPDallas.

Edited by Latha Nehru, VP of External Affairs, NetIP NA

Help Rebuild Haiti by Creating Jobs with Long Term Micro-finance Loans through the Grameen Foundation

Dear NetIP Family,

For more than a week now you have all seen the devastating images from Haiti and read heartbreaking accounts of surviors from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck one week ago today. While there has not been an official estimate of the tragic loss of life that has occurred, the figures appear to be in the tens of thousands.

According to the CIA World Factbook, roughly 80% of Haiti‘s population lives below the poverty line, which further underscores the urgency of this crisis.

Our non-profit partner the Grameen Foundation has setup a fund to collect donations to support not only immediate disaster relief and much-needed humanitarian aid for Haiti, but also long term relief through micro-finance loans that will create jobs and help rebuild the city of Port-au-Prince. NetIP North America has pledged to assist in these fundraising efforts and we urge you to donate today. If every single one of our members donates just $15, we can raise over $150,000!

If you have already donated to this important cause, then Thank You! However, Haiti‘s path to recovery can be further accelerated with your additional support and generosity. When the news cameras are gone and Haiti is no longer the cause of the moment, The Grameen Foundation will still be there providing long term sustainable development through micro-credit and micro-finance loans.
An important mission of the Network of Indian Professionals is to bring the South Asian community together in a common movement to support those in need during such catastrophic times. Again, please CLICK HERE to donate now.

To read about the work Grameen is doing in Haiti please visit their Blog

Thank you for making a difference,

The 2010 NetIP North America Team

www.NetIP.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_of_Indian_Professionals

Donate $27 on the 27th with NetIP & Grameen Foundation

You can make a difference in the fight against global poverty.  On the 27th of each month, Grameen Foundation and NetIP ask supporters to make a donation of $27 to let the world know that poverty is unnecessary and one person can help change the lives of the world’s poorest.  To jump start the efforts, a group of friends of Grameen Foundation will provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to $200,000.

We have a special page set up just for NetIP members so that the total we raise as an organization can be accurately tracked. Click here to read more about Grameen Foundation and see the special NetIP donation page.

NetIP Announces Support of The Grameen Foundation

The Network of Indian Professionals of North America (NetIP) is both honored and proud to announce its support for Grameen Foundation at the North America (NA) level.  NetIP has pledged to raise funds through various programs, events and fundraising efforts between 2009 and 2010 through its 24 chapters.  NetIP has been at the forefront of community support through various programs both at its national and local chapter level. This community Service initiative is a key component of NetIP’s community service pillar, one of 4 foundations that the organization hosts all its events on. The initiative is led by NetIP North America’s External Affairs Team.

“We evaluated various not-for-profit organizations that we’d like to support through our North American initiative. Grameen Foundation stood out given its mission and shared vision with our goals to use innovation & technology as a driver for social empowerment. We are honored to be associated with such a dynamic organization, and excited to use NetIP’s success to help drive support for our communities through the Grameen Foundation,” said Sundip Arora, NetIP’s vice president for external affairs and President-elect for 2010. NetIP’s membership consists of young South Asian Professionals. This demographic gives the organization its unique characteristics and ability to strategically place them as a premier networking organization in North America. With its diversity in programming and events, NetIP assures its members an all inclusive networking avenue for all their needs.

“Grameen Foundation has been supporting microfinance’s expansion in South Asia since 2000 and we are pleased to have been chosen by NetIP as its 2009 Community Service organization,” said Sandra Adams, Grameen Foundation’s vice president for external affairs. “Diaspora organizations can play an important role in advancing development in their home countries and we would like to applaud NetIP for supporting our efforts to give millions of poor women and men in the region the opportunity to build new lives.”

Grameen Foundation uses microfinance and technology to help the poor, especially the poorest, create a world without poverty. Microfinance helps these individuals by giving them collateral-free loans, savings, and other financial services to support small businesses. As each loan is repaid, the money is redistributed as a loan to another person, thereby multiplying the impact of the funds. Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, is a founding member of its board of directors and currently serves as member emeritus of its board. He is the recipient of several awards including the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, which he shares with the Grameen Bank.

Together, both organizations hope to create an impact on poverty in South Asia as well as to encourage young South Asians in North America to make a difference. A small donation is enough to make a big change for someone needy. Each individual contribution makes an actual effort due to the small scale loans that are involved in microfinancing.