 Featured News
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August, 2010: Co Founder, Greg Van Kirk is interviewed by CNNMoney about The MicroConsignment Model
Social Entrepreneur Corps Co Founder, Greg Van Kirk, was recently interviewed by CNNMoney reporter Poppy Harlow about our unique MicroConsignment Model. This interview was part of CNNMoney's ongoing "Conscious Capitalism" series. To view the interview click HERE. If this link does not work for some reason you can find the interview at the following URL:
http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/08/13/n_cc_microconsignment_model.cnnmoney/.
Summary of The MicroConsignment Model:
The MicroConsignment Model (MCM) delivers "first time" essential products and services at affordable prices to the rural poor for in the developing world through empowerment. Through the MCM individuals who lack opportunity and experience, primarily young women and homemakers, can start their own ventures through “sweat equity” and earn profits within the first month. Through consignment rather than loans, MCM entrepreneurs can overcome high uncertainty and are trained, equipped and supported to provide solutions that were previously only addressed through donations. They address the real needs, perceived needs and desires of populations through village campaigns in an appropriate way at the appropriate price. They provide access to needed but previously unavailable products and services. MCM entrepreneurs “bridge the last mile” by providing solutions to health problems, save families money, help individuals increase their productivity, and help protect the environment; all while earning incomes that were previously impossible. They gain a sense of purpose and become role models and community leaders while helping other women acquire needed solutions to their problems in a dignified way that they vote for with their limited resources. MCM entrepreneurs offer solutions to the population at the “base of the pyramid”—in this case, the most vulnerable rural communities—by addressing the “what” (essential products and services), the “who” (rural villagers), and the “where” (rural villages). They do so by creating a “how”: a highly scalable local distribution network that works to diagnose and address the myriad obstacles confronting these communities.
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August, 2010: Social Entrepreneur Corps' sister organization, "Soluciones Comunitarias", has been selected as a WINNER in the Ashoka Changemakers' "Leveraging Business for Social Change" competition
Thanks to your vote, Social Entrepreneur Corps' sister organization Soluciones Comunitarias (SolCom), has been chosen as one of three WINNERS out of 448 submissions from 78 countries in the Ashoka Changemakers' and Artemisia "Leveraging Business for Social Change: "Building the Field of Social Business competition. Six years ago this started with a question, "How do we create sustainable access to essential products and services in remote villages?". What a testament to the commitment of our team in Guatemala!
"The online community has honored the CE Solutions and Soluciones Comunitarias team for the outstanding demonstration of innovation, social impact, and sustainability. This winning entry will be permanently archived and open to the public as an example of innovative leadership toward social business."
To learn more about Ashoka Changemakers, Artemisia or Soluciones Comunitarias (in Spanish) please click on the organization.
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 July, 2010: Social Entrepreneur Corps Co-Founder, Greg Van Kirk, Invited to Join Ashoka Social Business Development Group
Greg Van Kirk has recently been invited to join a select number of global Ashoka Fellows in the Social Business Development Group (SBDG) as part of new global program called "Technology for Human Needs." A collaboration between Siemens Stiftung and Ashoka, SBDG is comprised of Ashoka Fellows working in community empowerment through the use of humanized technologies in developing countries.
To learn more about this initiative please click here...
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 July, 2010:Social Entrepreneur Corps Co Founder, Greg Van Kirk, Invited to Participate in Clinton Global Initiative 2010!
In recognition of the work of Community Enterprise Solutions and Social Entrepreneur Corps, Greg Van Kirk has been invited to attend the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York City.
CGI was created by President Clinton in 2005 in an effort to translate ideas into action. The Annual Meeting brings together heads of state, government and business leaders, scholars, and NGO directors. Participants analyze pressing global challenges, discuss the most effective solutions, and build lasting partnerships that enable them to create positive social change.
For more information about the Clinton Global Initiative please click here...
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 May, 2010: Social Entrepreneur Corps working with the University of Pennsylvania Microfinance Club to develop our village microcredit/savings initiative, CrediCapaz
This initiative has been in the research stage since last summer, when Social Entrepreneur Corps interns investigated implementation models and made recommendations to Social Entrepreneur Corps leadership. We have now partnered with the Microfinance Club at Penn to further explore options for the initiative. They have created a proposal based on the work of last year's interns which will be tested this summer by our 2010 interns.
The CrediCapaz initiative seeks to to create and support informal and formal groups form of saving-based community banks so that they can create a new or additional financing and counseling mechanism to generate family income. CrediCapaz hopes to encourage the habit of saving and building a safe, easily available financial cushion to soften the blow of life’s unexpected emergencies -- a habit extremely valuable to the poor in improving their economic condition.
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 April, 2010: Social Entrepreneur Corps at the Clinton Global Initiative - University
Co Founder, George Bucky Glickley, had the opportunity to represent Social Entrepreneur Corps at the 2010 CGI -U conference in Miami. The third annual CGI U meeting brought together students, university presidents, and national youth organizations to create and implement Commitments to Action across five Global Challenge Areas : Education, Environment & Climate Change, Peace & Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health.
The CGI U 2010 meeting was arranged around plenary sessions, working sessions, and skill sessions, all of which allow members to interact with one another and formulate commitments and productive partnerships. Whether discussing the education of marginalized populations or the worldwide struggle against infectious diseases, each session was informed by university leaders, student activists, heads of leading NGOs, topic experts, and others who have created positive change in the global community. Social Entrepreneur Corps was also invited to participate in CGI U Exchange, an exhibition allowing meeting attendees to learn more about the commitments and organizations present at the CGI U Meeting.
Click here to l earn more about the Clinton Global Initiative -University
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