Archive for SKICharities – Page 4

January 26, 2016 by SKIC | No Comments

Catching Up With the SKIC Women of Chile

SKIC’s work in Chile has grown in exciting ways this year. Our newest site, just four months old, has added to the work of two other thriving sites that now span many miles across the country. As of August, there were 33 active women participating in our Chilean sites of Lebu (founded in 2013), Los Alamos (founded in 2014), and Tirua (founded in July). Four more women are waiting to be incorporated, and many others have showed interest. This is a 100% increase since just January, when 15 women were active in Chile.

This incredible surge in participation can be attributed to the foundation’s new strategy to increase participation. SKIC has partnered with local stakeholders, mainly state and municipal government offices, to get the word out about SKIC and to get women excited about the possibilities of microloans. These generous institutions also facilitate workshops where SKIC staff can present information to local women and run activities that focus on financial planning.

The payoff of this new strategy can be seen in the fruitful work of the Chilean women. In Lebu, women continue to find success through buying and selling goods and handcrafting products from leather and wool. This year, these women have shown a growing commitment to expanding their businesses and paying back their loans. In Los Alamos, most women produce food, such as pastries and pies. The Los Alamos women are particularly proactive about paying back their loans and providing timely and useful information to the SKIC staff about their projects. Our newest site in Tirua already has 11 participating women, and more attending meetings and information sessions in hopes of joining. The concept of microloans has been met with excitement, as many women were familiar with the idea but had never been given the opportunity to participate themselves. Most of these women are weaving products using natural materials and traditional mapuche designs, and some sell fish and seafood.

The past year has shown promise, and we hope to continue building on our new strategy so that in 2016 we can serve the women of Chile even better.

Categories : SKICharities Tags : Chile, SKImfi

November 7, 2015 by SKIC | No Comments

At SKIC, Community is Everything

SKIC has been a community-minded organization since day one. But now, more than ever, the organization is seeing the importance of maintaining and stimulating communities in both of its operating sites – Lebu, Chile and Mutare, Zimbabwe.

LEBU, CHILE | Lebu is a rather isolated city, with a static population. It relies heavily upon people-to-people connections – for it’s economy, and for morale.

Several years ago, Lebu was very much impacted by a huge earthquake. Many local institutions collapsed and the town became much more physically isolated. Lebuanos were forced to look inward and found that they could only count on their neighbors, not Santiago, Chile’s capital.

MUTARE, ZIMBABWE | Zimbabwe has been experiencing increasing economic hardship over the past 2 years, with no financial liquidity. In this economic landscape, there is a lot of room for depressed morale. SKIC’s response to this has been to downsize their SKIMFI participation, scaling from 200 beneficiaries, to 20. This scale shift has enabled SKIMFI project managers to focus their energies more specifically, and for the 20 women who are a part of the program to really band together.

SKI Charities Founder, Shyam comments on SKIMFI’s downsize, “We get obsessed in life with numbers. But it dilutes the focus and the impact. Eventually we want to reach 200 participants again, but we are really impacting people at a crucial time right now by scaling back. We are actually impacting far more people than we were before, despite numbers being lower. ”

TIRUA, CHILE: SKIC’s Latest Location | Recently, the organization extended its reach to Tirua, Chile – another relationship-oriented location.

Beneficiaries in Tirua regularly participate in group meetings to compare notes and support each other’s endeavors. Different community and government leaders conduct lectures regarding accounting, and how to set up a more formal business. These meetings give women a sense of camaraderie and the sense that there is the ability to continue their entrepreneurial pursuits outside of SKIC based on the networks they’ve created for themselves. It’s comforting for them to know that once they have completed the SKIC program, their lives can continue comfortably and that they have a set of skills and resources to keep a certain momentum behind their businesses.

Across all SKIC programs, there is little room for competition – the beneficiary experience is largely collaborative.

Community is a fundamental part of how SKIMFI participants vend their products. With a moderately stagnant economy, community becomes essential to liquidation. One of the main goals of SKIC is to foster community and collaboration between beneficiaries. Income is a short-term reward for beneficiaries, but it doesn’t match the long-term impact of building trusted networks that extend into other parts of life. “SKIC beneficiaries know they have sisters to count on when time gets tough, or even when things are going well and they have to contemplate the next step for growth,” Shyam says. “Community is everything to our organization.”

Categories : Company Organization, SKICharities Tags : Chile, community, Zimbabwe

September 27, 2015 by SKIC | No Comments

SKIC in London!

SKIC fans travel around the globe – this time, to London!

Categories : SKICharities, Sticker Spotting!

August 18, 2015 by SKIC | No Comments

Portrait: Meet Melanie, SKImfi Chile Project Manager

SKIC’s project manager for SKImfi-Chile, Melanie O., discusses her work with SKI Charities and the path that led her to a passion for woman and child development.

SKImfi Chile project manager, Melanie O.

In your own words, what is your role in SKI charities?

My first encounter with SKI Charities was a trip to Lebu I did to get to know the project. The inspiring stories of the women I met there and the commitment of the local staff strenghtened my desire to be part of the project. I did an evaluation of the current situation, proposed measures for improvement and was happy to have the opportunity to set them in place. I would call myself a counselor on project management and strategy.

How have you seen microfinance improve women’s lives?

Some of the women shared incredible stories with me on how the project has changed their life. The one I liked most was one women’s story about freeing herself from fear and shyness by joining the project. Unfortunately she had faced violence by men in her past and was afraid of opening up and seeking opportunities in a male-dominated economic landscape. The ladies-only space of the project gave her the confidence to try it out. Now she is a successful business woman, freeing herself more and more from the restraints of her past.

What path brought you to this work?

I was always interested in politics and social issues. I worked for an NGO in Austria, advocating for policy change in development cooperation and international politics. Our work aimed for more social justice. I came across a lot of issues that hindered sustainable development and the realization of a better, more just world. The two biggest issues in my opininon are the inequality of women and men, and women’s lack of education. SKImfi’s concept to strenghten women by making them economically indepent and support their personal development and business knowledge fits perfectly with my vision of best practice.

Where do you find common ground with the women with whom your work?

All of them are women who somehow felt – despite difficult personal stories full of failure and difficult experiences – the need to change their life for the better. Not only did they feel the need, but they also trusted their own power to be able to do so. Because what SKI Charities does is help them to help themselves. It empowers. It doesnt give away money; it is not a charity project. It is a help for those who believe that they can realize dreams by wanting it and working hard for it. Those women are strong women. Even though their and my story differ in significant ways (I hold many privileges as a European woman), I am tempted to consider myself a strong woman too. And I am proud of sharing this common ground with the extraordinary women I work with.

Why are empowerment efforts like SKImfi essential?

Microfinance projects have brought a lot of advantages to vulnerable groups globally. The empowerment effort and focus of SKIMFI not only empowers in an economic way but it also fosters and supports personal growth. A lot of dimensions of their lives are influenced by the decision to become independent business women. And they are role models for their children, friends and communities. SKImfi does not only change the womens lives, it changes society for the better. There is nothing more important.

Categories : Company Organization, SKICharities, SKImfi Tags : empower women, Lebu, microfinance

July 29, 2015 by SKIC | 1 Comment

Women Responding to Disaster

This year, disasters such as the ebola outbreak, the earthquake in Nepal, and the humanitarian crisis in Syria have torn apart communities across our globe. Throughout each of these tragedies, we have heard over and over again how disaster relief efforts must be better suited to impact the unique needs of women, who are too often left vulnerable after these events.

Though the current lack of relief efforts directed toward women is disheartening, there is an inspiring number of stories of women who have taken charge of their own paths to recovery and relief while helping their communities. Women coordinated Red Cross efforts to help ebola victims in Liberia and beyond. Time published a powerful piece on women leading the effort to rebuild Nepal, and Buzzfeed covered the women who are learning self-defense to protect themselves and their families post-earthquake. Syrian girls and women in refugee camps have started their own schools, convinced families not to marry off their daughters, and more.

Samantha (left) is a hair stylist in Zimbabwe. She is using her SKIC micro-loan to raise chickens and invest the profits to build her own hair booth in the local market.

These women point to the need for formal disaster relief efforts to be women-led. Who better to target relief efforts to the needs of women than women themselves? As SKI Charities empowers women in Chile and Zimbabwe with the ability to lead through entrepreneurship, education, and art, we are also building a community of leaders who can respond bravely and sensitively if disaster strikes.

Categories : SKICharities, SKImfi Tags : disaster relief, empower women, philanthropy, SKImfi, solidarity lending

February 12, 2015 by SKIC | No Comments

A Conversation with Shyam: 2014 | The Year in Review

As we begin an exciting new year, SKIC founder Shyam K. Iyer takes a moment to reflect upon 2014.

The organization saw a lot of growth this past year – with two programs operating fully in both Chile and Zimbabwe, SKIC’s operating sites. This past year we introduced a new program SKILLS, the SKI Local Life Survey, which provides resources and a platform for local artists to showcase their work. In tandem with SKImfi (SKI Micro-finance Institute), these programs helped to illuminate the creative talent that exists in the indigenous communities of Lebu.

Despite relatively depressed economies in Mutare and Lebu, SKIC stands by its mission to empower women and girls who are economically excluded. Shyam believes that it is important to provide resources, even though they may be limited. Rather than over-extending itself and seeking new participants, the organization remains focused and effective by funneling energy and resources into its current beneficiaries. In tightening up SKIC’s management and scope, it is able to provide really solid support.

Even as a small-scale organization, SKIC is continually looking to grow – especially as the demand for resources continues to grow.

Listen in on Shyam’s podcast to hear about 2014, and see what’s on the horizon in the new year!

Categories : Podcast, SKICharities, SKILLS, SKImfi, SKIpgo

November 19, 2014 by SKIC | No Comments

“It’s About Trade, Not Aid”

How Micro-Finance Help to Stimulate Communities at Large

Mrs. Annia of Mutare used her SKImfi microloan to begin, and expand, a vegetable business.

Mrs. Annia of Mutare, Zimbabwe used her SKImfi microloan to begin, and expand, a vegetable business.

“Any time I’ve been given something – just given something – I’ve never treated it very dearly or very importantly,” SKIC founder, Shyam, says. “But when I have worked for something and reaped the reward, I feel satisfied, accomplished, and inspired.”

A similar pattern follows with SKIC micro-finance beneficiaries. Rather than being the recipients of monetary donations, SKIC participants work to pay back what they are loaned. “This brings them a sense of personal satisfaction, and they treat the whole process with more responsibility,” Shyam contends.

Further, micro-finance is sensitive to the pride of the beneficiaries – Zimbabweans especially are known to honor entrepreneurialism and self-initiative. Micro-finance is a system that values these qualities, favoring those who are responsible, have a strong work ethic, and a desire to effect their communities at large.

“When you’re doing micro-finance at such a local level, it’s not just about these women creating their own wealth and creating their own businesses. What about the spillover effects? They start paying off their kids school fees with some of the money they make. These women may hire some of their friends or sisters to work for their business. They are also buying from suppliers, who then in a sense become part of our program,” Shyam notes. “The spillover effect is huge. The confidence, entrepreneurial spirit, and self-responsibility that our beneficiaries exhibit – not to mention the personal & familial wealth they are generating – ends up affecting their children, their children’s schools, their friends…it stimulates the whole community. As SKIC continues to grow, we can stimulate more and more communities.”

Categories : Company Organization, SKICharities Tags : microfinance, SKIC, SKImfi

October 7, 2014 by SKIC | No Comments

Finance, the Link to Employment & Empowerment

WHEN Shyam decided to create SKI Charities, “finance was going through a really tough reputational period – it’s still going through a tough time.” And yet he stood by the belief that finance can also be really empowering to people. Shyam reasoned that, because people gain confident through employment, finance could be used as a way to provide stability, income, and entrepreneurial skills to the disenfranchised. “People see that finance can be a good thing, an empowering thing, when channeled in the right direction towards the people who have the hunger and talent to add value and jobs.”

Shyam expects that this tough reputational stretch will not end for a while. “After the roaring 2000s on the back of financial engineering, the contraction in 2008 left much of the public with a bad taste for anything to do with finance,” he says. While it may not have the best reputation, it is what enables SKIC to function. Shyam argues: “Finance is still the bedrock of the global economic system, and until there is an unimaginable change to the way people interact, the best we can do is find a way for finance to be inclusive rather than exclusive…it’s about finance seeking out growth opportunity wherever it can be found. The progress of SKIC will be part of the progress of finance to regain it’s reputation as the path to opportunity for many who are otherwise forgotten.”

It can be argued that finance broadens the gap between the haves and have-nots, or is at least responsible for it. However, the work that SKI Charities does is evidence of the fact that finance can indeed help to shrink the divide – even if it may be slight. Shyam’s background in corporate work (“the more traditional work I used to do, before starting SKIC”) was in a lot of emerging and developing markets where he directly witnessed how great the rift was between the haves and have-nots. His work here triggered some self-reflection: “How can I leverage my skill set to bridge that gap or attempt to help these people who are otherwise being forgotten?”

SKI Charities was the answer to the questions Shyam continued to ask himself. While the gap still exists, Shyam is proud of the progress SKIC has made as an organization, and thrilled with how its beneficiaries have excelled within the program – and beyond.

“The inequality divide is still existing,” Shyam says, “and is much worse in places that are systematically distant from global markets. In places like Mutare and Lebu, the people are quite a ways away from the financial hubs and metropolises of their countries, so the divide is even harder to jump.” For SKIC beneficiaries in Chile and Zimbabwe, the gap is just a little bit smaller, and over the time it will shrink even more. Shyam believes the divide can be overcome within a generation: “that’s why it’s so important we keep working and growing so that we can include more beneficiaries on this path.”

Categories : Company Organization, SKICharities Tags : employment, empowement, finance, SKIC

August 6, 2014 by SKIC | No Comments

Empowering Transformational Female Leaders

In a previous post, “Why Focus on Women?,” we discuss the importance of SKI Charities’ focus on empowering female entrepreneurs and providing education for young women. In the traditional communities of developing countries like Zimbabwe and Chile, where SKIC works, already-marginalized women are often made powerless by circumstances of conflict and unrest, with men historically and culturally standing as the heads of households. To counter these unfortunate standards, the SKIC team directs its efforts toward women to level the playing field and to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit and leadership potential that we believe all women possess.

Mrs. Annia of Mutare used her SKImfi microloan to begin, and expand, a vegetable business.

Our world needs more female leadership – and not just because women are currently underrepresented in formal and informal leadership positions worldwide. Unlike men, who tend to have a transactional leadership style, marked by incentivizing good performance and maintaining order and flow in a workplace setting, women tend to be transformational leaders. According to Alice H. Eagley’s New York Times article “Hybrid Style Works, and Women are Best at It,” a transformational leader “acts as an inspirational role model, motivates others to go beyond the confines of their job descriptions, encourages creativity and innovation, fosters good human relationships, and develops the skills of followers.” This leadership style has shown to be most effective in modern workplaces.

The interpersonal relationships and motivational attitude that transformational leaders bring to their environments are ideal for fostering economic and social growth, and for multiplying the efforts of SKI Charities. With each transformational leader we empower, we hope to send a ripple effect through countries, so that countless more women emerge as leaders, driven to transform their communities and workplaces.

Categories : SKICharities, SKImfi Tags : community, education, empower women, Harare, microfinance, philanthropy, SKImfi, women, Zimbabwe

July 20, 2014 by SKIC | No Comments

A Conversation with Shyam: Introducing SKILLS, The Latest Branch of SKIC

SKI Charities empowers not only women in Lebu, but also members of Lebu's indigenous Mapuches culture

SKI Charities empowers women of Lebu’s indigenous Mapuche community

A little over a year ago, SKIC founder Shyam K. Iyer spoke to me about his long-term goal to add a third component to his organization: “We have the education [scholarships] and the business [micro-finance loans]. I’d like to do a third, expressing the local culture. Business, education, and culture…The original objective of SKIC is to give a voice to people who would otherwise be forgotten or neglected. Art is yet another way of doing that.”

SKIC is proud to announce the launch of SKILLS, SKI Local Life Survey. It began this month in Lebu, Chile, SKIC’s second operating site, and home to a large indigenous Mapuche community rich with a local craft-making history.

Listen into hear more about how Shyam’s vision came to life!

Categories : Podcast, SKICharities, SKILLS