You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete -
Buckminster Fuller, philospher, futurist and global thinker
(1895 - 1983)
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Breaking the Cycle by providing the Skills to Succeed
With a generous grant from our partner The Accenture Australia Foundation, this initiative will help people in poor, rural communities in the Asia Pacific region develop new skills and resources to break the cycle of poverty and environmental degradation.
The project will provide technical skills training (vocational, business management & literacy/numeracy), increase knowledge and awareness of environmentally sustainable farming practices and provide access to finance for individuals to start businesses or purchase equipment to support income generation.
Working with local partners in the Philippines, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Nepal, Cambodia and China, 4,500 households (totaling more than 22,000 people in 150 communities) will benefit from improved incomes, more sustainable resource use, and ongoing access to services.
Project Description
World Education Australia will employ an innovative but proven "social-commercial partnership model" that addresses economic, educational and environmental challenges faced by some of the poorest communities in Asia.
The project builds on World Education Australia's experience with this model in Sri Lanka, and on existing partnerships in Nepal and East Timor. Targeting poor rural communities in the Philippines, Nepal, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Cambodia and China over 3 years, the project will:
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Provide villagers with training in vocational, business management & literacy/numeracy skills.
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Support rural households to 'step up' their existing income generation activities or 'step out' into new activities that have the potential to increase their incomes in a sustainable manner.
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Link rural villages to new market opportunities, enabling communities to reduce their reliance on activities that degrade the natural environment upon which their livelihoods depend.
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Facilitate the supply of alternative fuel sources (e.g. micro-hydro water pumps, solar cells & lanterns, bio-gas digesters) for business ventures and sustainable domestic use.
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Provide a governance framework, identification, due diligence, oversight and support, for training finance and energy technology partners, and support them to achieve the 'triple bottom line' of good social, financial and environmental performance.
Projected OutcomesOverall, 4,500 households, equaling an estimated 22,500 people in 150 communities, will benefit from improved incomes, more sustainable resource use, and ongoing access to services. Specific outcomes include:
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3,000 people will develop skills to increase their incomes
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At least 3,000 poor households will access finance for business and livelihood investments
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At least 2,400 households will utilise renewable or energy-efficient technologies.
About the Accenture Australia Foundation
The Accenture Australia Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which aims to make a positive difference within Australia and Asia Pacific. The Foundation was established during Accenture's initial public offering in 2001. The Foundation's Board of Directors meet on a regular basis to reivew funding requests, decide policy and receive progress reports form the sponsorted programs. |
