MIT Poverty Action Lab

Link to some interesting work done at MIT Poverty Action Lab : ttp://www.povertyactionlab.org/
This could possible help to frame a business model for Torchbeares : http://ideas42.iq.harvard.edu/ideas42_media?page=1

The story so far ...

Its been almost five months since Torchbearers was launched and I was looking back and seeing how much progress have I made. The progress, well is not measurable enough at the moment but I have learnt many valuable lessons.

1) I have observed people are not very open to receive help at an individual level, they suspect some kind of a 'scheme' or a hidden interest and some ulterior motive, example I being paid commission from banks :). They question why do you want to help me ? This has happened on a few occassions.

2) I also observed that a lot of people at the grassroots are looking for security and the entrepreneurial spirit is a survival mechanism. Given a choice many from this group would opt for salaried clerical or class 3 jobs in private and public organizations. They have asked me to help them get jobs -- they want stable jobs not some crappy advice :). There were two painters from Satara, Ganesh and Gyaneshwar, very enterprising guys but wanted stable jobs.

3) I have also read that many people who are recepients of micro-finance use the money to meet their immediate needs rather than start a business. A study conducted on recipients of small loans from Grameen Bank has highlighted this fact.

Well, at this time all I have to say is - I am learning and my journey continues...and there is hope :)

An opportunity and a potential beneficiary group

I was reading this article on CNN about the informal sector in Indian economy. I somehow sense a huge opportunity for Torchbearers here :

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/10/14/india.informal.economy/index.html

Annual case study competition

Dhriiti, The Courage Within, an NGO focussed on grassroots entreprenuership has announced the launch of a case study competition : http://www.dhriiti.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=24&Itemid=26

Enough food to make people fat

There is enough food in the world to make people fat. The world grows enough food to provide 3200 calories to every person on this planet and that does not include nuts, vegetables, milk, fruits, meats etc. The problem is food distribution not food production ; an eye opening article :

http://food.change.org/blog/view/sustainability_and_hunger

All about volunteering

How to volunteer and resources to find organizations that you could help :

http://ngopost.org/story.php?title=How_to_start_Volunteering_Mumbai_Edition-1

MBAs without borders

Interesting concept -- similar to the idea of Torchbearers :

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/06/11/without.borders/index.html?iref=intlOnlyonCNN