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How We Choose Our Microloan Beneficiaries
At the heart of our charity’s success are the microfinance beneficiaries who take the modest loans we provide and transform them into thriving businesses—and in turn, thriving communities. But with locations in both Zimbabwe and Chile, how do we recruit the right women to participate in the program? How We Find Candidates Our teams on…
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Here’s What You Should Know About the Indigenous Mapuche People of Chile
Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas—and throughout the world, for that matter—have had to face the brutal force of colonization for hundreds of years. The native Mapuche people of Chile, who we serve through our microfinance and creative arts programs, have been a model of resistance against colonization and oppression. Even today, those left in Chile…
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SKI Charities in the News: Our Founder’s Best Advice for Entrepreneurs
Our founder, Shyam K. Iyer, is often asked to share his expertise on everything from starting a nonprofit to managing a team. SKI Charities has been in the news so often lately that we decided to put all Shyam’s best pieces of advice in one place: On the book that taught him to take risks:…
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How Our Programs Help Single Mothers
There’s a lot of stigma around single motherhood—after all, many mothers today choose to raise children on their own. And in the U.S. studies show that children raised by single mothers aren’t necessarily at a disadvantage to children from homes with two parents. But in Zimbabwe, where there’s an ongoing economic crisis, the financial hardship…
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What It’s Like to Be An Entrepreneur in the Middle of an Economic Crisis
One of the major problems caused by the Zimbabwe economic crisis is the high unemployment rate. I graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, but I haven’t found a permanent job in relation to my field. Right now, I’m 25 years old, but I’m still depending on my parents; I can’t…
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How We Ensure Our Microloan Beneficiaries’ Success
To this day, we’ve supported hundreds of women with microloans in Zimbabwe and Chile. And the results have been extraordinary: The women we’ve worked with have by and large paid back their loans and used them to grow thriving businesses. The secret to success? The drive, talent and hard work of these women. The other…
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Free to Play, Free to Learn
Part of what makes our scholarship program in Zimbabwe so successful is the quality of the schools we partner with. Without them, we couldn’t give our young scholars the education they deserve. We’re especially grateful that, like us, these schools believe that in addition to learning in the classroom, children need time to play. In…
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Why It’s Essential to Have Men on Board
When it comes to achieving gender equality, we have so much work to do. And as much as we believe that women should be leading the charge, we need the help and support of male allies. The #HeForShe campaign might be the most visible iteration of this idea, mobilizing everyone—not just women—to take action for…
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Why Zimbabwe’s Economic Crisis Should Be A Women’s Issue
Since 2016, Zimbabwe’s economy has been in recession. But it’s been in trouble for much longer—over fifteen years now. Though the cash shortages brought on by the crisis are tough on everyone, there’s one group of people who bears the brunt of the burden: women. According to The World Post, women often wait for hours…
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Why We’re Obsessed With Mapuche Singer Ana Tijoux
It’s easy to think of Mapuche culture as being rooted in the past. The indigenous group native to Chile is known for artisan techniques such as silversmithing and weaving that date back all the way to 1300 AD. But to keep the culture of this resilient people alive, artists are innovating on Mapuche traditions—that’s why…