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How We Narrow Our Approach to Maximize Our Impact
“Less is more” is one of those oft-repeated sayings that, well, can get old. It’s trite, simple, and something we’ve all heard on countless occasions. It feels silly sometimes to bring up in conversation – but it’s often wildly true and important to keep in mind in both our personal and professional lives. When SKI…
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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…
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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. 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…
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“It’s About Trade, Not Aid”
How Micro-Finance Help to Stimulate Communities at Large “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…
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A Conversation with Shyam: How SKIC Got Its Name
Since it’s beginnings in October of 2010, SKI Charities has developed an impressive array of programs in two operating sites, Lebu, Chile and Mutare, Zimbabwe. Despite facing a lot of uncertainties and criticism – both internal and external – the organization’s founder, Shyam K. Iyer, felt inspired to see his project to fruition. After reflecting back…
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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…
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Faces of SKImfi: Prudence K.
When Prudence and her SKImfi group members gather for business meetings, they begin each session with a chant: “High high, it lifts you high. SKImfi lifts you UP!” Prudence K., a 30-year-old mother of three, launched an electrical supplies business after attending a Selection, Planning and Management workshop with SKImfi Zimbabwe. She accessed a $100…
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Why Early-Stage Scholarships? (Part 2)
Early-stage scholarships offer tremendous benefits, not only for recipients, but also for their communities. In Part One of this series, we explored the direct benefits for early education scholarship recipients, including reduced criminal activity, fewer teenage pregnancies, and better employment rates. These outcomes create a more sustainable and healthy community environment. By investing in youth, SKIpgo is investing in everyone. “The young ladies of…
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A Conversation with Shyam: State of the Foundation
2014 marks the beginning of SKI Charities’ fourth year of activity. In this podcast, the charity’s founder, Shyam K. Iyer, reflects upon the past year and articulates his goals for the coming year. Listen in to hear our Re-Cap of 2013 and Preview of 2014!
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Less is More: The Benefits of Microfinance
For SKI Charities, keeping things at a micro level is essential to the organization’s success. Charity founder, Shyam K. Iyer asserts, “When you’re doing microfinance 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?” Shyam notes that SKImfi beneficiaries…