From poverty to entrepreneurship: That’s friendship

by Nicholas Bray, courtesy of INSEAD Knowledge

One social entrepreneur seeks to elevate those at the bottom of the pyramid in Bangladesh. But can she navigate the straits between government, the private sector and Mother Nature?

Runa Khan’sFriendship organisation works for the poorest of the poor in one of the poorest countries of the world. Many of the people of Bangladesh to whom Friendship provides healthcare, schooling and financial support live on unstable river islands at imminent risk of being swept away by floods. Read more

UN Women Singapore and MasterCard Launch Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World

As the world commemorates 100 years of International Women’s Day, Singapore National Committee for UN Women (UN Women Singapore) and MasterCard are joining hands to launch Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World. This year-long digital and social media driven initiative aims to connect and inspire young people across the world to share their life-changing ideas and fulfill their visions of a better world for disadvantaged women and children. Read more

Say No to Violence Against Women

MasterCard cardholders can contribute to a bigger effort to fight violence against women by simply choosing to pay with their MasterCard cards. As part of the MasterCard Purchase with PurposeTM social responsibility platform, MasterCard and UNIFEM Singapore have joined hands again through the 2010 UNIFEM Buy to Save sale to raise funds for women at risk from violence and exploitation. Read more

Standard Chartered educates 1.4 mill on HIV prevention globally

Standard Chartered announced recently that it has exceeded its 2010 target to help educate one million people on HIV and AIDS. Working with governments, other businesses, communities and health organisations globally, the Bank educated 1.4 mill people over three years through its HIV and AIDS workplace education programme “Living with HIV”. Read more

Controversy surrounds Spore’s World Savers Awards Congress

Survival International has reported that the 2010 World Savers Award Congress, due to be held in Singapore on 20 October, has been met with criticism over its decision to award a prize to controversial tour operator, Wilderness Safaris. Read more

Migrant Workers Management Toolkit

Irene Fernandez, Executive Director of Tenaganita, recently discussed the Migrant Workers Management Toolkit at CSR Asia’s CSR Wednesday, held at Bursa Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur recently. The human rights activist put together this tool to help businesses in the region with their foreign workers. See below for the full audio on her talk and the slides from her presentation. Read more

Palm oil co said to have encroached native land

Action will be taken against a palm oil company in East Malaysia for allegedly encroaching on native land in three villages in Kota Murudu, Sabah. A statement released by the Sabah Land and Survey Department confirmed that there was complaint and that action would be taken under the Sabah Land Ordinance through the District Land Office. Read more

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