Hand in Hand International explained

Non-Profit Type:Non-governmental organization
Key People:Co-founders: Percy Barnevik and Dr Kalpana Sankar
Area Served:India, Afghanistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Hand in Hand International
Formation:1980
Focus:Job and business creation, reducing poverty, economic and social empowerment, women
Headquarters:London, United Kingdom

Hand in Hand International is a registered non-profit organisation based in London, UK.[1] [2] It is part of the Hand in Hand network, whose shared vision is to fight poverty through job and business creation. Hand in Hand was founded by Percy Barnevik[3] [4] and Dr Kalpana Sankar.[5] [6]

Hand in Hand’s mission is to work for the economic and social empowerment of the poorest and most marginalized people by helping women beat the odds and succeed as entrepreneurs.[7] [8] Since 2003, the Hand in Hand network has helped start and sustain 5.6 million businesses and generated 10 million jobs. [2] Hand in Hand works in the same field as BRAC, Opportunity International, CARE, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Aga Khan Foundation.

History

The story of Hand in Hand begin in the late 1980s with two Swedish teachers – Olle and Gunnel Blomqvist – visiting the district of Kancheepuram. Children traditionally constituted a cheap source of labour for the weaving industry in Kancheepuram, and parents who did not have permanent jobs would send their children to master weavers. Bringing such children out of labour was Hand in Hand's initial focus.

At the end of 1990 the Blomqvists came in contact with Percy Barnevik, who became a sponsor to the organization. Barnevik was interested in the teachers' work in India.

Hand in Hand India was founded in 2003 by Barnevik[9] [10] and Dr Kalpana Sankar[11] [12] in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.[13] The Hand in Hand network has operated programs in 10 countries across Asia (Afghanistan, India, Cambodia and Myanmar) and East Africa (Kenya and Rwanda).

Hand in Hand receives funding from a number of different sources including individuals, corporations, bi-lateral and multi-lateral institutions and trusts and foundations. Recent supporters include the FMO, Sida, Johnson & Johnson Corporate Citizenship Trust, Nationale Postcode Loterij and Voxtra (philanthropic foundation based in Oslo, Norway). Hand in Hand Afghanistan also received a US $1.16 million (€840 K) grant from the European Union.[14]

In 2007, Hand in Hand Afghanistan was set up with Seema Ghani as chair.[15] On 19 February 2014, Ghani gave an interview with the BBC about the economic challenges facing Afghanistan and how job creation will help solve many of the challenges.[16] She also gave an interview to Forbes magazine regarding the positive effect of micro-businesses on Afghanistan.[17]

In 2013, Hand in Hand launched the Enterprise Incubation Fund (EIF), through which philanthropists can provide loans to micro-entrepreneurs in Kenya.[18]

As of 2021, Hand in Hand International's board of trustees included Bruce Grant (Chair), Dr John Barrett, Dr Madhvi Chanrai, Carsten Jorgensen, Lars G Josefsson, Paola Uggla and Stephanie Whittier.[19]

Hand in Hand network

The organizations within the Hand in Hand group actively support each other, although they are independent and each organization has its own governance and management structure as well as strategic plan. Each organization is represented by its CEO on the Hand in Hand Global Council. The Global Council coordinates policy and activities across the Hand in Hand network.

Today, the Hand in Hand network extends to:

The network has support and fundraising offices in London, Stockholm and New York.[28]

Job creation model

The Hand in Hand network uses a comprehensive business creation model, initially developed by Hand in Hand India,[29] to fight poverty.[30] [31] There are five interlinked elements that deliver the Hand in Hand approach:

Awards

Hand in Hand International's work has won numerous awards, including:

Hand in Hand International has also been recognized for its range of employee benefits, including work-from-home Fridays, extended parental leave and more and in 2024 was shortlisted for the Working Families Award.

  1. Web site: Who we are. Hand in Hand International website. 2013-07-30.
  2. Web site: Hand in Hand India Progress . 19 August 2024 . Hand in Hand International.
  3. Web site: Percy N. Barnevik. Partnership For Change website. 2013-07-30.
  4. Web site: Maximum Impact. Wall Street Journal. 2013-10-07.
  5. Web site: Founders. Hand in Hand International website. 2013-07-30.
  6. Web site: Corporate Titan Percy Barnevik's $50 Million Bet On Poverty Reduction. Forbes.
  7. Web site: Hand in Hand- Profile of CMF's Partner Organisation. Development Outlook. 2013-10-07.
  8. Web site: Pauline. Ngari. 2014-04-07. Huffington Post UK. Rebuilding Post-Genocide Rwanda 20 Years on - One Job at a Time. 17 February 2015.
  9. Web site: Interview Percy Barnevik. Guardian website. 2013-07-30.
  10. Web site: Percy Barnevik Video. Partnering for Global Impact. 2013-10-07.
  11. Web site: The Tough World of Charity Work. HEC Alumni. 2013-08-07.
  12. Web site: Dr Kalpana Sankar, une femme d’exception. Le Monde. 2013-10-07.
  13. Web site: Hand In Hand creates 1.3 million jobs. One World South Asia website. 2013-07-30.
  14. Web site: Hand In Hand Afghanistan expanding with grant from EU. 2015-02-17.
  15. Web site: Hand in Hand Afghanistan. Hand in Hand Afghanistan website. 13 July 2015.
  16. Web site: BBC interview with Seema Ghani. BBC. 2014-02-19.
  17. Web site: What Micro-businesses Can Do For Afghanistan. 2015-02-16.
  18. Web site: Social impact fund launched to directly benefit 100,000 Kenyan women micro-entrepreneurs . 2013-07-30 . Angel News.
  19. Web site: Board of Trustees. Hand in Hand International website. 2013-07-30.
  20. Web site: Hand in Hand India website. Hand in Hand India website. 2015-02-17.
  21. Web site: Overview of Hand in Hand India. Global Giving. 2013-10-07.
  22. Web site: Hand in Hand Eastern Africa. Hand in Hand Eastern Africa. 2015-02-17.
  23. Web site: Hand in Hand Afghanistan. Hand in Hand International. 2015-02-17.
  24. Web site: Young. Holly. View from the top. The Guardian. 2013-07-30.
  25. Web site: Hand in Hand International. Non-Governmental Organisation. Hand in Hand International. 2014-01-16.
  26. Web site: Hand in Hand - Bekämpar fattigdom med entreprenörskap.. 2021-02-03. Hand in Hand. sv-SE.
  27. Web site: Home. 2021-02-03. Hand In Hand. en-US.
  28. Web site: Hand in Hand Sweden. Hand in Hand Sweden website. 2013-07-30.
  29. Web site: Interview with Percy Barnevik. European Venture Philanthropy Association. 2013-10-07.
  30. Web site: Whitaker. Rosa. Job creation to solve poverty. The World We Want Foundation website.
  31. Web site: Colvin. Geoff. A CEO masters micro-credit. Fortune Magazine.
  32. Web site: Savings Groups: What Are They?. SEEP Network. 2013-10-07.
  33. Web site: Tackling poverty by combining saving, training, and microcredit. 100 Million Ideas website. 13 July 2015.
  34. Web site: 2016-12-21. Hand in Hand wins National Fundraising Award Hand in Hand International. 2021-02-03. Hand in Hand International Fight Poverty With Jobs.
  35. Web site: Stackhouse. Laura. 2016-12-07. Seema Ghani, Hand in Hand. 2021-02-03. Bond. en.
  36. Web site: 2017-05-19. Hand in Hand shortlisted for Charity Awards Hand in Hand International. 2021-02-03. Hand in Hand International Fight Poverty With Jobs.

Results

Globally, Hand in Hand has generated 5.6 million businesses and 10 million jobs. An independent report published in 2012 confirmed that 97.4% of the jobs are sustainable.[37] [38] Another report published in 2019 found that 80% of businesses were still operational a year after Hand in Hand programs concluded.[39]

External links

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hand in Hand International".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.