Today, the Aspen Institute is awarding the 2013 Resolve Award (follow their live tweets from the ceremony @GLCRHresolve or the webcast www.aspeninstitute.org/live). It recognizes countries that are surmounting various challenges to bring essential reproductive health services to their people. Three countries—the Gambia, Kenya, and Zambia, with a special mention given to Sierra Leone—are receiving the Resolve Award for demonstrating leadership and political will.

Today, Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health (GLC) member Joy Phumaphi is presenting the Resolve Award to representatives of each country at a ceremony during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

This year’s Resolve Award winners, selected from a robust pool of nominations from countries around the world, showcase groundbreaking innovations in service expansion, financing and policy development:

In the Gambia, unpaved roads and an aging fleet of vehicles kept healthcare workers from visiting rural communities. To solve the problem, the Ministry of Health leveraged public and private funding to purchase a new fleet of ambulances and all-terrain vehicles, then outsourced their maintenance and operations to Riders for Health, a not-for-profit with decades of experience in medical transport. The result has been a dramatic improvement in health care delivery.

In Kenya, previous policies on population and reproductive health—typically drafted by ministry staff—failed to muster broad political support. The solution? Kenya’s National Council for Population and Development launched a three-year effort to engage citizens and leaders in developing a visionary new policy, created by and for the Kenyan people. Through a national leaders’ conference, Parliamentary forums, meetings with district leaders and public advocacy, the Council energized home-grown support for family planning and reproductive health. Their efforts produced a comprehensive Population Policy for National Development— approved by Parliament in 2012—which places family planning at the center of Kenya’s development agenda.

A decade ago, Zambia’s health indicators told a grim tale of suffering, with some of the world’s highest rates of HIV/AIDS and maternal and child mortality. And years of “structural adjustment” had decimated the country’s health and social service sectors. But in recent years, the Zambian government has redoubled its commitment to primary and reproductive health, increasing spending in those areas by 50%. Today, family planning and maternal and child health services are provided free of charge in the public sector, and Zambia is scaling up an acclaimed HIV program that works to prevent maternal-to-child transmission. These efforts are producing results: for example, contraceptive use increased from 15% to 41% over the last twenty five years.

Most family planning and reproductive health programs are designed to reach and serve women. But the Fambul Initiative Network for Equality (FINE) in Sierra Leone sprung from an important insight: often, men serve as the gatekeepers to family planning. From traditional chiefs who control community resources to husbands who beat their wives, men can be a formidable barrier to women’s attainment of health and rights. But—when educated and informed—men can also play a positive role. For this insight, the GLC will be honoring Sierra Leone with a special mention for its small but mighty efforts to train and mobilize men to educate their peers about women’s rights and reproductive health. FINE advocates have reached some 10,000 chiefs, husbands and religious leaders. Their efforts are reducing the incidence of rape and gender-based violence and raising awareness of reproductive health and rights.

The Resolve Award was launched in 2011 by Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General and member of the GLC, to recognize country-led innovations that result in increased access to family planning and reproductive health. In 2012, the first annual Resolve Award was presented to delegates from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda and Nepal with a special mention to Yemen, for their extraordinary efforts to increase access to reproductive health. Join this year’s webcast on 22 May at www.aspeninstitute.org/live to watch the ceremony and participate via Twitter by following @GLCRHresolve and #Resolve.

Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) is proud to share with us a photo of their special celebration earlier this month in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region of northern Colombia, adjoining the Caribbean.

Liliana Madrigal, co-founder of ACT, shared: “A purchase of 383 acres of coastal land considered sacred by the Kogi indigenous people was made possible through a partnership between ACT, the Colombian Ministry of Culture, and the Gonawindúa Tayrona indigenous association of the Kogi.  Such investment is a first for the Colombian government, which also established a new Colombian category of protected area for the land, a site of ‘national and cultural interest.’   On May 5, various government ministers, local leaders and around 50 Kogi spiritual leaders gathered for the official transfer of land to the Kogi, who now will work to incorporate it to their indigenous reserve. This accomplishment is highly significant not only for the Kogi, but for all indigenous groups seeking greater public awareness of the crucial importance of sacred lands to the perpetuation of their culture.”  

More from ACT:

Traditional sacred sites of the Kogi people are managed by the mamos, or spiritual authorities, who make offerings on these sites according to traditional calendars. However, not all sacred sites of the Kogi are in their reserve: some lie outside of it and are seriously threatened by development, extraction, and commercial industry pressures. In the process of recovering these sites in order to develop their ancestral practices in line with their traditional cosmology, the Kogi, in an interesting public-private partnership supported by the Colombian Ministry of Culture, the Colombian national rural development agency INCODER, and the Amazon Conservation Team, bought the property Jaba Tañiwashkaka located at the mouth of the Jerez River in the municipality of Dibulla, department of La Guajira.

By decision of the Ministry of Culture #2873 of November 13, 2012, the site was declared a site of national cultural interest, a new category of protected area in Colombia that protects the land where the sacred site Jaba Tañiwashkaka is located. On May 5, the transfer of this land will be formalized in a traditional ceremony, with the participation of mamos, local communities, and institutions involved in the acquisition process.

Today we share two bits of news from New Teacher Center.

NewSchools Venture Fund (NSVF) named New Teacher Center Organization of the Year at the NewSchools Summit 2013. This and the rest of the NSVF Portfolio Awards recognize the achievements of social innovators making a difference in the lives of students in underserved communities and changing the national conversation about what’s possible in public education. Learn more: http://www.newteachercenter.org/news/newschools-venture-fund-names-new-teacher-center-organization-year

And –

New Teacher Center was selected to be among the nation’s top professional development programs and schools of education to partner with Coursera, a leading Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) provider, in a new initiative to open up training and development courses to teachers worldwide, for free. Learn more: http://green.tmcnet.com/news/2013/05/15/7138311.htm

A new article in Stanford Social Innovation Review uses Bunker Roy as an example of how resilience is key for social innovation. An excerpt:

“In 1972, Bunker Roy and a small group of colleagues set up the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan, India. Their vision was an interesting and catalytic one, joining old and new, traditional and radical. Informed by the teachings and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi—giving the poor and the dispossessed the means to produce their own necessities—the Barefoot College trained the poor to build their own homes, to become teachers in their own schools, and to produce, install, and operate solar panels in their villages. Roy and his colleagues also emphasized empowering women in general and grandmothers in particular. As a result, ‘professional’ expertise was placed in the hands of the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak: village women.

In one way, Barefoot College’s innovations were deeply radical—challenging the conventions of village life, professional associations, and traditional culture. In another way they were classic bricolage, a term drawn from the junk collectors in France and defined as “making creative and resourceful use of whatever materials are at hand (regardless of their original purpose).’ In this case the juxtaposition of elements not normally combined addressed a cluster of intractable problems including the health needs, gender inequalities, energy needs, and educational needs of the developing South.’

Read the rest: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/social_innovation_and_resilience_how_one_enhances_the_other

Pratham was featured in a segment on PBS NewsHour last night. Watch it above. Here’s an excerpt:

“FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Madhav Chavan is trying to revolutionize the way India’s children learn and the way they are taught, starting as early as possible. As these preschoolers identify the first letter in Hindi for the word mango, he egged them on.

MADHAV CHAVAN, Founder, Pratham: So what kind of face do you make when the mango is sour?

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Unfortunately, Chavan says, as they get older, most of these children will be bound for schools that are failing their students on many levels, beginning with rigid, outdated methods of instruction.

MADHAV CHAVAN: This regimentation, rote learning, learning by heart, tell me the answer, that is what kids — kids are being taught.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Chavan founded a group 19 years ago called “Pratham,” or “First,” aimed at generating a love of learning. It has trained about 120,000 young tutors and community volunteers to run learning centers and camps.

So far, three million children have been tutored in rented rooms, houses of worship and in schools themselves in low-income communities across India.

Pratham’s goal is to change the way school has long been perceived here: a solemn temple of learning.”

Read the rest of the transcript: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june13/india_05-14.html

Late last month, Jeff Skoll had a future-looking conversation with brothers Elon and Kimbal Musk. Elon Musk is the CEO and CTO of SpaceX and CEO and Product Architect of Tesla Motors; Kimbal Musk is the co-founder of The Kitchen Community. They discussed the inspiration, motivation and business processes behind PayPal, Tesla Motors, SpaceX, the Kitchen and the Kitchen Community. The conversation, now available on video above, covers what drives the Musk brothers in their groundbreaking work, whether pioneering online payments, sending the first private rocket to the International Space Station, building electric cars with robots or rolling up their sleeves and partnering with students and educators to build gardens in impoverished communities. With Jeff Skoll, they uncovered the richness of their creative process and discussed how to make a profit, create jobs and contribute to the broader community at the same time.

Today we’re sharing the must watch documentary film of the week, about Skoll Awardee Cecelia Flores-Oebanda of the Visayan Forum. Press release:

**Premiere: Friday, 17 May (Part I) & Saturday, 18 May (Part II)**

Following a two-year CNN investigation, the two-hour documentary The Fighters chronicles Philippine human rights pioneer Cecilia Flores-Oebanda in her journey to protect children from the sex trade and convince the Philippines’ biggest star, Manny Pacquiao, to join her as a fighter in the battle against modern-day slavery. It’s estimated more than 100,000 children work in the sex trade in the Philippines. Since founding her anti-trafficking organization, Visayan Forum, in 1991, Cecilia Flores-Oebanda has helped more than 70,000 victims or potential victims of human trafficking. She believes if Pacquiao, an elected congressman in the Philippines and the country’s biggest star, champions her cause, it could mean a turning point. But just when it begins to look like she’s winning, allegations of fraud and missing funds threaten to ruin her life’s work as she is forced to change her focus from saving children to saving the organization she set up to help them.

“The Fighters is a remarkable film that represents the very core of the CNN Freedom Project, namely a desire to shine a spotlight into the darkness of human trafficking and to champion those who have dedicated their lives to ending it,” said Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director for CNN International. “This documentary also represents a formidable journalistic achievement, the culmination of more than two years of tenacious, tireless reporting. I salute those who have brought it to our screens and, with it, discussion on this critical issue into millions of homes around the world,” he added. Airing on CNN International on two consecutive nights beginning in May, The Fighters provides a unique glimpse into the world of combating human trafficking through the eyes of those risking their lives so that others may live theirs in freedom. It explores themes of social justice and globalization, as well as offering insight into both the benefits and drawbacks inherent in governmental-charity-celebrity partnerships. ‘The Fighters’ is produced and narrated by Leif Coorlim, executive editor of the CNN Freedom Project. ‘The Fighters’ broadcasts on CNN International at the following airtimes:

May 17: 7 am Eastern

4pm Eastern

10pm Eastern

May 18: 7am Eastern

4pm Eastern

10pm Eastern

About The CNN Freedom Project

The CNN Freedom Project produces original reports, articles, and documentaries on human trafficking in all of its forms – from debt bondage in India to sex trafficking rings in Southern California and Africanslaves in the Sinai desert. In addition, the production team curates digital resources with information on global advocacy groups working against human slavery. Users of www.cnn.com/freedom can finddetails on how to support or volunteer with anti-slavery organizations, watch CNN Freedom Project videos, and read in-depth articles and behind-the-scenes reporters’ notebook stories from the journalistsreporting for CNN Freedom Project investigations.The CNN Freedom Project has generated more than 300 stories of modern-day slavery from across five continents. Lisa Cohen and Leif Coorlim produce for the CNN Freedom Project, which is overseen by CNN International’s senior vice president for programming, Mike McCarthy. Many notable figures in the fight against human trafficking have partnered with the CNN Freedom Project since its launch, including Nick Cannon, Common, Emmanuel Jal, Anil Kapoor, Demi Moore, and Mira Sorvino.

Last night, Tostan was featured on PBS NewsHour – both in an updated TV segment and in a brand-new online segment focusing on Tostan’s new book.

Above, watch what aired on TV and see Tostan’s work in Senegal firsthand.

Below, watch the bonus segment, which covers everything from how she started focusing on female genital cutting to her insights on how people modify their behaviors. An excerpt:

“She had no intention of broaching the sensitive and extremely taboo subject of genital cutting. That cause was championed by her Senegalese colleagues and friends, newly armed with health information and driven in at least one compelling case — a ‘cutter’ named Oureye — by her own guilt. Oureye is one of several strong characters in the book, written by New York-based journalist and author Aimee Molloy and published in a partnership between the Skoll Foundation (an underwriter of the NewsHour) and the HarperOne division of HarperCollins.”

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/05/molly-melching.html

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, so we thought it fitting to share parts of some awardee messages:

From Kiva:

There are nearly three billion adults worldwide who lack basic financial services, and most of them are women. Take Clenda from Litein Town in Kenya: she is a 24-year-old mother of two who has been in the farming business for over 6 years. Through one of Kiva’s partners, Juhudi Kilimo, Clenda received a $300 loan to purchase a dairy cow that allows her to sell milk in the local market. She uses the extra income to pay for her children’s education and help increase the overall quality of life for her family.

By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, anyone can help offer opportunity to women worldwide. This Mother’s Day, help spread the word about how Kiva.org, the world’s leading microlending platform, gives us all a chance to make a big difference for women, families and communities. Thank the nurturers in your life by giving them a Kiva Card — $25 to lend to any borrower they choose — to help individuals around the world realize their potential. Visit www.kiva.org/gifts.

From mothers2mothers (video above):

With our double your mommy campaign, you can tell your mother or an important woman in your life how special she is by making a donation to mothers2mothers in her name that will have twice the impact!  Every donation we receive for U.S. Mother’s Day will be doubled with a matching gift by an anonymous donor up to a total of $25,000.   In acknowledgement, we will send her a Mother’s Day e-card with a special video message from some of the inspiring mothers we work with or a card by mail.  It’s easy to double your mommy here.

From Tostan:

As you may have heard, a book about Tostan Founder Molly Melching was released last week. However Long the Night, by Aimee Molloy, tells the inspirational story of Molly’s journey over the past 40 years to champion human rights in West Africa. Click here to learn more and purchase a copy for the woman who inspires you most this Mother’s Day. A donation to Tostan also makes a great gift! Our Generational Change in Three Years campaign has the power to impact the lives of 1.6 million people and transform an entire region.

From Partners in Health:

What moms want most on Mother’s Day isn’t flowers or jewelry. It’s peanut butter.A favorite snack of moms and kids alike, the sticky stuff is even better when it packs lifesaving micronutrients to treat poor children for malnutrition.In Haiti, peanut butter saves kids’ lives. Partners In Health produces it from locally grown peanuts, creating jobs for farmers and food for children. We call it Nourimanba. Give Nourimanba for Mother’s Day with a donation of $25 to Partners In Health in honor of a mom, and send her a personalized e-card to show your appreciation.

Richard Fahey, Chief Operating Officer at the Skoll Foundation and Dipender Saluja, Managing Director of the Capricorn Investment Group and Skoll Board Member Peter Hero just returned from Australia, where they spoke on a panel on impact investment. Here’s a new interview in Pro Bono Australia News with Mr. Hero:

“The modern day philanthropists in 2013 are ‘impatient’ with self-made wealth who want to see the end of big issues in their lifetime and be able to measure their impact, a high impact philanthropy event in Melbourne has been told.

Photo: Daniel Mendelbaum

Peter Hero, founder and principal of the US-based Hero Group, told the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation 100-person delegation that giving tends to peak at around the 50 year mark, as opposed to 70 back in the 20th century.

‘They are giving their money away earlier,’ Hero said.

‘They want to give it away in their lifetime.’

Richard Fahey, Chief Operating Officer at the Skoll Foundation and Dipender Saluja, Managing Director of the Capricorn Investment Group also spoke at the event focussing on Social Investment & High Impact Philanthropy.

The wealth of 21st century philanthropists is predominantly self-made at 93% across the United States, according to Hero. This shift differs from 40 years ago when 50% of wealth was inherited and the mindset of giving was different.

In an interview with Pro Bono Australia News, Hero explained that modern day philanthropists in California’s Silicon Valley are more interested in giving money to solutions, not to problems.

‘They are compelled to action by plans and ideas to solve problems,’ he said.

Read the rest: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/05/‘impatient’-21st-century-philanthropists#