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2009 Spring Progress Report
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 News Update |
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| Dear {FIRST_NAME}, |
March 2009 |
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We are pleased to release Agora's 2008 Annual Report to our stakeholders. The report describes our progress in 2008 and outlines Agora's vision for the future. We encourage you to take a moment to read the report and welcome your comments. If you are not already a supporter and would like a hard copy mailed to you, please email us.
Nicaragua's first prize to recognize outstanding small business entrepreneurial and social leadership
Small business entrepreneurs are on the front lines in the war against global poverty. Every day many work to solve the world's toughest challenges. Although they are responsible for the majority of new job creation, few entrepreneurs receive recognition, support, or investment. The LiderES Prize seeks to change this - and to shine a light on the extraordinary entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place every day. Agora Partnerships, in collaboration with Citi Foundation, DHL, the Nicaraguan Union for Social Responsibility (uniRSE), DED, SNV and Avina, launched the Premio LiderES on February 11th. The awards ceremony will be on June 3 in Managua, Nicaragua. The competition is launching in Nicaragua with plans to expand regionally in 2010. The main objective of LiderES is to celebrate small and growing businesses that deliver superior social performance, such as creating jobs, providing goods and services that serve low-income populations, working with low-income suppliers and distributors, implementing model labor practices, fighting climate change, and leading society by example.
We hope through this competition to increase society's appreciation of the fundamental role entrepreneurs play in fighting poverty and inequality in low income countries. LiderES is made possible thanks to a generous contribution by the Citi Foundation and the work of Agora Fellow Marion Descottes. For more information on prizes, how to apply, and how to collaborate, please visit Premio LiderES. David Lehr blogs about Agora's approach on NextBillion "As I learn more about entrepreneurship and job creation efforts I am increasingly convinced that we need a broader range of tools than either microcredit or social venture funding typically offer. Recently Agora Partnerships caught my eye when they and their founder Ben Powell were awarded a Draper Richards Fellowship. Agora Partnerships has an integrated approach that "provides strategy and leadership assistance, networks, and access to capital to socially responsible small businesses with the potential to improve their communities and protect the environment..." Employee Spotlight: Milton Membreno From cattle herder to warehouse manager Agora focuses on entrepreneurs who manage small, high growth businesses. It is precisely these businesses that can provide long terms solutions: desperately needed jobs with benefits, and the potential for professional growth. Small businesses are also team efforts where every team member needs to pull his weight in order for the enterprise to succeed. To that end, Agora has started a new program to recognize outstanding team members of Agora-supported businesses that are contributing to the company's community and financial goals.
Milton Membreno, 19, is the warehouse manager at Calzado Reyes, an Agora supported company.
Milton came to work for Calzado Reyes a year ago at the recommendation of a cousin. Prior to that he worked as a herder at a cattle farm making about two dollars a day with no benefits and few prospects for advancement. He started as an assistant shoe worker in Calzado Reyes' Nindirí factory, and soon worked his way through processing raw materials to managing the warehouse. He stood out, according to Jacqueline Pérez, co-owner of the company, "because he is very cooperative, disciplined and even though he's young, he is eager to learn. He showed the intentions and intelligence to move forward." Milton's promotion has given him the opportunity to consider returning to night school to obtain his high school degree and to learn how to use a computer to track inventory. Milton would have never guessed that his desire to learn shoe making would take him from a young cattle herder to a warehouse manager and provide him with the opportunity to complete his education. "I like working in the warehouse because I like learning from my colleagues and supervisors," says Milton. "[Calzado Reyes] has really provided me with the opportunity to improve my life." Agora will recognize Milton at its annual dinner, July 24th, in Managua. Agora Partnerships is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to attacking poverty and building wealth in developing countries through socially responsible entrepreneurship. Agora Partnerships provides talented entrepreneurs in emerging markets with the tools, networks, and financing necessary to launch successful, socially responsible businesses - the kind that can create decent long-term jobs. We seek to create opportunities for talent to flourish in environments normally characterized by closed social networks and inefficient markets. Our mission is to identify the leadership talent of the developing world and unleash it. |
In This Issue • Agora Launches Social Responsibility Prize • Employee Spotlight -- From Cattle Herder to Warehouse Manager Quick Links Join Our Community In The News Save the date: Agora Nicaragua's Annual Dinner will be Friday, July 24th in Managua Nicaragua. The dinner will highlight the role of entrepreneurship in development and recognize outstanding entrepreneurs, business leaders and employees for the work they do to make Nicaraguan society better. For more information on the event, please contact us.
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