ASIA INITIATIVES
Help a Woman Rise
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
More than half of the world's population lives on and over 50% of children who are not in education are girls. Our co-founder and president, Dr. Geeta Mehta, wanted to change that. Since then, we have been committed to leveraging the power of social capital to promote healthcare, education and sustainable development, striving to bring positive change in the quality of life of people in underserved communities. With a particular focus on women and their families, our initiatives utilize transformative methodologies and technologies to empower people to realize their full potential.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Bori Sinh Village Project
Asia Initiatives collaborated with Save Indian Farmers (SIF) and Deendyal Trust in order to enable self-sustainable change in the lives of 30 farmers and their families in the village of Bori Sinh, in Maharashtra, India. The project enrolls farmers to complete social initiatives in order to earn Social Capital Credits (SoCCs). The activities that they must undertake includes attending mostly meetings, cleaning common areas, ensuring that women attend health clinics and enrolling their children in daily after school programs. The credits that the participants earn for completing those tasks can then be redeemed for 25% of the cost of a buffalo, which the farmers can utilize for the development of small milk businesses. SoCCs are able to provide families involved in agriculture, a steady amount of non-farming income.
Ruaab SEWA
Asia Initiatives has partnered with Ruaab, a garment production company owned and managed by the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in Dehli, India. SEWA has helped to enroll 350 artisan women into the Social Capital Credits (SoCCs) program. The women in the program earn credits for the timeliness and quality of their work, for opening bank accounts, obtaining the necessary vaccinations for their children, and sending their children to formal schools. This project has helped women increase their wages and improve their work conditions by holding them accountable for the quality of their work. After completing activities and earning credits, the women in the program are able to redeem SoCCs for LED lights for their homes, tutoring services, sanitary supplies, and various recreational activities.
Kumasi Bantama Market
Asia Initiatives has collaborated with WomenStrong International to bring Social Capital Credits to the women working in the Bantama Market in the village of Kumasi, Ghana. The women working in the market sell fruits and other goods, but lack the funding needed to increase their profits. Many of the women require loans from microfinance companies to finance their businesses, but were being offered loans at an interest rate of 43%. The introduction of Social Capital Credits (SoCCs), have allowed women to earn credits for attending preventative health screenings, practicing safe food hygiene at work, and completing various community service projects. In return, the women are able to redeem their credits for microcredit loans at an interest rate of 12%. Not only have these loans become more manageable to repay for the women, but they have helped the women develop economic production for their businesses, and pave their marketplace. At the end of 2015, about 138 women were enrolled in the program, and about 2— collateral-free loans worth about 229,394 Ghanaian cedi ($60,000) has been disbursed to the women.
SoCCs in Washington D.C.
Asia Initiatives has partnered with WomenStrong International and Bread for the City (BfC) to launch a Social Capital Credits (SoCCs) project in Washington D.C. Bread for the City provides support to D.C’s most vulnerable women by providing them with the resources needed to increase their standard of living. BfC initially enrolled 20 women in the pilot SoCCs program, who are able to earn credits for working in a community garden, cleaning up their neighborhood, joining a book club, and contributing to the elderly and homeless population. In return, the women redeem credits for items such as gym memberships, job interviewing skills and bus tickets.
SoCCs in Kisumu
In collaboration with the Alice Visionary Project and WomenStrong International, Asia Initiatives and Social Capital Credits (SoCCs) are working to incentivize inhabitants of the Manyatta neighborhood of Kisumu, Kenya to perform acts of social good. SoCCs are being used to enroll participants into waste management initiatives including the implementation of a systematic approach to collecting, recycling and garbage disposal. The participants of the program have earned credits for activities such as transforming a prior dumping ground into a community garden, collecting waste, starting community sports teams, enroll in prenatal and postnatal healthcare programs, and practicing safe food hygiene. In return, community members can use the credits to receive umbrellas, solar lights, stoves and school fees, supplies and uniforms.
KADAM RESOURCE CENTER
AI has been working with the Center for Development in Ahmedabad, India, to implement sustainable changes in the areas of women’s self-help groups, safe institutional births, involvement of community leaders, healthcare workshops, and girls mentoring their peers. The establishment of the Kadam Resource Center for Girls (KRCG) has provided a safe environment for young girls to learn about socially taboo topics such as self-defense and puberty, most specifically menstruation. The girls who attend these workshops at the KRCG then spread this information to other girls in their surrounding communities, promoting the widespread knowledge of opportunities for female advancement in society. SoCCs are earned from community leaders holding meetings, midwives providing pregnancy monitoring from conception to delivery, the implementation of first aid training in the community, and girls teaching their female peers the information learned in KRCG workshops. SoCCs are thus redeemed for KRCG girls’ travel expenses, hygiene kits for girls and women, fees for teachers, and the rent for the KRCG building.
Sangaati: Organic Farming
In recent years, Indian farmers have struggled financially in the midst of rapid industrial growth, and mentally in an environment characterized by alarmingly high suicide rates. In order to restore hope and prosperity in the lives of these farmers, AI teamed up with Save Indian Farmers and Deendayal Trust to initiate a switch from traditional farming methods to organic farming. A total of 600 farmers and their families benefit financially from the anticipated 1.5 times increase in crop output when utilizing organic methods such as herbal pest controllers, liquid organic fertilizers, and manure fertilizers. Most recent field report from the project can be read here which proves the success of the organic farming techniques. We have strategically involved the female family members by empowering them to earn SoCCs through participation in monthly meetings, agri-camps, anti-tobacco camps, health camps, and self-help groups. SoCCs may be redeemed for access to training materials, organic fertilizer storage tanks, medical checkups, and expert nutritional advice. In addition to the extra money earned by farmers and their families, participants are expected to experience health and nutrition improvements from eating healthy organic products.
SEWA Ahmedabad
In this project kindly supported by PepsiCo Foundation, we have teamed up with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) to identify the needs of the community of Ahmedabad in India, and to implement a SoCC project for improvement. This area was previously characterized by widespread viral and water-borne diseases, a lack of awareness regarding cleanliness and hygiene, and a significant percentage of children not attending school or any type of educational instruction. To combat all of this, program participants earn SoCCs for waste management, attending medical camps, and sending school-aged children to classes if they had not previously been attending school. SoCCs are then redeemed for organic groceries, stationery supplies, and home improvement materials. As a result of the SoCC program in Ahmedabad, the local government has noticed improvements in the appearance of the neighborhood and is now supporting the initiative. In addition, members of surrounding communities are also observing the benefits of the SoCC program and have shown interest in joining.
Digital Learning Center, Odisha
We have partnered with VIEWS India, to establish a Digital Literacy center in Bhubhaneshwar, India. Participants earn SoCCs for peer mentoring three younger children in after school help three times a week and in exchange can redeem them for critical digital literacy skills that add to their career and education profile.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of women who are empowered in a sustainable way around the world through our 14 projects in three countries
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Women and girls
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of girls who learn life skills from our programs and workshops
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of women and girls who gain access to sanitary napkins through AI-funded women entrepreneurs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of women who start micro-poultry farming through the resources from our programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of children who gain regular access to computers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of families who gain access to clean drinking water
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Dams and ponds constructed, granting access to clean water to entire villages.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of farmers who implement organic farming techniques
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of organic kitchen gardens established
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of students in our Cascade of Learning Program
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of trees planted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
AI's SoCCs (Social Capital Credit) program upholds our mission. This initiative works with local nonprofits to tackle targeted needs through social outreach and sustainable development to help people access credit, education, and technology. It's simple; people do social good, earn SoCCs for their work, then use these points for tangible goods or services that help their communities and families.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our main strategy is based on Social Capital Credits (SoCCs). Our founder and president, Geeta Mehta, innovated this methodology to create a community currency, which will incentivize communities to undertake tasks for collective good in order to end cycle of poverty and achieve sustainable development. Thus, SoCCs act as a catalyst for development without the sole reliance on money. The program is designed to help people access credit, education, and technology. SoCCs are earned for their work, and then they can use points for tangible goods or services that help their communities and families.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Asia Initiatives has a dedicated staff of four based in New York that coordinates each of our projects on the ground. With three years of experience running SoCCs programs and nearly twenty years of running international development and poverty reduction programs, our headquarters in NY has developed deep expertise that allows us to work effectively with local partners in order to run effective projects and to rigorously analyze our impact. Our staff and volunteer base combines skills of project management, data visualization/analysis and more to provide high levels of oversight. The specialized local expertise of our local partners multiplies our capability to work in a variety of locales and policy sectors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
AI has made a remarkable impact in its communities. To date, AI's work has led to 2,500 women receiving health check-ups, 300 cattle loans increasing family income, 200 micro-credit banks established, 470 women making their neighborhood disease-free through waste management, 40 community knowledge centers created, 1,200 women establishing community kitchen gardens and 1,300 girls enabled to go to school. In 2017 alone, AI lifted 5,000 women and 3,000 women out of poverty through AI's mission, allowing women to provide themselves with access to basic human rights like food, water, healthcare, and education.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
ASIA INITIATIVES
Board of directorsas of 10/30/2023
Eva Haller
Geeta Mehta
Krishen Mehta
Urvashi Kaul
Kylie Schuyler
Rita Duggal
Yoshiko Sheard
Anna May Feige
Fumi Kato
Kratma Sood
Richard Murray
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/04/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.