The New Development Solutions Group approaches its work with professionalism, broad-spectrum skill sets and a tenacious work ethic. Their grassroots knowledge coupled with their deep business background and willingness "to get their hands dirty" is hard to come by."

Neil Blumenthal,
Director of Programs,
Scojo Foundation

“There are some business ideas that are so straightforward and that make so much sense, you wonder, "Why didn't I think of that?" This is definitely the case with the CE Solutions model. When our students heard Greg Van Kirk present the CE Solutions microconsignment model, it made perfect sense to them - an idea that in itself was entrepreneurial and that encouraged entrepreneurial activity in rural communities. CE Solutions is providing more than a quick fix or a charitable contribution. The CE Solutions team provides the training and tools for microentrepreneurs to sustain their businesses, as well as purchasing power, which can then be used to spur economic development in their own communities. Our students keep mentioning Greg (more than six months after meeting him) and the CE Solutions model not because it's the only social entrepreneurial model they know - for we've studied many - but because it's a model that is straightforward and just makes sense.”

Melissa A. Paulsen,
Social/MicroVenturing Programs Manager,
Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies,
Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame

Highlighted successes of the Social Entrepreneur Corps leadership include the following (includes work in all New Development Solutions Group initiatives):

• Six successful Social Entrepreneur Corps programs completed in 2006 and 2007
  
  
• The establishment of a group of profitable, locally-owned tourism businesses in Nebaj, Guatemala which include a restaurant, internet center, guiding business, Spanish school and hotel. These businesses have been operating for over five and a half years. With less than $15,000 in total donations these businesses have now grossed an aggregate of over $450,000 and paid previously unemployed women and youth employees over $75,000. This is in a region where average monthly wages are approximately $130 per month.
  
  
• The establishment of the Centro Explorativo education center in Nebaj, Guatemala focused on teaching children the love of reading and enhancing problem-solving and creative skills. This center offers library services, internet instruction as well as free after-school classes to up to 50 primary school-aged children five times a week.
  
  
• The creation of the MicroConsignment Model which creates double and triple bottom line micro-franchises to provide local, social entrepreneurs with the opportunity to profitably sell previously inaccessible essential products and services to vulnerable villagers. The MicroConsignment Model has been adopted by Scojo Foundation for its work throughout the world.

Within the MicroConsignment Model  work in Guatemala we have trained over 150 primarily women entrepreneurs who have sold over 10,000 pairs of glasses, 900 wood burning stoves and have recently begun successfully selling vegetable seeds and water filters as well as energy saving light bulbs. They will soon begin offering a rainwater cachment product, a small business newsletter/website and as well will be piloting children’s glasses for U-Specs. Local social entrepreneurs earn an average of two dollars per hour for their work where the average imputed hourly wage is fifty cents and the opportunity cost is oftentimes zero. They have sold their products/services in over 250 villages in the past three years. A national, entrepreneur-owned company which will serve as a holding company is in the final stages of being formalized and, based on current projections will be profitable within three months.

• Contracted and successfully completed economic development consulting  in Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Ecuador, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Senegal and The Gambia.
  
  
• Currently the head of Scojo Foundation’s macro-franchise development and implementation effort in Latin America.
  
  
• Social Entrepreneur Corps has established relationships with Columbia University, University of Notre Dame, the University of Connecticut and Duke University’s new DukeEngage initiative.
  
  
• Ayudasoft LLC launched its first software solution in the past six months with the United Way of Morris County, New Jersey. 

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