Collaborate!

Social Entrepreneur Corps is continually seeking partners with whom we can collaborate to create greater impact for both our developing world constituents and the students, recent graduates, and young professionals who serve them through our programs.  Over the years we have fostered strong relationships with like-minded universities and development organizations. These collaborations, where all involved both add and derive value, are fundamental to the success of our work.

Below we have outlined our current partnerships as well as examples of how we collaborate with different types of organizations:

Current Strategic Partnerships
Universities
Student Groups
Church Groups
Corporations
Development Organizations
Funders
Technology Providers

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Current Strategic Partnerships

Through the work of our host NGO, Community Enterprise Solutions, we collaborate with dozens of community service organizations in Guatemala and Ecuador. On an organizational level, we continue to enthusiastically work with universities and organizations such as the following:

University of Connecticut: Study Abroad Programs
Social Entrepreneur Corps is entering its second year as strategic partner with the University of Connecticut’s Study Abroad department. The University of Connecticut offers over 200 study abroad programs in 65 countries on six continents. Both University of Connecticut students can apply through the study abroad website here: (https://secure.sa.uconn.edu/sap/studioabroad/)
and receive up to 9 credit hours for the eight week summer program in Guatemala. There are a designated number of placements being held open for University of Connecticut students.  

University of Notre Dame: MicroVenturing Program, Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Mendoza College of Business
Social Entrepreneur Corps is entering its third year working with the University of Notre Dame’s Social/MicroVenturing program within the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Mendoza College of Business. The MicroVenturing program is pioneering practical  approached to creating successful community based micro-ventures through classroom, workshop, and in-market exercises.  The program utilizes a consortium of educators, prominent members of both the public and private sectors, and Notre Dame students in the role of small-business mentors.  The mission of the course is to promote the creation of sustainable communities equipped with the tools to improve lives and reinforce their commitment to the betterment of society by equipping college students with adequate training to make lasting contributions to the creation or expansion of select small businesses. The course will concentrate on defining the role of social entrepreneurship in solving the larger problems of domestic and global poverty.

University of Notre Dame students interested in participating in Social Entrepreneur Corps are encouraged to visit the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies to learn more about the application process. There are a designated number of placements being held open for MicroVenturing class students in both the  Guatemala and Ecuador programs.

Duke University: DukeEngage, Duke Center for Civic Engagement (DCCE)
Social Entrepreneur Corps is an inaugural strategic partner of Duke University’s new DukeEngage program through the Duke Center for Civic Engagement (DCCE) in 2008. Social Entrepreneur Corps is entering its second year working with Duke Engage.  DukeEngage, provides full funding and faculty and administrative support to all undergraduates who want to stretch beyond the classroom by tackling societal issues at home and abroad, and, in turn, learning from those real-world experiences. Projects range from learning about African education challenges while helping a rural school to gaining insights into natural disasters while working with Gulf Coast flood victims. The program provides Duke students with opportunities to collaborate with nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that address poverty, housing, education, AIDS or other social issues; with a financial institution to explore how investment affects life in third-world countries; or an art museum to increase outreach to low-income children, among other things. The Duke Endowment of Charlotte and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation of Seattle are providing an endowment DukeEngage. Duke University students interested in participating in Social Entrepreneur Corps are encouraged to visit the DukeEngage website here http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/engage/proposal.html
and/or visit the Duke Center for Civic Engagement to learn more about the application process. There are a designated number of placements being held open for Duke University students in the Guatemala eight week summer program.

The College of William and Mary: Office of Student Volunteer Services
Social Entrepreneur Corps is in its inaugural year partnering with the College of William and Mary. The Office of Student Volunteer Services exists to promote a culture of service at the College, increase participation in public and community service, and develop service involvement as an educational experience.  Students engaged in community service activities will:

• Understand and practice behaviors associated with social responsibility, including interest in community issues, the welfare of others, and concepts of fairness and justice
• Develop a personal and sustainable commitment to serving others
• Understand the function of citizenship in our society and develop a willingness and ability to engage in civic life in ways that build and strengthen communities
• Use reflective thinking processes to establish connections between in-class and out-of-class experiences and make meaning of academic and career pursuits

There are a designated number of placements being held open for William and Mary students in our Guatemala and Ecuador summer programs. William and Mary students interested in participating in our programs should contact Drew Stelljes, PhD, Director
Office of Student Volunteer Services at adstel@wm.edu.

Columbia University - Center for Technology, Innovation and Community Engagement (CTICE)
Social Entrepreneur Corps is in its first year as a strategic partner with the Center for Technology, Innovation and Community Engagement (CTICE).  Social Entrepreneur Corps has a strong history working with Columbia University and previously worked with the Career Center. Over 20 students for Columbia have participated in Social Entrepreneur Corps programs.

Established in 2006, (CTICE) focuses on creating authentic university-community partnerships, promoting community-based learning, and building community capacity. There are a set number of placements open to Columbia students. Columbia students can apply for financial assistance through CTICE upon application acceptance.

Miami University - Center for Social Entrepreneurship
Social Entrepreneur Corps is in its first year as a strategic partner with the Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Social Entrepreneur Corps co founder is a Miami University alumnus. The primary objective of the Center is to develop a world-class program in social entrepreneurship at the undergraduate level. This comprehensive program begins with the introduction of the ideas of social entrepreneurship (SE), continues through rigorous coursework and culminates with hands-on learning opportunities.

There are a set number of placements open to Miami students. Miami students can apply for financial assistance through the Center for Social Entrepreneurship upon application acceptance.

Frankiln & Marshall College - Under Construction

Universities

Social Entrepreneur Corps collaborates with universities to facilitate student engagement in our Guatemala and Ecuador programs. We currently have partnerships with Columbia University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Notre Dame, Duke University, The College of William and Mary and Miami University.  Students from these universities participate in our programs based on the design of a collaboration that benefits all stakeholders and ensures that everyone’s respective missions are achieved.

We are continually seeking collaborations with new university partners as we expand both our programmatic and geographic reach. Please contact us if you are interested in discussing a potential collaboration.

Student Groups

Social Entrepreneur Corps collaborates with student groups to facilitate engagement in our Guatemala and Ecuador programs. We currently have partnerships with Nourish International and StartingBloc. Students from these organizations receive special dispensation in our programs based on the design of a collaboration that benefits all stakeholders and ensures that everyone’s respective missions are achieved.

We are continually seeking collaborations with new student organizations partners as we expand both our programmatic and geographic reach. Please contact us if you are interested in discussing a potential collaboration.

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Church Groups

For church groups interested in mission trips focused on sustainable development, our short term consulting and one week experience programs are ideal. We currently work with The First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, New Jersey and set up short term mission trips for adults and youth. These short term programs provide congregation members with an opportunity to participate in our ongoing development efforts and are hugely beneficial to our rural constituents. As well, given our established infrastructure we can design a program that is right for your church group. Just tell us how much time you have and what your interests are and we will use or intimate knowledge and our expansive network of contacts throughout the country to build a program specifically for your mission. Please contact us if you are interested in discussing a potential collaboration.

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Corporations

Social Entrepreneur Corps works with corporations in two ways. First, for corporations interested in setting up short term trips for employees focused on sustainable development, our short term consulting and one week experience programs are ideal. These short term programs provide staff with an opportunity to participate in our ongoing development efforts and are hugely beneficial to our rural constituents. These are fantastic team building experiences that provide unique insight through adventure. As well, for corporations interested in testing the feasibility of products and services at “The Bottom of the Pyramid” we offer unmatched experience and vast network of local entrepreneurs. Please visit our NGO partner Community Enterprise Solutions as well as the innovations page of this website to learn about our in-depth experience. Please contact us if you are interested in discussing a potential collaboration.

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Development Organizations

Social Entrepreneur Corps is led by an international development team that is well versed in creating innovative and sustainable responses to difficult challenges. The Social Entrepreneur Crops teams' skill set and capabilities are reflected in both the breadth and depth of our work. From creating rural internet center WiFi implementation and best practices guides for USAID, to designing a macro and micro-franchising strategy for VisionSpring  through our work with top universities participating in our social entrepreneurship internship program, we have continuously achieved success.  Although our work takes us to such diverse environments as Paraguay, Serbia and West Africa, we have continually found that fundamental principles to achieving success remain the same. And applying those principles with a passion to truly "make a difference" is what sets our work apart. The initiatives that we have created, lead and have consulted for are all unique in nature. Although our focus may appear to be broad, in reality it is not. In fact, everything we do is in direct response to development challenges in order to provide our clients with the unique "tools" to help them better and more efficiently effectuate positive change. The tools may differ but the process for designing the tools demands the same inherent competencies.

Social Entrepreneur Corps works with development organizations in the following ways:

• New Social Entrepreneur Corp programs: If you are a development organization interested in the benefits of having passionate, motivated and hard-working university students help facilitate your success we can design a program for you. We are in the process of expansion and are interested in working with organizations in additional countries who share our mission of creating access to essential products, services and information to rural constituents.
• Short Term Consulting: If you are looking for support in needs analysis, feasibility studies, pilot launch, support, expansion or evaluation, we can set up a short term consulting engagement to help you. We have in-depth experience in consulting in diverse environments and are innovators in the sector. The addition of student participation in these trips creates great leverage and significantly reduces costs of a traditional consulting engagement.
• Current Social Entrepreneur Corps programs: If you are an organization working in Guatemala and Ecuador we can include support for your organization in one of our programs. We are here to serve and can help you create greater impact in your community.
• MicroConsignment: If you are interested in incorporating the MicroConsignment Model into your work we will help you get started and support you. We have trained organizations in Guatemala, Ecuador, Paraguay, El Salvador and Nicaragua in this sustainable solution. Please read more about MicroConsignment at the “Rural Access through Entrepreneurship” page of our Community Enterprise Solutions website.

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Funders

Given our in-depth experience in an incredibly diverse number of grassroots development initiatives and our broad infrastructure, Social Entrepreneur Corps leadership can provide funders with unique insight and services. We can provide funders with both short term and longer term consulting services to analyze and implement new projects and to evaluate the efficacy of ongoing projects.

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Technology Providers

Through our innovative MicroConsignment Model and the network of local entrepreneurs that we have trained and support, we can provide technology providers with a means to both test the feasibility of and deploy new products and services. Through our model rural entrepreneurs are successfully creating awareness for, marketing and selling a diverse “basket” of products in the remotest of villages. We are currently contracted U-Specs and the DOB Foundation to test the viability of innovative glasses for myopic children. If you are interested in test marketing anything from solar solutions, to weaving mechanisms to rural information technology applications, we can create a low-cost mechanism for you to learn critical best practices before taking your technology to market.  If you already have a proven technology and are interested in a  “Bottom of the Pyramid” solution to reach clients most in need, we have already established the means to do so.  Please visit the “Rural Access through Entrepreneurship” section of our Community Enterprise Solutions website to learn more about our success in this area.

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