CSR, corporate social responsibility in business is no longer a “nice to have”, but it is becoming a part and even an important one of the core business. The social request from inside/from the employees and the external push to behave differently, to take responsibility for others, to engage “beyond the borders” is obvious. Time…
Category: business
Two tailoring machines for tribal women – a small contribution, but a huge impact
We have made it. We have collected some money among friends and colleagues. Via betterplace, an online platform that helps to collect some money. Nothing special, nothing big. It takes just some time to describe the project and to ask friends to help. Even a few EUR make a big difference. In this case the…
NGOs of the future: innovation, business skills and thinking across traditional borders needed
The fact that the business world is changing is well known. Continuous business innovation is requested – everywhere. No doubt. There are all kind of efforts going on such as continuous training offers for business people, be it for employees, be it for employers: trainings around administration, marketing and computer skills, the call for innovation,…
Go around the corner – discover life for pottery
It is a rather quiet area in one of the outer city parts of Coimbatore. The streets are small and the colourful, one and two room houses at the right and left reflect the lifestyle of its habitants. It is – compared with many other Indian streets in the surroundings – a very clean and…
Coming back to India – Old problems, but new fascination
I’m back again. Back in India, back to Tamil Nadu. The ‘Indian feeling’ has re-started already on my way from Dubai to Chennai. Indian people, Indian respect, Induan friendliness and curiosity…An Indian business man sits besides and it takes just a few minutes to involve the people sitting around in some good, funny and interesting…
Social entrepreneurs, where are You going to? One man or woman shows are not enough!
The trend is obvious: social entrepreneurship is ‘hip’. The number of social business conferences, socent challenges, courses offered at universities and numbers of articles published in all kind of magazines is growing obviously. Not just in USA, U.K. and a few more countries, but all over the world. In tapped and untapped markets, countries…
To end poverty micro-loans are never enough
Micro-loans – the bestseller among development tools is under fire “Microfinance, not a quick escape from poverty, studies show” – When I came across this article published recently in various media talking about the limited effect of micro-loans, I got angry – and at the same time I was more than surprised that we really need…
Simple business models – Simple sales women and men in India
Today, I reviewed some photos taken in India during the last months. I came across some photos showing Indian people selling different items – in a very simple way – sitting on the ground, behind a table fixed on a bicycle, at a simple booth. An essential, but from marketing perspective neglected business A business…
7weeks in India – Meeting the cashew nut maker
Cashew nuts are a popular snack – probably all over the world – and a healthy food source, full of energy, antioxidants and minerals. Have you ever seen where they grow and how the processing from the tree to the final nice eatable nut works? We visit a rural region in the surroundings of Pondicherry,…
7 weeks in India – Bangalore: two worlds, no bridge
I can’t get used to it: extreme poverty and awealthy up to rich middle class staying together as if they were friends. Strange friends: one of them has got everything and the other not even the basics for a human living. You may find this contrast everywhere in India. But due to the incredible economic…
Go India, go future! 