In the past weeks it has been nearly impossible to get access to tribal villages in the area around Anaikatti, close to Coimbatore in South India. The fear that the virus could affect tribal people has been very high and the protection measurements therefore very severe. The missing accessibility to the villages had also a…
Soap making day to protect tribal communities
The COVID-19 virus is a huge risk to all, and even more for ethnic minorities. Tribals comprise a substantial minority population of India, making up 8.6% of India‘s population, or 104.2 million people, according to the 2011 census. One of the most impactful activities to combat infections is soap and hygiene practices. But soap is…
Moving from Local Corporate Social Responsibility to Global Social Engagement
How society and companies can practice innovative social engagement and profit from doing so In the late 1940s and early 1950s, a number of international social organizations were founded. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund increasingly broadened their scope of activity and soon began promoting “international development.” In addition to the large development…
News from the ground about life in India and the kantharis today
Let me share with you today some news from the “ground“. My friends Paul and Sabriye, who lead the kanthari center in South India, where they help social and impact entrepreneurs to grow, have sent me the following information and newsletter: “The world as we knew it, surely has changed. In these challenging days we…
Do we really invest enough and in impactful ways when it comes to developmental support for poor communities?
“This pic is of a borehole which had been left open. These boreholes you can find in many places. The communities get water from it. Often these boreholes have no cover which makes it very risky to small children and aged people. It’s all seasoned boreholes, ca. 40ft deep,” explains our local NGO partner. It…
Share your Indian moments – Photo competition for my Indian friends
How does life look at the moment in India? What is special, different, topical right now in these times in your surroundings? Traveling and staying together is not possible at the moment. Meeting you neither. I hope that this will change for better soon. To share some interesting Indian moments with all of you I…