Connections

To help with the creation of TMF's new website, I have been looking at different websites for a number of different components and compiling screen shots for Lisa. We're looking at things like how to use social media capabilities on the website, different layout designs, organization of information, etc. It's actually pretty exciting to be able to have input in the new website! While doing some research, I discovered the Acumen Fund's website and realized that their Founder and CEO is Jacqueline Novogratz, the woman who gave one of the TED talks I posted! Not surprisingly, I really love the Acumen Fund, which is, according to their website, "a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. Acumen Fund invests patient capital to identify, strengthen and scale business models that effectively serve the poor and champions this approach as an effective complement to traditional aid. Acumen Fund currently manages more than $60 million in investments in South Asia and East Africa, all focused on delivering affordable healthcare, water, housing and energy to the poor in Pakistan, India and Kenya." This is definitely an organization I could see myself working in, as it takes an innovative approach to poverty that addresses problems with normal forms of aid and charity work. 

There is much debate as to whether these approaches work, but I would like to believe that until there is a better solution proposed this is the way to go in making sustainable, dynamic change in the standards of living for those in poverty around the world. In an ideal world, we could revamp the systems that keep people living in these conditions. But we need a pragmatic mix of idealism and realism.  In a world as interconnected as ours is, we should take advantage of the systems we have in place (technology, capitalism, innovation, communities, etc.) to see how we can make them better.