We intend to offer a variety of programs that serve community members of every age and ethnic background. This particular proposal seeks funding for one of our most important programs:
CID is starved of funds to actively help its community. More nonprofits are competing for government and philanthropic funds and traditional forms of funding are becoming smaller and less reliable. In the face of this new reality, our community is beginning to appreciate the reliable source of revenue, focus and effectiveness that can come from adopting “for profit” business approaches. We will use earned-income generation and cause-related marketing for CID’s activities.
Thus a group of social entrepreneurs decided to find a way to support community improvement and development activity. We social entrepreneurs are finding ways to work for a better world and make a living at the same time. We measure our success by how big an impact we can make in bringing about social change to our community.
We are individuals, both visionaries and ultimate realists, tapping inspiration and creativity, with innovative solutions to our community’s most pressing social and economic problems.
We use blended-value business models that combine a revenue-generating business with a social-value-generating structure or component.
CID should initiate a program to start with, that encourages people to get together to make a positive impact on their community. Personal Hygiene/Health (Physical and Mental), Family and Personal Budget planning, Finance, immigration and employment and are other common concerns that are easily tied into the group discussion must be explored. There are number of existing, fragmented religious organizations and ethnic-based NGOs within Diasporas and transnational community from Burma such as First Karen Baptist Church, Burma Christ Church, KCM, TBSN Minnesota Buddhist Association and Karen Organization of Minnesota. Mobilizing these existing religious organizations within the community through educational programs would be our starting point of our activities. These religious organizations within our community are potential targets for new groups such as CID as we formulate strategies to address pressing problems in the community and they will become, if consolidated, our initial market.
Guided by the principles of self-determination, empowerment, and sustainable development, both education and health are seen as critical components to the community development process. The implementation of a strategy for action regarding the needs within the area of health and education seeks to find a balance between both formal learning (driven by external organizations) and informal learning (driven by the community). Taking into consideration the socio-economic situation of the people within our community, a major concern is the creation of programs which are not only attractive to community members, but how these groups can be integrated into their daily schedules.
If we can start with those educational program/activities that will become a venue for community mobilization, we will prove that CID could serve as potential means to address their needs. The activities include presentation and lecture combined with Q&A; time.
In addition to such initiatives, vocational education and training can also be developed. The best training programs are linked to production and in many cases offer literacy and numeracy, as well as IT, business, commercial or vocational skills. Such projects would provide organizational management, leadership training, marketable skills, and resources that might not otherwise be made available.
In the latest sign of growing donors’ interest given recent political developments in Burma, with the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague, German
Foreign Aid Minister and French Foreign Minister stirred enthusiasm to attain NGO tax- exempt status to extend our activities and participate in Burmese Diaspora program not only in Minnesota, but also along Thai/Burma border and within Burma, to promote the democratizing process and reverse the trend from brain drain to brain gain.
What possible activities could we plan to mobilize community to make them get together to become our solid market?
D. Description of Programs
CID works to bring education and economic opportunity to all community members of Burmese refugees and immigrants through a variety of long-term programs:
CID initiated some kick-off activities in 2008 as follows.
Health Education Workshop
Provided free flu shots
Participated in international day at HTC with bazaars and cultural dances
Festival of Nations with bazaars, cultural exhibition and cultural dances
Educational forum on basic laws in US
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
On top of above issues, our Burmese refugees are facing various migration and settlement issues, including:
Thus makes us formulate “Refugee Tutoring” program