ThinkImpact Institute Prospectus

1

INSTITUTE

Winner of AshokaU’s Cordes Innovation Award

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION IN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

THINKIMPACT

2013 UNIVERSITY PROSPECTUS

RIGOROUS. REFLECTIVE. RESULTS.

2THINKIMPACT INSTITUTION2013 UNIVERSITY PROSPECTUS 2THINKIMPACT INSTITUTION2013 UNIVERSITY PROSPECTUS

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION THAT GOES DEEPER\DEEPER\DEEPER

3THINKIMPACT INSTITUTION2013 UNIVERSITY PROSPECTUS

Our goal is to work with you to expand the reach of opportunities for your students. ThinkImpact is the premier provider of social entrepreneurship experiential learning in rural Africa. Each year, college students from over 50 universities pick ThinkImpact’s Institute. They know opportunity when they see it.

ARE YOUR STUDENTS LOOKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD?

Imagine having an answer that offers action and education.

42013 UNIVERSITY PROSPECTUS 44

We work with universities across the United States to help We work with universities across the United States to help We work with universities across the United States to help their students solve some of the world’s most intractable their students solve some of the world’s most intractable social challenges.

ThinkImpact (www.thinkimpact.org) is a global company that ThinkImpact (www.thinkimpact.org) is a global company that turns the old development and aid model upside down. We turns the old development and aid model upside down. We offer programs for students to live and work in rural Africa offer programs for students to live and work in rural Africa where they design market-based solutions to poverty with the where they design market-based solutions to poverty with the people who live at the base of the pyramid.people who live at the base of the pyramid.

The fl agship Institute is 8 weeks and operates in Ghana, The fl agship Institute is 8 weeks and operates in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa. From a typical summer, we Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa. From a typical summer, we identify dozens of ideas and prototype innovations using local identify dozens of ideas and prototype innovations using local assets and supply chains, fostering a mindshift from defi ciency assets and supply chains, fostering a mindshift from defi ciency to opportunity amongst students on the program (called to opportunity amongst students on the program (called Scholars) and local community members.Scholars) and local community members.

WE ARE ON A MISSION

5THINKIMPACT INSTITUTION2013 UNIVERSITY PROSPECTUS 5THINKIMPACT INSTITUTION

We don’t take this work lightly. ThinkImpact is expert at We don’t take this work lightly. ThinkImpact is expert at managing risk and coordinating logistics on the ground. We managing risk and coordinating logistics on the ground. We managing risk and coordinating logistics on the ground. We have deep personal relationships with each of the scholar-have deep personal relationships with each of the scholar-receiving communities. We have stayed in their village. We know the leaders and the numerous local organizations. We know the local hospitals, have multiple drivers on call for extenuating circumstances, and have rules and behavior policies that increase safety.

ThinkImpact rethinks traditional notions of cultural immersion, ThinkImpact rethinks traditional notions of cultural immersion, offering students and community partners deep opportunities offering students and community partners deep opportunities for cultural understanding.

RISK MANAGEMENT

ThinkImpact already partners with leading universities such ThinkImpact already partners with leading universities such as Stanford, Dartmouth, Northwestern, University of Southern as Stanford, Dartmouth, Northwestern, University of Southern as Stanford, Dartmouth, Northwestern, University of Southern California, University of Michigan, Georgetown and the California, University of Michigan, Georgetown and the University of San Diego.

Your Campus Can Be Next.

PROVEN PARTNERS


ThinkImpact offers one of the most unique international experiential learning programs out there. Through a comprehensive in-country curriculum that allows students to understand and participate in the nuances of rural life, students experience culture and development directly—not as visitors who periodically parachute in from office for quick field visits. We were attracted to the ThinkImpact program because of the depth of immersion it offers. Their sites are off the beaten track, while their safety standards are top- notch.”

Nicol Patel Assistant Director Center for Global Engagement at Buffet Center for International and Comparative Studies Northwestern University.

“students to understand and participate in the nuances of rural life, students experience culture and development directly—not as visitors who periodically parachute in directly—not as visitors who periodically parachute in from office for quick field visits. We were attracted to the from office for quick field visits. We were attracted to the ThinkImpact program because of the depth of immersion ThinkImpact program because of the depth of immersion it offers. Their sites are off the beaten track, while their it offers. Their sites are off the beaten track, while their safety standards are top- notch.”


ThinkImpact’s award winning curriculum, called The Innovator, is the most extensive social entrepreneurship and innovation experiential education program in Africa. We believe that innovation is at the nexus of two radically different cultures; education is a vehicle to unleash human potential.

Our curriculum is the embodiment of those two possibilities. Students on the Innovation Institute engage in a deep curriculum that takes learning to a new level. Our program enhances campus curricular activities; we do not replace them. Professors are still the best at providing classes and writing syllabi. We offer the experiential component fi lled with methods and techniques to work effectively in a new culture, the refl ection activities to expand student’s horizons, and a heck of a lot of great readings to help students dig deeper into the work they are engaged in.

CURRICULUM

It is interesting how I have transformed myself acknowl-edging that humans are humans everywhere embel-lished with rich and diverse culture and tradition. No barriers. No wall and no boundary is necessary to have a better appreciation of others.”

Yameserach MekonnenSouth AfricaSouthern Polythechnic State University

“

2013 UNIVERSITY PROSPECTUS

It is interesting how I have transformed myself acknowl-edging that humans are humans everywhere embel-lished with rich and diverse culture and tradition. No barriers. No wall and no boundary is necessary to have a better appreciation of others.”

“


The entire Institute is captured through personal blogs updated The entire Institute is captured through personal blogs updated daily as well as several deliverables from the program including daily as well as several deliverables from the program including Team Building Action Plans and Project Proposals. Team Building Action Plans and Project Proposals.

This is how students on our program learn leadership skills, This is how students on our program learn leadership skills, entrepreneurship skills, to think critically to solve problems and entrepreneurship skills, to think critically to solve problems and to make an impact in the global community. to make an impact in the global community.

By the end of the eight weeks, every scholar on the program will By the end of the eight weeks, every scholar on the program will have:

1 Fully immersed in a rural African village and met dozens of Fully immersed in a rural African village and met dozens of Fully immersed in a rural African village and met dozens of local community memberslocal community members

2 Learned team building skills both among US students and Learned team building skills both among US students and Learned team building skills both among US students and across cultures

3 Formally debated major questions based on extensive Formally debated major questions based on extensive readings with peers such as: Aid Effectiveness, Role of readings with peers such as: Aid Effectiveness, Role of Social Entrepreneurship, and Sources of Corruption.Social Entrepreneurship, and Sources of Corruption.

4 Worked with local community members to discover ideas Worked with local community members to discover ideas Worked with local community members to discover ideas through a rigorous program of learning about the local through a rigorous program of learning about the local economy and identifying systemic challenges economy and identifying systemic challenges

5 Developed products and services that are tested in the Developed products and services that are tested in the Developed products and services that are tested in the marketplace.

CURRICULUM


IMMERSION

INSPIRATION

INNOVATION

Scholars begin by building relationships with community members and understanding the context and environment members and understanding the context and environment where they will be based for the program. They learn about where they will be based for the program. They learn about the local culture, share experiences and meet dozens of the local culture, share experiences and meet dozens of individuals through interviews and activities. Scholars work individuals through interviews and activities. Scholars work with community member to uncover the wide range of assets with community member to uncover the wide range of assets and resources that exist in the community.

Design teams establish greater context for their focused goal. Design teams establish greater context for their focused goal. They identify local supplies and prototype solutions. The itera-They identify local supplies and prototype solutions. The itera-tive process leads benefi ts from scholars meeting additional locals to gather more feedback to ensure the design teams ideas meet community members where they are.

Scholars identify community members that they would like to Scholars identify community members that they would like to work with in a design-team. Teams work together to brainstorm work with in a design-team. Teams work together to brainstorm what social challenges they want to solve and what resources what social challenges they want to solve and what resources they will leverage to create change. Ultimately, as a group, they will leverage to create change. Ultimately, as a group, they select a “How Might We…?” question, which forms the they select a “How Might We…?” question, which forms the foundation for the fi nal phase of the Institute.

CURRICULUM IN DEPTH


ThinkImpact has full time staff member in each country called ThinkImpact has full time staff member in each country called ThinkImpact has full time staff member in each country called Country Coordinator. Additionally, during the summer Institute Country Coordinator. Additionally, during the summer Institute Country Coordinator. Additionally, during the summer Institute there is a Country Associate who operates local fi nances and there is a Country Associate who operates local fi nances and there is a Country Associate who operates local fi nances and logistics. For every team of 6 scholars, ThinkImpact provides logistics. For every team of 6 scholars, ThinkImpact provides logistics. For every team of 6 scholars, ThinkImpact provides one Advisor – the 6 scholars and the advisor all stay together one Advisor – the 6 scholars and the advisor all stay together one Advisor – the 6 scholars and the advisor all stay together in the same village – to guide the students through the in the same village – to guide the students through the in the same village – to guide the students through the Innovator and to ensure daily needs are being met.Innovator and to ensure daily needs are being met.Innovator and to ensure daily needs are being met.

ThinkImpact works in each village for 2-3 years. Communities ThinkImpact works in each village for 2-3 years. Communities ThinkImpact works in each village for 2-3 years. Communities apply to host scholars after an outreach effort is completed apply to host scholars after an outreach effort is completed apply to host scholars after an outreach effort is completed by our Country Coordinators. We currently work in over 15 by our Country Coordinators. We currently work in over 15 by our Country Coordinators. We currently work in over 15 villages across Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa. villages across Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa. villages across Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa.

Villages are pre-vetted for safety. We check history of violent Villages are pre-vetted for safety. We check history of violent crime and aggression towards outsiders in each community crime and aggression towards outsiders in each community as well as access to hospitals, clean drinking water, sanitation as well as access to hospitals, clean drinking water, sanitation and more. The program is built with safety and health as and more. The program is built with safety and health as our number one priority. Additionally, we always have a staff our number one priority. Additionally, we always have a staff member nearby if a scholar is feeling ill. member nearby if a scholar is feeling ill.

STAFF

LOCATION

SAFETY & HEALTH


ThinkImpact Institute costs $4,650 per student ThinkImpact Institute costs $4,650 per student (partnership minimum 3 students).

PRICE INCLUDES:

- A guarantee of said number of scholar seats on the Innovation Institute- Co-branding opportunities in all related materials (fl yers, emails, application forms,

websites)- Dedicated ThinkImpact staff support throughout recruitment, application and

selection process- ThinkImpact University (TIU) training program for scholars in Washington, DC,

including accommodation and food- Innovator Kits for participants (including curriculum, written materials, workbooks

and gear)- Eight weeks of village room and board- Guarantee of one ThinkImpact advisor (personnel) living in the village per six

scholars- All in-country domestic transportation including buses and vans

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

- Flight to Washington, DC or to country visited- Visa fees- International travel and health insurance- Optional excursions: Up to three additional opportunities offered - Course credit fee to gain 3 optional units of credit through University of the Pacifi c

Center for Continuing and Professional Education.

COSTS


ThinkImpact is at the epicenter of the social entrepreneurship ThinkImpact is at the epicenter of the social entrepreneurship movement. We continue to cultivate relationships with movement. We continue to cultivate relationships with organizations that provide our students with world-class organizations that provide our students with world-class opportunities upon their return. opportunities upon their return.

Here is a list of groups we work with regularly:Here is a list of groups we work with regularly:

-Stanford Public Management Program-Stanford Public Management Program-AshokaU-iOnPoverty-Opportunity Collaboration-Opportunity Collaboration-Unreasonable Institute-Unreasonable Institute-SoCap-IDEO.org & HCDConnect.org-IDEO.org & HCDConnect.org

UNIVERSITY PARTNERS AND ALLIES

When they told me to ‘think impact’ I thought of the When they told me to ‘think impact’ I thought of the impact I would make on others. I never considered the impact I would make on others. I never considered the impact on me.”impact on me.”

Phillip JohnsonKenyaUniversity of the Pacifi c

“

ThinkImpact Institute Prospectus

Documents

Transcript of ThinkImpact Institute Prospectus