Gusto Collective’s Post

I am looking forward to attending the African Philanthropy Conference next week in Vic Falls, Zimbabwe. The key questions I am looking to answer during my time there are, How might philanthropy be better supported to leverage technology and innovation in impact measurement and management?; Where are the intersections between indigenous practices in Africa, tech and innovation in philanthropy?; and How are we addressing responsible data practices in impact measurement and management?...And who can I partner with to work on solutions that address these questions? If you have similar questions (or the answers), reach out and lets connect. PDG Development Consultants #IMM #ImpactInvesting #Technology #Innovation

Happy International Youth Day to all the young people striving to make an impact in their communities! 🌎 As professionals, we have a unique opportunity to support and empower these young leaders as they work to create positive change. Here are five ways we can contribute: 🤝 Mentorship: Offer guidance and share your expertise with young leaders to help them navigate challenges and develop their skills. 🗣 Networking Opportunities: Introduce them to key contacts in your industry to help expand their network and open doors to new opportunities. 📚 Resource Sharing: Provide access to tools, platforms, and resources that can help them execute their projects more effectively. ✊ Advocacy: Use your voice and influence to champion the causes young leaders are passionate about, amplifying their impact. 💵 Financial Support: Consider sponsoring initiatives or providing grants to help fund projects that make a difference in the community. Together, we can empower young leaders to create a brighter future! #internationalyouthday #communityimpact #communityleader

Meet our esteemed judges, whose expertise and insights played a pivotal role in selecting this year’s outstanding awardees at IWEC Awards 2024 1. Dr. Sheetal Shah is the Academic Director at Webster Leiden Campus. As an educator and change facilitator she is a psychologist with a global orientation and has the privilege of applying most psychological theories to different contexts in the real world for example, education, public health, leadership, global citizenship and grass roots level work. She specializes in the field of counseling for chronic illnesses and trauma; her research interests are focused on the field of modern-day slavery and human trafficking. In 2012 she founded the Bijlmer project, a research project investigating the needs of victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. She continues to work with the board and the team on the intervention phase of the project called TheBridge2Hope, (www.thebridge2hope.org). It is a research & intervention project that addresses the psychosocial and vocational needs of sexually trafficked women & men in the European Union. Having spoken on the TEDx stage on multiple occasions she believes in creating a living legacy and that we can all make a conscious impact in everything we do! 2. Shanti Pahladsingh is a Trade Adviser for the Netherlands-India division at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. She supports Dutch entrepreneurs—startups and established companies alike—in navigating international markets, facilitating exports, and fostering investments. With a passion for sustainability and ethical business practices, Shanti specializes in areas such as human rights advocacy, combating child labor, and promoting the circular economy. Her expertise in supply chain management and corporate social responsibility empowers businesses across sectors to align profitability with social and environmental impact, building resilient and future-ready operations. 3. Supriya Vij is a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of multiple startups, driven by a deep commitment to societal betterment. Currently based in The Netherlands for over 20 years, she is the founder and CEO of V-Teach, an ed-tech venture leveraging technology to deliver interactive coding courses and personalized online tutoring for primary and secondary grade students. Her latest initiative focuses on equipping women with tech skills, empowering them to be future-ready in an increasingly digital world. Beyond her business pursuits, she dedicates herself to fostering a connected and inclusive community in Eindhoven. She co-organizes Connecting Cultures, an initiative dedicated to fostering cultural exchange and inclusivity. She also hosts the Radio 4 Brainport talk show, and actively contributes to HowDo magazine & WEC. A passionate advocate for women's empowerment in the region, she seamlessly blends her entrepreneurial spirit with her mission to amplify voices and bridge cultural divides.

If you believe in what we do, know that this is one of those moments we’ll look back on and say, “Wow, we really started with nothing.” Integrity is everything. When you’re building something truly new and innovative, the journey can be overwhelming and demanding. To those who have connected SMRI with international leaders interested in our work here in the U.S., I’ve made it clear: if I can’t make it work in my own country, it wouldn’t feel right to take it elsewhere hints the development of #SocialMediaDiplomacy . That would be like running from the challenge. So, in 2024, we focused on building relationships across the U.S., from the ground up. Some of these partnerships are public knowledge, while others remain behind the scenes, left to your imagination. But rest assured, they see what you see. Looking ahead to 2025, we’re not just planning to expand globally with physical locations overseas, we’re also partnering with international collaborators to make the Social Media Research Institute a central hub for funding and philanthropic research forced on our key mission “ Educating The Social Media User “ #MentalHealth #SocialMediaFirstAid . Our vision is to unify a global network of advocate non / governmental once and for all, setting a new standard for verifying the verified. #IndustryBuilding #GlobalImpact

People are people because of other people. I'm very much an experiential learner and I find it easier to resolve professional challenges when I can discuss them with others. I like hearing examples of HOW to overcome a blockage. Case studies. Examples. What about you? The Development Hub hosts a new Community of Practice, here on LinkedIn. Come and learn, share, explore new ways of doing things. ⬇ #shiftthepower #decolonise #decolonize #skillshare #localise #localize #ingo #civilsociety #globaldev #equity #antiracist #antiracism

Are you curious to talk with young change leaders about their solutions and initiatives for global and local education challenges? Join us at the #YCM - Global Impact Lab / Education Innovation, on May 15th, 3 to 4:30 PM GMT (online) What is #YCM? #YCM is the global springboard for young changemakers aged 14 to 25 empowering them to develop high-impact solutions for issues that affect their communities and themselves. In 2023 alone, we supported over 800 changemakers from 80+ countries, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and concrete action. What happens in the Lab? Selected teams from the 2023/24 YCM cycle present their education initiatives and their impact so far, and debate with educators and stakeholders - NGOs, Companies, Foundations, Policy Makers etc - on how they might be scaled up. Want to know more or join directly? Check our web, write to us (till@ycmchallenge.org) or sign-up directly here: https://lnkd.in/em4WKVSg

The Impact of Well-Supported Seminaries on Community Engagement and Social Capital The benefits of well-supported seminaries extend far beyond the campus walls. The impact on their communities can be analyzed through the lens of institutional theory, organizational behaviour, and social capital. Financial stability within a seminary institution is vital for its ability to carry out outreach initiatives and community programs. When a seminary is consistently supported, it can develop long-term relationships with community members and organizations, leading to a higher level of trust and collaboration. From an institutional theory perspective, a seminary that is financially stable is perceived as a reputable and trustworthy organization within the community. This perception can attract talented individuals who are looking to make a difference in the world. Skilled professionals in fields such as social work, education, and ministry are more likely to join a seminary that offers a stable and supportive environment in which to work. In terms of organizational behaviour, consistent support for a seminary creates a positive work environment where employees feel valued and motivated to excel in their roles. This leads to a higher level of effectiveness in program delivery and outreach efforts, ultimately benefiting the community as a whole. When employees feel secure in their positions and confident in the institution's ability to meet its financial obligations, they are more likely to invest their time and energy in serving the community. The concept of social capital can be applied to the relationship between a seminary and its community. When a seminary is well-supported, it can build strong networks and partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and individuals. These connections can provide valuable resources and support for the seminary's programs and initiatives, enhancing its ability to make a meaningful impact on the community. By fostering financial sustainability, attracting top talent, and forging strong community ties, seminaries emerge as agents of positive transformation. It is imperative for benefactors and advocates to acknowledge the significance of sustained support for seminaries, enabling these institutions to fulfil their mandate and serve their communities with enduring impact. #Ecumenism #TheologicalSeminary #studyhere #GoBeyond #myUTC #ChooseUTC #HomeOfTheUniqueHope #spesunica 

Several valuable and creative ideas for the future were collected when the Sotenas Hub Sotenäs Symbioscentrum invited to an open mingle, snacks and joint reflection; ­all as part to make rural area more attractive. Mingle, canapés and brainstorming is really a good starting point for getting the ideas flowing. The evening event began with an inspiring lecture Live Life Alive. Already here, seeds were sown about how important the word Together is: "Life is a joint project". During the mingle tour, key ideas emerged to make the municipality and rural area more attractive and inclusive. Here are concrete examples: ✔ Youth Engagement: Reintroduce an evening bus pass to improve access to activities. Develop a calendar of monthly activities for better visibility and participation. ✔ Community Collaboration: Create a summary of all meeting places to strengthen community bonds. Encourage actions that promote cooperation across political and local boundaries. ✔ Support for Non-Profits: Provide venues for non-profit events to recognize their contributions. ✔ Integration of Part-Year Residents: Establish programs to connect part-year residents with locals and businesses. Facilitate remote workers' transition to permanent residency. ✔ Entrepreneurial Support: Assist with housing solutions for seasonal staff and offer support with business processes. ✔ Year-Round Activity: Promote year-round activities to eliminate the concept of an off-season. These initiatives aim to enhance community engagement and overall municipality attractiveness. 💬 Would you like to read the collected ideas from this event? Follow the link below. #SIRRproject #interreg #interregnorthsea #sustainability #innovation #ruralareas #entrepreneurship Sotenäs Kommun Interreg North Sea Programme

Fellowship With a Purpose Starting a group with like-minded people can help you feel grounded and connected to what matters in your life. Human beings, by their very nature, love to gather. Yet, as much as we crave community, the rigors of real life frequently interfere with our efforts to come together with like-minded individuals. For this reason, fellowship is crucial to humanity's well-being — now more than ever. Most towns and cities play host to a variety of small groups that allow people to congregate purposefully, but that does not mean we should not consider founding our own. When people with similar interests, ideals, or aspirations come together as a group, a community is built that provides a new dimensionality to our earthly experiences. The formation of a group is like an invitation, welcoming all those desiring companionship and camaraderie into a circle of support. You may feel driven to create a group for women, healers, knitters, readers, writers, or political activists. Rules can be a part of your communal experience if you find that level of organization appealing, and it matters little whether your group is large, goal-oriented, or structured. When you have a firm vision of the group you wish to bring into being, hang posters, reach out to acquaintances, and get in touch with similar groups to attract participants. Groups of like-minded individuals tend to be somewhat inherently exclusionary, since they serve as a supportive environment in which people who have something in common can gather. Yet such groups also can transcend the boundaries that might otherwise keep people apart. The group you create will likely attract people from many different ethnic, cultural, and spiritual backgrounds, and if you make these individuals feel equally welcome, your group will grow and thrive as a result. Try to ward off any discouragement you feel when those intrigued by your group's purpose are not ready to contribute actively. They are likely waiting to see how it evolves and whether you are truly committed to serving as its heart and soul. If the group you have founded is a positive influence in the life of even a single individual, it is well worth it. Your intention to bring people together will be the seed that develops into a source of nurturance and community that stays true to its purpose long after its initial inception.