I would love to connect with anyone who has written a business for a startup venture to benefit impoverished rural women. I am working with a CBO called Uganda Space and a student run group at The Cooper Union in New York City to launch a solar lighting microenterprise for women in Uganda. We are going to train 20-25 women in a rural collective to build self-assembled solar lighting systems for their own use and to sell to their neighbors at a profit. I am raising money friends to purchase the first few systems to get the women up and running. Once they are established, they will apply to MFI's for sustaining credit.

I would love to connect with someone who has written a business plan for a similar project or would be willing to share a sample of one.

Thank you for considering and best of luck on your ventures.

Genice Jacobs
Oakland, CA USA
510-530-6687
genice@blueflexsolutions.com

New report available on lightingafrica.org today
In case you missed it.

50 Ways to End Kerosene Lighting in Developing Countries

http://www.lightingafrica.org/files/Fifty Ways to End Kerosene Lighting in Developming Countries - REEP.pdf

Microfinance, Economic Development, and Global Health Colloquium at Princeton University

The Princeton Microfinance Organization (PMO) cordially invites you to attend its inaugural spring colloquium. This year’s day-long event will consist of both individual and panel presentations by leaders of the various facets of the budding field of microfinance and global health, such as Sam Daley-Harris, Director of the Microcredit Summit Campaign, and Susan Davis, President and CEO of BRAC USA. Our speakers will be addressing innovative approaches in microfinance and economic development, with special emphasis on their effects on worldwide health.

This colloquium promises to be an excellent opportunity for microfinance leaders to present the work that is being undertaken in this field to the upcoming generation of interested students. Open to the Princeton community at large as well as students from neighboring universities, the event hopes to:
(1) encourage the dissemination of valuable information related to microfinance and global health; and
(2) provide a networking/recruiting opportunity for both students and leaders in the various aspects of microfinance.

The event is scheduled for May 1st, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. There will be a morning session, two afternoon sessions, and an intervening complimentary lunch and networking period.

Register online at http://princetonmicrofinance.wordpress.com/spring-colloquium/!