Name: Feroja Begum
Organization: Udayan Mahila Samity
Country: Bangladesh

After training in livestock and poultry farming provided by the Youth Department of her country, Feroja Begum created a non-profit organization named Udayan Mahila Samity. This organization provides training to the poor and the unemployed youth of her locality. So far, the organization has provided training to 200 young women and 300 men in livestock and poultry. Moreover, Udayan Mahila Samity has helped one hundred forty five poor youth to start their own project by giving them training and loans. In 1999, Feroja Begum was awarded 3rd prize at the National Youth Fair in Bangladesh.

Name: Maikel Lieuw Kie Song
Organization: Afribike
Country: South Africa

Maikel Lieuw Song is the project director of Afribike, a non-profit association that was established as a South African independent organization in 2000. Afribike's mission is to promote the use of cycling and bicycles to increase low cost mobility and access to employment and education. So far, Afribike has recycled around 10,000 used bicycles that were imported from UK, USA, Canada and Ireland. By providing training workshops, low-cost bicycle programs and bicycle micro-enterprise projects Afribike has enabled more than 12,000 low-income individuals to gain skills and bicycles. Each Afribike Micro Enterprise that was created serves as a local retail and services center that sells new and used bicycles as well as accessories.
Website: www.afribike.org

Name: Rebecca Wachera Gitonga,
Organization: Ecosandals
Country: Kenya

Rebecca Wachera Gitonga is the Director of Ecosandals, a non-profit organization that imports and re-sells sandals produced by the Wikyo Akala Project located in Korogocho, a shantytown outside Nairobi, Kenya. The project was created in 1995 but could barely survived until the launch of the e-commerce website in February 2001. Since that time this small social enterprise has grown from five part time employees to thirty full time employees. The mission of the project is to produce high quality footwear for sale on the world market to directly benefit the people of Korogocho and it's environs. Wikyo Akala Project uses recycled auto tires to make sandals, thus protecting the environment while creating jobs.
Website: www.ecosandals.com

Name: Lockey E. White
Organization: Smart Mediary Systems
Country: United States of America

Lockey E. White is co-founder, co-owner and President of Smart Mediary Systems, a service provider company that was created in March 2000 and which currently employs eight people. Smart Mediary Systems develops online information marketplaces by enabling both individuals and organizations to gain affordable access to the global market for any electronic files. Smart Mediary Systems only charge for the space used on their pre-integrated e-publishing platform, which is much more affordable than creating an independent website. This company allows organizations to place their "face" on the web and provide free access to technology to individuals uploading professional content in knowledge marketplaces. By doing this, Smart Mediary Systems empowers everyone, including young people with an ability to sell their electronic content to others online and protect that content from illicit distribution. Website: www.smartmediarysystems.com

Click here, to read about Lockey White's response to the YES Campaign Challenge. November 9 2002

Names: V. Geetharani and K. Vijayalaksmi
Organization: Poomani Biopesticide Production Center
Country: India

Ms. Geetharani and Ms. Vijayalaksmi are members of the Poomani Women's Self Help Group that was established at Kannivadi village, India. After a period of one-year intensive training and repeated evaluation with Trichogramma (bio-pesticide) , these women have developed knowledge and skill in bio-pesticide, production technology, business plan, marketing strategies, etc. With the income they obtained during the training period, these women have initiated enterprises in their village. While creating jobs for themselves, they have had an impact in bio-control technology by increasing the awareness among farmers of reduction of chemical spray. With their group, Ms Geetharani and Ms Vijayalasmi have demonstrated how a small group of women living in poverty can master new techniques and apply them in the field.

Dr Subashini Dharmalingam, senior scientist, MSSRF, who accompanied Vijayalakshmi and Geetharani, to Alexandria, recollects how within a year's time, the Poomani women became adept in production technology, crop calender and budgeting. ''They have been sharing their knowledge of sustainable pest management with other SHGs in Pudukkottai, Chidambaram, Kolli Hills and Pondicherry. Now, nearly 1,000 hectares of land is covered by this wasp usage. Not only has it reduced pesticide usage by up to 40 per cent, it is also economically viable as they now earn a monthly income of Rs 2000, most of which goes into their bank account.''

The Poomani kitty is now several thousand rupees strong and members get to avail loans at low interest for children's education and crop activities.

MSSRF chairman and UNESCO chair in ecotechnology, M S Swaminathan, who will also be accompanying the Poomani duo says he couldn't have asked for a better example to prove the efficacy of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices."

Read more, about this project in the Hindu Business Line, a financial daily newspaper in India.

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