Asia Initiatives - Leveraging the power of social capital

FOUNDED IN 1990 NEW YORK, USA WEBSITE

Asia Initiatives is a pioneer NGO found in 1990 by Dr. Geeta Mehta with her husband Krishen Mehta, largely inspired and mentored by Prof. MS Swaminthanan and Dr. Eva Haller. It is a “Pro-poor, Pro-Women and Pro-Environment” organization that constantly innovate strategies that could help the severely underprivileged people in South Asia and in particular India.

One such significant idea being ‘Social Capital Credits (SoCCs)’ - a community currency for social good. This transformative concept is widely appreciated for making communities & individuals stakeholders in their own success. Essentially, SoCCs are community currency for social good which act as an agent of development without a sole reliance on money. The local community or community member can do ‘the good deeds’ to earn a predetermined number of SoCC credits. This credits can be redeemed to buy products or services that will help a person or a family to improve their quality of life, such as access to health care, education and skills training. Social Capital and how it activates the power embedded in our networks is revolutionary, ultimately influencing our well being, markets, processes, news, relationships and innovations. This concept is currently being used in pilot sites in India, Ghana, Kenya, and Costa Rica by Asia Initiatives.

PROJECTS

Micro micro credit initiatives in rural villages of India

Sustainable development in slum neighborhoods

Organic farming in drought-prone bori sinh, Maharashtra

Maharashtra: water conservation projects

Tongia community poverty alleviation initiative, Uuttarakhand

Digital literacy for students in Yavatmal

Establishing knowledge centres in India & Philippines

PARTNERS

Corporate Partners : Pepsico Foundation, Women Strong international, M.S. Swaminathan Foundation,Oxigen, Synechron Field Partners :The African Youth Guild,The Alice Visionary Foundation Project, Arpana, Ashta no Kai ,The Barrackpore Avenue Women’s Cultural and Social Welfare Society,Bread For The City, Kadam Education Iinitiative /Center for Development , Mobile Crèche,Save Indian Farmers,SEWA,Women’s Health to Wealth,World Women Global Council , URBZ

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

One of the top ten among the Buckminster Fuller Challenge 2015 entrants

TEAM

Large team comprising Board of Advisors, Board of Directors, Board of International Members, Junior Board, Staffs & volunteers

CONTACT

200 E 61st, New York, NY 10065, USA.

info@asiainitiatives.org

+(1) 646 360 4459