EcoVentures International

Global Education Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with divisions in Indonesia, Kenya, Guatemala, Tanzania, and the San Francisco Bay Area.  The mission of G.E.P. is to provide access to educational resources that increase the capacity of young people to become employable and self-reliant in today's global marketplace. We accomplish our mission by providing material and capacity-building support to schools and entrepreneurship and employment training to youth with follow-up services. G.E.P's School-to-Career Model, outlines how G.E.P.'s programs fit together to provide a pathway for low-income youth to attain economic self-sufficiency. 

The underlying philosophy of all G.E.P.'s programs, whether in the US or abroad, is that sustainable development - where people can access and then re-create opportunities to excel personally and improve their communities - is only possible if we consider the beneficiaries of a program as participants in the process, not merely recipients.

G.E.P. was co-founded in July 1994 by Tony Silard (Executive Director) and Percy Hintzen (Chairperson, African-American Studies Department, UC/Berkeley).  While completing his Master's in Public Policy (Education) at Harvard University, Silard received Harvard's Robert F. Kennedy Public Service Award, the Echoing Green Public Service Award and the Manuel Carballo Memorial Prize for the development of the G.E.P. model.

The Tanzania Division of Global Education Partnership has been serving communities in the Tanga region since 1999.  The Tanzanian Division of G.E.P is located in the Lushoto District of the Tanga Region just south of the Kenyan border.  It is registered with the Tanzanian government (SO.NO. 9763) and employs a staff of 6 people: 

Mr. Damiani Casmiri - Entrepreneurship & Employment Training Program and Teacher Training & Follow up Services Director

A female intern, Sara Freddy, serves as a volunteer.   The programs are locally managed.  The staff is made up of Tanzanian citizens with the exception of the Regional Coordinator, who is a U.S. citizen.

G.E.P. East Africa implements the EETP in economically disadvantaged communities, giving poor and geographically isolated youth the opportunity to increase their set of marketable skills.  EETP courses are interactive and focus on three components:

(1) Building work readiness skills (e.g. computer literacy, time management, resume writing);

(2) Developing computer skills (e.g. use of MS Word, Excel, Access, PageMaker, Internet training, and other relevant programs); and

(3) Expanding entrepreneurial skills (e.g. writing business plans, budgeting, and performing market analysis).

Equipped with the skills to start micro-enterprises, approximately 20 (%) percent of these students receive Venture Capital Funds from GEP to start their own businesses.  More than 700 students have received the EETP course since 1999 of which three quarters are women.

After students graduate from the Entrepreneurship and Employment Training Program, G.E.P. continues assisting young clients through follow-up services (FUS).  The follow-up Service Coordinator has traditionally worked one-on-one with alumni, providing advice on business development, education, and employment opportunities.  For example, the FUS coordinator monitors young entrepreneurs who successfully apply for and receive start-up capital from GEP.   In this role, s/he conducts regular visits to business sites, provides continuing input into business design, and generally monitors these entrepreneurs.  The FUS coordinator also assists graduates who visit G.E.P.'s resource center, where they further develop their computer skills and seek out career related advice.

Since its establishment in Tanzania, G.E.P. has successfully implemented teacher training workshops, introducing instructors to experiential learning methods that engage and challenge students of all ages and abilities.  In Tanzania, we have been particularly proud of our work in promoting gender sensitive education training. 

We have been collaborating with the Ministry of Education and Culture in implementing our programs.  In the near future we expect to extend our collaboration with World Vision in implementing our Educational Resources Development Program (ERDP).  In the ERDP, local school communities and G.E.P share costs in providing educational resources such as desks, textbooks and latrines to primary and secondary schools.  Thus far, G.E.P. has supported more than ninety (90) primary and secondary schools in Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, and Manyara regions have benefited from this program.

Listed below are recent program components that G.E.P. has introduced in support of our Entrepreneurship and Employment Training Program.

Access to venture capital through micro-credit.  While G.E.P. has provided capital to launch ninety-four (94) business enterprises in Tanzania, we recognize that a sizable gap remains between youth who need business capital and youth who are able to access it.  As a result, G.E.P. has entered a partnership with FINCA Tanzania to launch a ground-breaking pilot project. This initiative will introduce EETP graduates - i.e. youth who have traditionally fallen outside formal credit markets due to the perception that they are not credit worthy -- to the micro-finance community. In a challenge to conventional wisdom, G.E.P. and FINCA hope to show that the innovative design and delivery of micro-finance products can be successfully tailored to the needs of youth client groups. This pilot entails clear performance and evaluation criteria linked to further finance and training opportunities.  With access to a broader "capital continuum," EETP graduates will truly have a chance to push their enterprises to the next level and receive tangible benefits that could be re-invested towards further growth.  G.E.P.'s goal is that at least 20% of all graduates will be able to take advantage of this credit facility.

Opportunities to explore and operate ecologically sound businesses. EETP graduates have also benefited from G.E.P.'s partnership with Eco-Ventures International (EVI), an NGO that focuses on environmentally sustainable entrepreneurship. Youth who took part in the EVI training gained exposure to a number of innovative strategies that enabled them to establish viable, environmentally oriented micro-enterprises, which use and manage, rather than deplete, local natural resources.

Savings and credit programs for youth.  G.E.P introduced a savings and credit (SACCO) component to its package of business development services in early 2004.  Youth essentially formed SACCO groups with G.E.P.'s guidance, establishing for themselves the conditions under which they would save and lend.   Already one-third of group members have taped this credit facility to borrow money for business purposes.

Other opportunities sourced through EEDI:
EcoVentures International sourced funds from Artemisia International for a project on Jatropha.  The Jatropha tree bears seeds which are squeezed to get oil which is used for soap making and to light lamps.  Most fuels for the lamp are a Petroleum products which are sold at much higher prices as these are imported from other countries. Jatropha oil can also be converted to biodiesel, which is carbon neutral and a renewable, environmentally kinder fuel source. 

The highest level of decision-making is the G.E.P Board of Directors.  The Chairperson to the Board heads the Board.  The G.E.P Board has ten members including the Chairperson and the secretary.  This Board is responsible with all the activities of the organization and is responsible in making decisions concerning the organization.

Hired by the Board of Directors to carry out G.E.P financial and administrative activities.  This is the main spokesman of G.E.P organization.  The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors.

Responsible with the daily activities including finance and administration of the International Divisions.  S/he is bridging the Headquarters with the Divisions through the Regional Coordinators.  All the communications from the headquarters to the Divisions is done by the IPD.  The IPD reports to the Executive Director.

Responsible with the daily activities including finance and administration of the Divisions.  The RCs are bridging the IPD with the Divisions.  The RC for East Africa is responsible with the Tanzania and Kenya G.E.P offices.  The RCs do all the communications to the headquarters. The RC reports to the IPD.

Responsible with the daily activities including finance and administration of the Divisions.  The CDs are bridging the RC with the Program Directors in each country/Division.  The CD's do all the communications to the RC.  The Country Director reports to the RC.

Each program Director heads a program and is responsible with the daily activities including finance and administration of the program.  The Program Director reports to the CD.