2. Didi works for positive, lasting
change by empowering
women through trade, and
educating youth in Victoria
and the global north.
“…there is no tool for development more effective than the
empowerment of women”
~ Kofi Anaan, former Secretary-General to the UN
3. Lasting change:
By educating youth here in Victoria, we hope
to encourage and challenge the inherent
inequalities that the current world trade
system produces.
4. What does Didi mean?
Didi = respected elder sister in Hindi.
We chose this name because it
reflects the relationship we
hope to maintain with the
women's groups we work with.
It reflects the respect and
familial relationship that we
encourage within the
organization and within society.
7. Opportunities
We offer youth and young adults the
opportunity to volunteer
Volunteers receive valuable mentorship,
training and feedback from qualified and
experienced professionals
We actively partner with community
members and groups to increase
awareness and opportunity
8. Products
Our products come
from India, Kenya and
Guatemala.
We’re looking into
partnering with local
artists to have some
product lines finished
here, locally
9. Education
We have an exciting new pilot project we
hope to launch in June including training
facilitators (youth and young adults) in
youth social justice facilitation!
Our program will continue to expand, as it
has this past year with invitations from
across districts
10. Board and Volunteers
OurBoard of Directors is a fun, young,
innovative bunch
Volunteers are a constant surprise!
Quality, determination, expertise and
interest
One Goal of 2013 is to create an effective
volunteer management strategy
11. Partnerships
Community Micro Lending
Cordova Bay United Church
Ethical Deal
Ten Thousand Villages
Moksana Yoga
Global Villages Victoria
Global Villages Penticton
BC Teachers Foundation
School District 61
Central Middle School
12. Challenges
Volunteer Volunteer run –
Management as we juggling jobs
grow Social Enterprise a
Sharp increase in new concept
programs stretches Funding is limited for
resources social enterprises
Multi-focused goals Start-up business
Solid versus charity status
communication with
cooperatives
13. Supports we would love to
have access to:
Advice on structure (Charity vs. Business)
Grants for Social Enterprise
Shared space
Collective of non-profits in similar field
14. Our next steps:
Education pilot program
Increase retail store reach
Paid staff in June
New cooperative on board!
Evaluate and monitor progress
15. “I think I would tell the young people
that the most important thing is to
follow your heart and your dreams as
you see them today. They may be
different tomorrow, but the most
important thing is to do whatever you
do with a love and with a passion.”
An environmentalist and political activist,
Wangari Maathai in 2004 became the first
African woman to receive the Nobel Peace
Prize.
Editor's Notes
Overview of two major programs: Education and Marketing/Sales
Education and why that’s important
My motivations to work in ID but return to Victoria, experience in Spain was a decentralised system, so funding for non-profits was available, but here that didn’t prove realistic. Social Enterprise is the alternative. Our goal is to fund our non-profit through sustainable enterprise – marketing, education program, etc.
Piyusha and Meera were working hard with their communities. I spent time visiting groups and women around India. I was able to connect with these two on a strategic and familial relationship.
This is where vision is important but the path needs to be flexible.
Community partnerships have proven to be very important for our growth and of course for support. It is a goal to increase this in 2013.
Myself a volunteer, juggling growth of the organization with working full time to earn a living.
To help us grow, and in turn, allow me to focus on my professional growth through the ED position at The Didi Society.
