Miller Center’s second cohort of social enterprises serving refugees, migrants, and human trafficking survivors graduated last week with a week-long virtual “In-Residence” experience. When preparing for our first ever online In-Residence, we questioned if it was possible to recreate the magic of the in-person experience using technology. Well, of course it’s not the same. However, the in-depth accompaniment, rigor, network of connections, and a bit of serendipity remained. It was a refreshing inspiration to be able to connect with the 80+ participants who joined to help provide support and feedback as these 15 social enterprises scale their much-needed work in the world.
These social entrepreneurs are creating impact in over 25 countries, mainly in Europe, East Africa, North America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Of the 15, ImmSchools, Kakuma Ventures, and Tulip Addis Water Filter are led by migrants or refugees themselves, which drove them to create organizations from their own personal experiences. Their solutions include education support for undocumented students and families, a platform to provide supply chain and entrepreneurial support within refugee camps, and a simple water filtration device to provide clean water for displaced people.
Every Shelter and Humanity Crew offer critical services in crisis zones including safe and comfortable temporary housing and first response mental health and psychosocial support, respectively. Many of the other organizations are focused on helping refugees, migrants, or human trafficking survivors find jobs and build thriving lives. Bagel Bejgl, NEMI Teas, and PichaEats are creating jobs in the food and beverage sector. Earth Heir and RefuSHE support vulnerable communities by training and/or employing artisans. NewBees matches newcomers to Amsterdam with traineeships to help them find careers in their new home country. ONOW Myanmar, TERN, and DELITELABS all provide entrepreneurial training for displaced people to support them in building their own businesses.
Now that these organizations have completed all of their program requirements, we hope you’ll join us in welcoming them to the Miller Center family of alumni. You can learn more about their work and get in touch to support them or refer others who you think might want to work with them by sharing this page of their profiles.
Tulip Addis Water Filter – Ethiopia
Getaw M. Cherinet (CEO) & Feleke F.Shikur (G/Manager) est. 2011
Mission Statement:
Provide safe drinking water solution to every family in Ethiopia
Executive Summary
Drinking untreated water can expose families to waterborne diseases, such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and diarrhea. In this context point-of-use water filters and purifiers can be lifesaving for families that lack access to clean drinking water. Tulip Addis Water Filter is providing a simple water filter system used for at point of use. We assemble a simple product to meet the local requirements of affordability, availability and clean water supply in Ethiopia. In addition our product does not require any form of electricity and suitable to use in the rural and urban areas
Target Market
We serve customers in semi-urban and rural Ethiopia primarily those who are affected by lack of safe drink water. We have strong customer base in Amhara region and focus to expand our market to Oromia region at which 2.2 million households are living with lack of safe drink water.
Value Proposition
Tulip Table Top Water Filter removes all turbidity and 99.99% of bacteria and protozoa. Through using our product households will obtain easy access to safe water, improve health of their families preventing from water born disease and save their medical expense. It can filter 2-5 liters per hour and produces 30 liters of water per day. This ensures supply of water sufficient for a family. The ceramic element has also an average lifespan of two years or capacity of filtering 7000 liters. We are also serving customers in supplying the filter element and provide after sales service.
Outside Investors $ 750K
Grant $ 380K
GSBI Certificated
Source: https://www.millersocent.org/social-entrepreneurship-at-the-margins-cohort-completes-miller-centers-first-virtual-in-residence/
