Archive for 'Bpeace Blog'
Behind the Bpeace 10th Anniversary Gala magic
Posted on 14. Jun, 2013 by Ashley Harden.
Celebrities, live musical performances and friends of Bpeace celebrated our10th Anniversary at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park on April 11th, 2013.
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Bpeace honors Pioneer Gamechanger, dressbarn founder Roslyn Jaffe
Posted on 23. Apr, 2013 by Kate Buggeln.
Roslyn Jaffe wanted to change the way women shopped. In an effort to make fashion affordable, she opened the first dressbarn store in Stamford, Connecticut. Bpeace honors dressbarn founder Roslyn Jaffe with the Bpeace Pioneer Gamechanger Award. dressbarn was Bpeace's first Host Company.
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Bpeace recognizes U.S. State Department as Pioneer Gamechanger
Posted on 23. Apr, 2013 by Marla Gitterman.
When Bpeace was ready to enter Afghanistan in 2004, we needed money. Our friends and partners at that time – Women for Afghan Women – pointed us to a grant opportunity at the U.S. State Department.
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UN WOMEN honored as Bpeace Pioneer Gamechanger
Posted on 23. Apr, 2013 by Toni Maloney.
We needed more than a map to find Rwanda and Afghanistan in our early days. UN Women was Bpeace's Lewis & Clark and Christopher Columbus. We are proud to present UN Women with the Bpeace Pioneer Gamechanger Award.
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Anne Kellett sculpts Pioneer Gamechanger Award
Posted on 23. Apr, 2013 by Toni Maloney.
We wanted something very special to present to our Bpeace Pioneer Gamechangers at our Gala celebrating Bpeace's 10th Anniversary. Sculptor Anne Kellett rose to the challenge.
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From the Oscars to Carnegie Hall, Afghans showcase their talents
Posted on 07. Mar, 2013 by Ashley Harden.
Afghanistan is everywhere you look – and not in the way you would expect. From Carnegie Hall and The Daily Show to the Oscars and the Grammy’s, Afghan artists and opinion-leaders are suddenly high profile. The Afghans and Afghan Americans amongst the Bpeace membership offer their insights on why they believe their country is on a roll.
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Creating jobs and reducing violence in El Salvador
Posted on 26. Feb, 2013 by Ashley Harden.
“Salvadorans need permanent jobs and I want to create them,” said business owner Claudia Barriere to Bpeace Young Professionals at an event at Sutherland law firm in New York City. Claudia believes with secure employment people can begin to develop their lives and reduce gang violence in El Salvador.
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Achieving a vision and profit with Afghan education
Posted on 12. Feb, 2013 by Rena Fried.
"I have been successful through continuing to improve my own knowledge and my team’s managerial capacity," said Bpeace Fast Runner Reshad
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Bpeace Salvadoran Fast Runners
Posted on 02. Jan, 2013 by Rena Fried.
Claudia B.M. – Santa Tecla, Food Processing. 80 employees. Claudia is at the helm of a family-owned business that produces packaged spices and ethnic/fruit drink powders. Bpeace volunteers and Traveling Mentors have helped Claudia restructure bank loans, develop new products, improve her packaging, and introduced her to U.S. importers. _________________________________________________________________ Claudia M.P. – Santa Tecla, [...]
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The entrepreneurial spirit thrives in Bamiyan
Posted on 20. Dec, 2012 by Eileen Guo.
In 2012, Bpeace expanded its Fast Runner program into Bamiyan. Separately, Bpeace member Eileen Guo was in Bamiyan to scout start-ups for her own film project. What she found was beauty and established businesses we had just accepted into Bpaece.
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Pupusas, Popsicles, and Purpose
Posted on 14. Dec, 2012 by Donna Fleetwood.
In December 2012, Bpeace volunteer Donna Fleetwood traveled to El Salvador with CEO Toni Maloney.
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Baking-in best practices: Bpeace Traveling Mentor Mary Stycos visits Carymar
Posted on 15. Nov, 2012 by Mary Stycos.
Salvadorians are the nicest people: I was convinced of it after spending a week with the Carymar family in El Salvador as a Bpeace Traveling Mentor. Visiting in person allowed me to identify three areas for Carymar to focus on to increase their sales.
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Sweetening El Salvador: Helados Cremosa teams up with Bpeace Traveling Mentor Russell Morley
Posted on 08. Oct, 2012 by Russell Morley.
Alcides and his family warmly welcomed me to El Salvador and into their business--Helados Cremosa, an ice cream and popsicle manufacturing company.
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18 days in the Land of a Thousand Hills
Posted on 14. Sep, 2012 by Ashley Harden and Ann-Elise Francis.
We took time off this past August from our jobs at the Council on Foreign Relations to embark on an exploratory research project for Bpeace to investigate the budding film industry in Rwanda.
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Bpeace’s measured outcomes demonstrate our model works better than ever
Posted on 17. Aug, 2012 by Toni Maloney.
Among the entrepreneurs who have participated in the Bpeace program for more than one year, the average job growth is 39% and the average revenue growth is 34%!
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Can the Rwanda film industry benefit from the Bpeace bump?
Posted on 14. Aug, 2012 by Toni Maloney.
Ashley Harden and Ann-Elise Francis are interviewing Rwanda filmmakers to determine whether Bpeace's brand of business skills coaching can help accelerate the growth of the industry.
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7 Habits of Highly Effective Bpeace Advocates
Posted on 16. Jul, 2012 by Marla Gitterman.
Bpeace Advocates are a rare breed. Part skill-based volunteer and part business coach, they offer specific and often technical advisory remotely through email and Skype. Advocates bring knowledge and generosity to help a Bpeace Afghan Fast Runner grow a business in a very difficult environment.
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Bpeace Young Professionals host downtown NYC fundraiser
Posted on 15. Jun, 2012 by Rena Fried.
More than 100 Bpeace Young Professionals and a few over-40 rock stars convened to celebrate the partnership of Bpeace, Blue Marble and the forthcoming documentary, Sweet Dreams
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Bpeace Afghan Fast Runners acquire knowledge and share culture at Host Companies
Posted on 12. Jun, 2012 by Rena Fried.
In April 2012, 11 Bpeace Afghan Fast Runners apprenticed on the job at 33 Host Companies in 12 states for the Bpeace Apprentice Road Trip (BART).
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With Bpeace, have skills will travel
Posted on 15. May, 2012 by Toni Maloney.
Since 2004, Bpeacers have logged 1.8 million miles traveling to Afghanistan, Rwanda and El Salvador and have spent 1,321 days in the field on Bpeace expeditions! In the first half of 2012, already 5 Traveling Mentors have flown 25,000 miles to El Salvador.
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Kate Buggeln elected Bpeace Board Chair
Posted on 08. May, 2012 by Bpeace.
The Bpeace Board of Directors elected Kate Buggeln as the new Chairperson of the nine-member Board. Kate succeeds Laurie Chock, who continues as a long-time Board member.
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“Molding” the Future of El Salvador: Bpeace Traveling Mentor Tim Worthington Visits Acoopimold
Posted on 01. Apr, 2012 by Bpeace.
Tim Worthington, plastics manufacturing and engineering specialist, has set foot in over 1,000 mold shops throughout his career but described his experience with Salvadoran plastic mold company Acoopimold as “unique and unparalleled.”
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Sad farewell to Paula Lerner
Posted on 07. Mar, 2012 by Toni Maloney.
In 2004, Paula Lerner traveled on Bpeace's second expedition to Afghanistan. From that trip forward her career course was forever altered and Bpeace grew up fast thanks to her lens.
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The many gifts of my friend Paula Lerner
Posted on 07. Mar, 2012 by Rangina Hamidi.
I met Paula Lerner during a Bpeace expedition to Kabul in 2007 where we just simply “clicked” the minute we met. Her genuine interest in the work and lives of Afghan women was immediately visible with her beautiful photographs.
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More on tap for Bpeace in 2012
Posted on 10. Jan, 2012 by Toni Maloney.
As Bpeace enters our 10th year in 2012, we are striving for "more, more, more." Here is our game plan.
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Kabul Fast Runners past and present convene
Posted on 08. Dec, 2011 by Toni Maloney.
Once a year, Bpeace hosts a reunion for all of the past and present Fast Runners in Kabul. Country Director, Soraya Omar, held the annual gathering for 21 business owners from the class of 2004, 2007, and the most recent class that started in 2010. For the first time there were two male Fast Runners among them.
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Afghans apprentice across the U.S. during the 2011 Bpeace Apprentice Road Trip
Posted on 04. Dec, 2011 by Rena Fried.
Thirty-seven Host Companies opened their doors to 9 Afghan Bpeace Fast Runners for the 2011 Bpeace Apprentice Road Trip (BART), sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of State.
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And the VERA goes to…
Posted on 03. Dec, 2011 by Rena Fried.
At the Annual Bpeace VERAs (Volunteer Excellence Recognition Awards) we recognize our most exceptional members.
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The cents of scooping in Rwanda
Posted on 02. Sep, 2011 by Rena Fried.
Jerrie describes Inzozi Nziza Ice Cream as an oasis in Butare. “Both the staff and the store’s appearance are welcoming and it is clear that they have worked hard on customer service. It is simply an inviting place to walk into; there is no other place with the same atmosphere in Butare and it is a very positive change.”
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One Million Jobs Fundraising Extravaganza
Posted on 03. Jun, 2011 by Rena Fried.
What an incredible night! Bpeace took over the Samsung Experience for an evening of dancing, drinking, munching, and schmoozing all in the name of creating One Million Jobs.
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Bpeace experts and Afghan Fast Runners meet up in Dubai
Posted on 03. Jun, 2011 by Rena Fried.
A meeting of the minds at Dubai Women's College with Bpeace members from the U.S. spending the week with 16 Afghan Fast Runners.
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Marketing skills to Afghanistan via Dubai
Posted on 20. May, 2011 by Johnna Hobgood.
The desire for marketing skills is truly tangible among Bpeace’s Afghan Fast Runner entrepreneurs and I was excited to fulfill that need in early May 2011.
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Filtering HR practices to the Afghan culture
Posted on 19. May, 2011 by Phyllis Rosen.
The Bpeace Dubai Summit was a whirlwind trip that gave me the opportunity to teach HR management skills to 16 of Bpeace’s Afghan Fast Runners.
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Absorbing U.S. business practices for Rwanda
Posted on 17. May, 2011 by Rena Fried.
After an engaging week in Pennsylvania, four Bpeace Rwandan Fast Runner entrepreneurs traveled to New York City to apprentice with Host Companies and continue to learn transferable business skills.
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Voices of Bpeace Rwandan Entrepreneurs
Posted on 10. May, 2011 by Rena Fried.
Bpeace's Rwandan Fast Runners shared their personal stories at Columbia University on a panel titled, “Doing Business Our Way: Voices of Rwanda Female Entrepreneurs.”
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Rwandan businesswomen soak up Pennsylvania
Posted on 21. Apr, 2011 by Rena Fried.
Four Bpeace Rwanda Fast Runners rolled into Harrisburg, PA in early April 2011 and left with inspiring business lessons in to expand their hospitality, landscaping and funeral service businesses.
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Rwandan landscaper shines in PA
Posted on 15. Apr, 2011 by Laura Mathews.
The garden center manager held the garden center owner’s face in her hands. A perfect fit for a garden center owner, the woman’s name is Soline. “Soline, does that mean sunshine?” Both women laughed. “Well, Soline means sunshine to me,” said the garden center manager. No, they weren’t celebrating a particularly good sales day. They [...]
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One Million Jobs — the OMJ way!
Posted on 03. Mar, 2011 by Bpeace.
Bpeace is raising money through our unique "One Million Jobs Campaign." Fundraisers commit to raising $1,000 and creating one job. Everyone who meets the $1,000 goal by May 1 celebrates with us for a night of music, mingling, great food and cocktails!
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And the envelope please! VERA not Oscar
Posted on 28. Feb, 2011 by Bpeace.
The red carpet was the hallway at the global law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf. The fashion statements were more sassy than flashy. The opening video took the night’s first award. The special celebrity guests included a glowing team of Bpeace’s Fast Runners from Afghanistan led by our country director Soraya Omar. Oscar can’t compete with [...]
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In search of El Salvador’s business potential
Posted on 22. Feb, 2011 by Bpeace.
We hit the ground running in El Salvador. Our task was to cover the ground in six municipalities in 4 days.
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The DOSTI soccer ball story
Posted on 26. Nov, 2010 by Toni Maloney.
Dosti balls are made with top-quality synthetic leather, providing superior bounce and shape; they are attractively silk-screened with a dove bird design in the colors of the Afghan flag. Every purchase of a DOSTI soccer ball creates empowerment through employment for the Afghan women who hand-stitch them.
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Shahla will help Afghan women stand taller
Posted on 18. Nov, 2010 by Rena Fried.
Shahla's 26 employees in her Kabul factory hand-make 20 shoes a day, using just one pedal-operated sewing machine and re-purposing used vehicle tires for the soles.
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Sora is chipping away at Afghanistan’s future
Posted on 16. Nov, 2010 by Rena Fried.
Chips are a favorite snack among Afghans yet they only have access to ones imported from Pakistan that are often burnt and can only be purchased in large, open packages. For Sora, who believes that Afghanistan has the best tasting potatoes in the world, this is an opportunity.
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Khalid brings new flavor to Afghanistan
Posted on 15. Nov, 2010 by Toni Maloney.
Khalid says his ice cream parlor offers one flavor--"plain." It's really cardamom with rosewater--a flavor so exquisite, that when he demonstrated it to a host company they immediately wanted to add the flavor to their menu.
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Tahera is counting on Afghanistan’s progress
Posted on 15. Nov, 2010 by Rena Fried.
In her extended family, Tahera was the first woman to take a job outside of the home. Today, 20 of her female relatives have followed her example and she is the manager of the Balkh Business Development Company.
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Zabi is building a better Afghanistan
Posted on 12. Nov, 2010 by Rena Fried.
Zabi's family construction company, JAC, focuses on schools and clinics because he understands that rebuilding the physical structures in Afghanistan is essential to rebuilding the country and sustaining peace.
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Azi has Afghanistan’s back-up planned
Posted on 10. Nov, 2010 by Rena Fried.
Azi is the co-owner of RAHA which offers IT services in Mazar, Afghanistan, to local businesses, and computer training courses to individuals.
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Fast Runners flower in the Arizona desert
Posted on 01. Nov, 2010 by Donna Fleetwood.
Project Artemis and Bpeace work hand in hand with women in Afghanistan who show potential as business builders. Four Bpeace member/volunteers were on hand last week to see our Fast Runners learn and grow.
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Afghan hats off to New York
Posted on 21. Oct, 2010 by Bpeace.
For the Fast Runners, Tuesday was their first day in NYC started with morning orientation at Fenton Communications. Then sandwiches (“Why do Americans like cold food?) and off on a double decker bus to tour Manhattan. There are 6 young men in this group, four women, plus Fahim our Entrepreneurial Advisor in Mazar, and Soraya [...]
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Peaceful change
Posted on 11. Oct, 2010 by Kate Buggeln.
The end of this journey’s road took us to the Salvadoran countryside. The green was a welcome break from the asphalt streets, cement shopping malls and traffic jams of busy San Salvador.