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Beyond CSR: Invest in Systemic Change

Cavin Odera about the System changer network Kenya What if corporate engagement in Africa went beyond one-off projects and topic driven initiatives — and focused in addition on building the systems that empower long-term change? At System Changer Network Kenya, we unite grassroots NGOs working on education, health, resilience, and poverty reduction. These organizations develop practical, local…

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Series #9: Value-Based CSR in Africa: From Social Impact to Business Opportunity

When German and international companies act values-based in Africa, they often unlock more than just social impact — they discover real business opportunities. In the System Changer Network Kenya, where we are co-founders – we work with strong grassroots organizations like GAASPP Kenya and Core Health & Wealth International. Their work goes far beyond aid – they empower street-connected…

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No Girl Left Behind: Menstrual Health as a Gateway to Systemic Change

No girl should ever miss school, feel ashamed, or suffer in silence because of her period. Yet for millions of girls and women across Kenya and beyond, menstruation remains a barrier—one that affects education, confidence, participation in daily life, and access to opportunity. Today, on Menstrual Hygiene Day, we reaffirm our commitment not only to breaking the silence and ending the stigma, but…

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Series #8: What 10 Years of Working with Local NGOs in India and Kenya Taught Me About Purpose—What’s Your Take?

For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of working in a corporate environment while collaborating with local NGOs in India and Kenya—a journey that has been nothing short of transformative. It was profoundly eye-opening, not just for the professional opportunities it unlocked, but for the personal growth it sparked. Through this experience, I learned that the true purpose of work lies in doing…

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Exposure to Other Realities: A Key to Growth and Bridging Inequality

Logical, but often overseen (AI generated pic) Exposure to other realities is not a luxury—it’s essential for growth, development, and innovation. And it’s a powerful tool for bridging the gap between rich and poor! In the past weeks, I’ve shared insights from our colleagues and leaders , managers from different countries, who visited the System Changer Network India, engaging with local NGOs…

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Day 4 of our Making More Health Insights Week in India – Experiencing Sustainable Impact and Understanding Vulnerable Communities

A Toda priest and temple Today we continued our journey to explore social impact, sustainability, and innovation in some of India’s most vulnerable communities. We had the incredible opportunity to visit the Todas tribe, an indigenous community with a rich cultural heritage and unique way of life. Learning about their traditions, challenges, and sustainable practices gave us a new perspective…

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Bridging Corporate and work at the bottom line - Stepping Into Reality: A Transformative Field Visit from managers to an Anganwadi in India

Managers from international backgrounds visit an anganwadi in India Since 2015 we run now the 28th Insights Week with Corporate managers from different countries „on the ground“ in India, interacting with vulnerable communities living at the poverty line. Our first field visit in India has begun. For managers visiting from across the world, this is more than just a trip—it’s an immersion into…

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Caring for the Carers – Learning from the Field in Tamil Nadu, India

Visiting a Carers group in India Have you ever thought about what it really means to be a long-term carer? The emotional, physical, and financial toll it takes? How it affects personal relationships, self-confidence, and mental health? Around the world, carers—those who dedicate their lives to supporting family members with disabilities, mental health conditions, or chronic illnesses—often go…

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Bamboo products and women empowerment

Add a bulb and get a nice light Today, we visited a recently opened center in Mankarai ( close to Coimbatore) where tribal women are trained in Bamboo products and not book making – just to mention those income generating ideas among many others. The products are sold to schools and local tourists who come here especially during the weekend to spend some relaxing days in the resorts. Note book…

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Demystifying volunteering - our System changer network India partners and others revealing the true essence of volunteering and the profound impact it can create.

Some of our System Changer network key partners at the Karl Kübel institute for development education On 21. June 2024 a very interesting 2 days event took place where several international and national companies, NGOs and we as Making More Health participated. The topic: demystifying volunteering. The goal of the event: Understanding better employee volunteering as a huge opportunity for the…

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Practical insights while working with vulnerable communities

Visiting a women self help group Why local women self help groups play an important role when farmers bring huge arid areas back to life Vibha Varghees, CEO from the organization Vikasana, is one of our nine core NGO partners in the System Changer Network India. Vikasana is located in Karnataka, South India – a 6 hours drive away from Bangalore. Many of the farmers and families here experience…

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A mind blowing week to discover opportunities of change and sustainability

Our first Making More Health Leadership week this year in India has started two days ago. We visit several core partner NGOs from our System Changer Network India, interact with underserved communities, reflect and share also- based on their needs- some skills to empower them. The training given by us will be done by end of the week. Now it is the time to listen, to understand, to connect. A…

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A successful outcome for our NGOs and ambassadors under the umbrella of the SCN India

Here, three women from tribal villages from KKID, one of the SCN partners, are proud of the good results they have achieved. They are very proud to receive certificates. What an excitement among our System Changer Network India (SCN India) members! Yesterday, in the early evening we have run a 30 minutes multiple choice test on all the topics we had trained during the year. Would they be able…

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Today, our annual meeting of the SYSTEM CHANGER NETWORK INDIA starts

21/2/2024 – For the 2nd time – after the launch of the System Changer Network India (SCN India) in April 2023 – the leaders and ambassadors of eight NGOs come together at the Karl Kuebel Institute for Development Education Coimbatore, India in Coimbatore. The NGOs are active in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka as well as in Maharashtra working with children, women and men, farmers, marginalized…

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When sustainability investments have some bad site effects…

When sustainability investments have some bad site effects… Sustainable is good. Thinking sustainably, acting sustainably. Investing sustainably and, above all, in an impactful and socially entrepreneurial manner is a big trend. But what if there are unwanted side effects? Yesterday, I was in a children’s home in Tarikere, India. 25 girls between 11 and 17 years live there.“There are still food…

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Working with underserved communities: Are we doing the right things in the right way? What role does culture and mindset play? Where would you invest in?

Working with underserved communities: Are we doing the right things in the right way? What role does culture and mindset play? Where do we/ would you invest in? In all the years working with underserved communities I realized that long-lasting change in people’s life and in underserved communities needs more than the execution of single projects, programs or investments offered by private or…