Telelearning Session 12: International Microfinance

In recent years, donors and international aid organizations have been turning to microfinance as a way of providing their self-employed clients with financial services to support their businesses and households. These services have expanded to include not only loans and savings, but also insurance, money transfers and electronic banking as well. Join us as we explore some of the issues surrounding international microfinance, including:

• What is the difference between international and domestic microfinance?
• Under what conditions do international microfinance programs thrive?
• What are the challenges faced by international microfinance programs?

Sign up today to participate in this engaging telelearning session, featuring Nanci Lee (Writer, Microfinance Consultant, and Educator) and Dr. Julie Drolet (Writer and Assistant Professor at Thompson Rivers University), with facilitation by Annie McKitrick of the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships.

Spaces are free, but limited - Register today!

Call Logistics:

* Session Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
* Call begins at 9:00 am PST, 10:00 am MST, 11:00 am CST, 12:00 pm EST, 1:00 pm AST, and 1:30 pm NST
* Call in information will be given upon registration
* Register before March 1st to obtain dial-in information and background papers
* This session is in English

Session Format: 1 Hour
Welcome: 5 minutes
Presentation: 10 minutes from each speaker
Discussion: 35 minutes

Registration: By Email or by Phone
Register by e-mailing telelearning@socialeconomyhub.ca with your name, location, and work or volunteer position. We will provide instructions on how to access the telelearning forum. Unfortunately, the session is only open to those residing in Canada. To register by phone call 1-250-472-4976.

PEER LEARNING NETWORK TELECONFERENCE:

Thursday, February 19, 2008

@ 9:30 - 11:00 PST, 11:30 - 1:00 CST, 12:30 - 2:00 EST, 1:30 - 3:00 ATL

TOPIC

Youth Mentorship-Reproducing models that work

Speakers: Kayla Hrynewich, Program Coordinator & Addictions Counsellor with Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op in Saskatoon and Somkhuun Thongdee, Executive Director, Alberta SengSan Association with the Multicultural Youth Leaders Co-op in Edmonton.

Each speaker will give a brief presentation describing their model of youth mentorship. They will then each answer the question:

If I were to move to another community and wanted to reproduce our model of youth mentorship, these are the 5 key things that would be needed.

Our discussion will provide an opportunity to discuss these models in more detail and for others to share their experiences.

Additional information will be emailed to you closer to the event with the teleconference phone number and code.

Please RSVP to Paul Chamberlain by replying to this email or calling 416.760.2574. Please specify if you are comfortable participating in the tele-learning session in French, English or both languages so we can accommodate everyone.

We will also be asking that you complete a short survey after the session so that we can evaluate and improve the sessions.

 

Quick-to-learn, Quick-to-use Business Basics

How do you balance social returns with financial ones? How can a social mission enhance profitability, productivity, or drive your business? Join Omar Yaqub of the Social Enterprise Fund as he shows you how to bring blended value into your organization, and address the business of doing good.

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 - 1:30 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
Social Enterprise operates in the world between non-profits and business. They exemplify exciting, sustainable solutions to social problems while being financially prudent, even profitable. This session provides an introduction into the world of social enterprise and what businesses and non-profits can learn from one another.

• Provides practical local examples of social enterprise
• Directs you to resources for starting social enterprise
• Highlights the cultural, accounting, and assessment hurdles that need to be overcome

 

THE BUSINESS BENEFITS OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

TUESDAY, MARCH 3 - 1:30 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
Is social responsibility a cost or a way to add value to your business? Traditional notions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) are deficit driven, and outmoded. How can modern businesses achieve a blended value of social, monetary, and environmental returns? What does it mean to be responsible in the current financial downturn? You will discover:

• How social innovation can bring value throughout your business
• How can you evaluate philanthropy
• What are immediate and simple steps that can be taken to improve the social impact of your business

Fee (non refundable): $35.00 includes GST
Registration required.

For more information on these and other small business training sessions, call The Business Link at 1 800 272-9675, drop into our offices at 100 - 10237 104 Street, Edmonton or 250 - 639 5 Avenue SW, Calgary or visit: www.CanadaBusiness.ca/alberta/events Sessions are available at both Business Link locations.

You may also be able to attend in locations across Alberta at a regional video conference site. Call our toll free number above for location contacts.

For more details on Seminar content, please contact Omar Yaqub at 780 756-0660
or email: omar@socialenterprisefund.ca.

The series is designed to take your from scratching your head to implementing your plan. It is a fast, engaging way to see if SE is right for you.

You may be wondering where to begin? Can I even implement SE as a non-profit? Where can I get the statup capital and assistance I need? Or, even what is social enterprise and why should I do it? The seminar series will help you answer these questions and more.

The series is composed of four two-hour seminars. The total cost of all four seminars is $150. Registration is limited to ten people per session. Dates and the registration form can be found on the right hand side of this page.

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to noon, January 20 to January 29, 2009

The Series Includes...

Seminar 1

Introduction to Social Enterprise

What is social enterprise? Why should(n't) I do it? Learn about the different types of social enterprises, the basic challenges and trade-offs involved and, about some successful examples of SE in Edmonton.

Seminar 2

Transitioning to Enterprise Culture

This course will help you navigate the well known unknowns of creating a SE. These include cultural shifts, assessing your readiness, the differences between enterprise and non-profit thinking, and how to prepare to begin.

Seminar 3

Preparing a Business Plan

Will walk you through the basic steps of creating a "SE" Business Plan that includes blended value creation. It will look at idea exploration, feasibility assessment, the basics of business planning and more.

Seminar 4

Legal and Financing

This course will address the basic questions about legal structure, incorporation, threats to funding and more. It will also point you towards additional funding for start-up, expansion, and growth of SE.

 

For more information and to register visit the Social Enterprise Fund's website>>

Are you interested in learning about where your food comes from?

Are you worried about the environment?

Are you upset about the loss of family farms in Alberta?

Got questions about our food system?

On January 29-31, join us to discuss food security issues in the province. Food: Today. Tomorrow. Together. is inviting everyone who eats to discuss how we can work together to build a healthy local food system for all Albertans.

Registration is now open at www.foodalberta.org

Register early for a chance to win some delicious early bird prizes.

Learn, share, plan, and eat with farmers, authors, academics, activists, and others-like you-concerned about food.

Barnett House (the Alberta Teachers Association building)
142 Street and 109 Avenue
Edmonton, AB  

Homelessness is a complex issue, with numerous underlying factors that contribute to its existence and proliferation.

In order to address the causes and develop solutions for homelessness, those involved in the delivery of services, planning, policy making and research with homelessness are encouraged to join in a national dialogue

Growing Home: Housing and Homelessness in Canada.

Growing Home, the second national conference on homelessness, will be held in Calgary, Alberta from February 18 to 20, 2009. This exciting conference is sponsored by the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary.

You are invited to register for this national conference, where you can engage in an exchange of promising practices from direct service.

Learn about administrative and research perspectives, and policy formulation for all levels of government. Explore the development of a national coalition of homeless service constituents.

Register today to meet the Early Bird deadline... December 15, 2008.
There's still time to save by registering now for Growing Home, the second national conference in housing and homelessness. Register today at: www.nhc2009.ca