Global Grassroots (based in Hanover, NH) is a nonprofit organization which invests in social entrepreneurship to advance women’s wellbeing in poor countries.

In Rwanda, Global Grassroots offers Social Entrepreneurship Training and Venture Investments to genocide survivors, including widows, women with HIV/AIDS and victims of sexual assault. Investments assist in capacity building, skills training and assistance with the launch of new social ventures. Since 2006, Global Grassroots has trained nearly 250 Rwandans who have designed 29 social projects benefiting marginalized women.

Responding to the Darfur crisis, refugees who fled to the nearby country of Chad have worked with Global Grassroots on ideas such as a peace library, a school cafeteria, a women’s market cooperative and a children’s multimedia center. Efforts have been temporarily suspended due to safety concerns.

An extensive study, spanning 11 African countries, is being launched to understand sexual and gender-based violence during conflicts. The advocacy project aims to prevent such violence against women and to help survivors reclaim their lives.

The general steps for assistance include:

1 - Train communities in the use of socially entrepreneurial approaches to social change.
2 - Help community members launch their ideas through collaborative investments.
3 - Spread social change by helping other communities replicate and adapt ideas from other communities.
4 - Raise awareness of critical women’s issues worldwide.

More information on their programs can be found on their website.