Empower Program for Social Entrepreneurship
Schwab Foundation Fellowships
Applying to the Schwab/Empower Fellowship
All candidates must submit an online fellowship application. Both an Empower committee and later on a Schwab committee will examine the applications and finalists will be contacted for an interview. Empower does not have a set number of Fellowships. They will be awarded on a case-by-case basis. The Selection Committee will review all applications received to determine the strongest candidates to receive the Fellowships.
Empower has partnered with the Schwab Foundation to place Tufts students with their network social entrepreneurs in their countries of operation for 2-3-month internships/apprenticeships. During the students' time with the organizations, they will learn how a particular social entrepreneur runs his/her operation, get to know the target issue and community, and have the opportunity to design their own project while also working at the organization in their daily tasks. Essentially, students will get as much out of the opportunity as they invest in the opportunity. For those who are interested in these fields and in social entrepreneurship in general, the field placements are a good way to get first-hand experience in how these grassroots organizations operate.
Requirements:
- Students must be currently enrolled in a Tufts Undergraduate or Graduate program
- Proficiency in the language of the area in which the Social Enterprise is located (if applicable)
- Must have at least two months to dedicate to the internship
- Interest in the social enterprise and activities
- Basic knowledge of and interest in the area in which the Social Enterprise is located
- A clear idea on how to contribute
Step 1:
Look at the list of social enterprises provided to Empower by the Schwab Foundation, and think about which organization fits your interests. Please note some IMPORTANT questions to consider when researching the organization:
- Why are you interested in the area of activity of this social enterprise?
- What can you gain from the experience? What would be your desired outcomes? (Basically, why would a summer with one of these social entrepreneurs be a valuable personal/professional/academic development experience for you?
- What can you contribute to the organization during your 3 months there? Tangible outcomes could be a resource guide for the organization, etc. But know that you might be doing other work for the social entrepreneur in addition to this
- What specific skills do you have that fits the needs of the organization? Language proficiency, computer skills, web design. etc (it is not required, but some regions require language competency, such as Latin America and parts of Asia)
- Who could you work with? Are you part of a club or class where you have colleagues that would also be interested in your area of interest and organizations? Start finding these people now, so that as a team, you all can develop the application together.
Step 2:
Once an applicant selects a social entrepreneur, they will be expected to:
- Do their research. Applicants are expected to know the objectives, history, and activities of the Social Enterprise, as well as of the area in with the Enterprise is located.
- Have a clear idea as to how the applicant would like to contribute
- Submit the online application. Allow one month for Schwab to approve your application
- By the week of April 11, the social entrepreneurs will respond if they would like to be in touch with the student directly to explore the feasibility of an internship. This does not mean the internship is 'confirmed' - only that the student is qualified, and that s/he can begin the logistical discussion directly with the SE. Although we hope that an internship materializes shortly thereafter, please note that social enterprises are less structured than large companies and have less resources, thus, creating an internship position is a lengthier back and forth discussion between the two interested parties.
- Once selected, it is crucial that applicants follow through with their commitment to intern and promptly respond to communication
Cover Letter Guidelines
The Cover Letter is the most important part of your application because it is the document that allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the Social Enterprise and your interest the issues it is trying to tackle. It is also how you will articulate what you want to do with the Social Enterprise, in addition to why and how you are going to do it.
Below are some tips to consider when writing your cover letter
- Address the cover Letter directly to the Social Entrepreneur. If you are selected, your cover letter will be read by the Social Entrepreneur who will make the final decision.
- Articulate how you plan to contribute
- Discuss your availability (the amount of time you will be able to dedicate to the internship)
- Discuss any particular skills that may be helpful/useful to the Social Enterprise
- Be up front about what you do and don’t know
- Discuss what you hope to learn and experience from the internship
Expectations Upon Return
Whether you determine that you will need Empower funding or not, all Schwab interns are considered Empower Fellows. In addition to providing feedback about your experience to Schwab, you will also be expected to fulfill the Empower Fellow Expectations and Responsibilities (see Empower website).
Note to applicants
It is not guaranteed that the Social Entrepreneur will respond to or accept the intern. However, once you are selected by the Schwab Foundation and Empower to serve as a intern, we will do everything possible to make sure you are connected with an organization of interest. For this reason, we recommend you keep 1-2 backup organizations in mind when applying.
Please specify if your team is or is not seeking Empower funding. If you are seeking Empower funding, please note any additional sources of funding that you plan to pursue.
To learn about the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneurs visit: www.schwabfound.org
Geographical Region Organization Country Focus Africa Association pour le Soutien et l'Appui à la Femme Entrepreneur (ASAFE) Cameroon enterprise development, technology, women Service d'Appui aux Initiatives Locales de Développement (SAILD) Cameroon agriculture, civic participation, communication/media, consumer awareness, education, enterprise development KickStart Kenya Kenya agriculture, enterprise development, technology, service innovations Al Jisr Morocco education DMT Mobile Toilets Nigeria Ltd Nigeria enterprise development, environment, health Lapo Nigeria microfinance Mobility Aid and Appliances Research and Development Centre (MAARDEC) Nigeria advocacy, education, health, technology Heartlines South Africa HIV/AIDS, civic participation, communications.media, education, enterprise development, health International Center for Eye Care Education (ICEE) South Africa health, eyecare mothers2mothers South Africa Health, AIDS/HIV, children and youth, maternal and infant health Shonaquip South Africa disabilities, health, children and youth Streetwire Artist's Collective South Africa enterprise development, fair trade The Kuyasa Fund South Africa homelessness, housing, microcredit and microfinance Sero Lease and Finance (Selfina) Tanzania micro-leasing, entrepreneurship, HIV/AIDS Enda Inter-Arabe Tunisia microfinance, enterprise development, financial inclusion, women's empowerment, rural development Southeast and Central Asia Friends-International Cambodia youth, education, health, homelessness and housing, enterprise development Hagar International Cambodia enterprise development, youth, women Beijing Cultural Development Center for Rural Women China women, education, civic participation Senior Citizen Home Safety Association Hong Kong SAR disabilities, health, technology Duck Revolution Japan agriculture, environment, rural development Sunlabob Renewable Energy Ltd Laos energy, enterprise development, rural development, environment, technology, water Gawad Kalinga (GK) Philippines health, housing, environment, enterprise development Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation Philippines education, enterprise development, financial inclusion, labor conditions and unemployment, migration, rural development City College & O School Singapore education, youth aidha Singapore education, enterprise development, migration, women World Toilet Organization Ltd Singapore health, sanitation Doi Tung Development Project Thailand education, enterprise development, environment, health, rural development South Asia Afghan Institute of Learning Afghanistan education, health, women Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMES) Bangladesh youth, education Phulki Bangladesh labor conditions and unemployment, women Waste Concern Bangladesh environment, waste management, renewable energy, climate change Aajeevika Bureau India migration, labor, employment Aravind Eye Care System (AECS) India health Barefoot College India education, renewable energy, rural development, technology, women Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP) India health, rural development, women Development Alternatives India climate change, energy, environment, environment, literacy, rural development, technology, water, youth Gram Vikas India education, health, rural development, water and sanitation IDEI - International Development Enterprises (India) India agriculture, rural development, water Nidan India labour and employment, enterprise development, waste management PlanetRead India communication/media, education Rishi Valley Institute for Educational Resources (RIVER) India education, youth Saath Charitable Trust India education, health, financial inclusion, labor and unemployment SELCO Solar Light (P) Limited India energy, environment, rural development Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) India enterprise development, financial inclusion, labor condition and unemployment, rural development Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) India land security, housing, infrastructure Bina Swadaya Indonesia agriculture, microfinance, rural development, education Telapak Indonesia communications/media, environment, rural development, enterprise development Yayasan Dian Desa Indonesia enterprise development, environment, health, microfinance, rural development, technology, water, Association of Craft Producers (ACP) Nepal enterprise development, Trade Kashf Foundation Pakistan financial inclusion, microfinance, women Saiban - Action Research for Shelter Pakistan homelessness, housing Middle East Basata Egypt ecotourism, environment, waste management CID Consulting Egypt education, enterprise, development, environment, waste management Sekem Group Egypt agriculture, education, enterprise development, environment, health and rural development Access Israel Israel disabilities, health, technology, education Kav-Or Israel education and health Shekulo Tov Israel disabilities United Hatzalah of Israel Israel healthcare YEDID - The Association for Community Empowerment Israel social and economic rights, homelessness prevention, affordable housing, financial literacy INJAZ Al Arab - JA Worldwide Jordan children and youth, education Sakhrah Women's Society Cooperative Jordan enterprise development, microfinance, rural development Tamweelcom Jordan financial inclusion, enterprise development, rural development 99 Comics Kuwait communication/media, culture, children and youth Latin America Centro Ginecologico Integral (CEGIN) Argentina health Fundación Gente Nueva Argentina children and youth, education, enterprise development Social and Economic Recovery of National Rural Villages at Risk of Disappearing (RESPONDE) Argentina rural development, education Coronilla Bolivia labor conditions and unemployment, trade Akatu Institute for Conscious Consumption Brazil consumer awareness Associação dos Pequenos Agricultores do Municipio de Valente (APAEB) Brazil education, environment, microfinance, rural development, trade Associação Saúde Criança Brazil children and youth, health Center for Digital Inclusion (CDI) Brazil children and youth, education, technology Centro Popular de Cultura e Desenvolvimento (CPCD) Brazil education, culture, development, sustainability Institute for the Development of Natural Energy and Sustainability (IDEAAS) Brazil energy, environment, rural development, technology Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPE) Brazil biodiversity, environment, education, business development Pró-Cerrado Foundation Brazil children and youth, environment, rural development Projeto Cies Brazil Health Saúde e Alegría Brazil communication/media, education, environment, health, rural development, water Terra Nova Regularizações Fundiárias Brazil land ownership, urban planning, civic participation Turma do Bem Brazil children and youth, civic participation, health Enseña Chile Chile education Fundación Origen Chile agriculture, children and youth, education, rural development, women, leadership, indigenous communities RECYCLA Chile SA Chile environment, electronic and electric waste management Rodelillo Foundation Chile enterprising families, home ownership, income generation abcdespañol Colombia children, youth, adults, education Escuela Nueva Foundation (Fundación Escuela Nueva Volvamos a la Gente) Colombia education, children and youth, social and civil participation, social and entrepreneurial skills Fundación Social Colombia enterprise development, financial inclusion, homelessness and housing Gaia Amazonas Colombia biodiversity, environment International Center for Education and Human Development (CINDE) Colombia children and youth, education Fundación Arcandina Ecuador communications/media, education, environment Fonkoze Haiti microfinance, education Cinepop Mexico civic participation, education, technology Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda IAP Mexico biodiversity, environment, rural poverty Grupo para Promover la Educación y el Desarollo Sustentable (GRUPEDSAC) Mexico agriculture, eco-training, environment, handicrafts, housing, rural development, technology Un Kilo de Ayuda Mexico nutrition, rural supply, social development, microfinance Unión de Ejidos de La Selva Mexico rural development, trade Tecnosolucion S.A. Nicaragua energy, rural development, rural development Fundación Paraguaya Paraguay civic participation, education, environment, microfinance, rural development, poverty elimination Grupo GEA Peru enterprise development, environment Banca Comunitaria Banesco Venezuela financial inclusion, banking Ciudad Saludable Peru energy, enterprise development, environment, waste management Europe HeroRAT Belgium detection rats technology, mine action, health Bosnian Handicrafts Bosnia culture, handicrafts, rural development, women Mozaik Foundation Bosnia and Herzegovina community development, unemployment, civil participation Agentura ProVás s.r.o. Czech Republic disabilities, enterprise development, labour conditions, unemployment Bily Kruh Bezpeci o.s. Czech Republic human rights Letohrádek Vendula Czech Republic disabilities, education, enterprise development, health, labor conditions and unemployment Liga o.s. Bruntal Czech Republic unemployment, waste management, environment Network of Mother Centers Czech Republic family, health, women Pod Krídly Czech Republic education, labor conditions, unemployment Acta Vista France heritage and environment, social inclusion, unemployment Distribution Services Industriels (DSI) France disabilities Le Relais France unemployment, professional integration, environment Optimomes France children and youth Dialogue Social Enterprise GmbH Germany disabilities, communication, education Ethno-Medizinisches Zentrum Germany health, migrants foodwatch Germany food industry, food law, consumer awareness iq consult Germany enterprise development, microfinance, labor conditions Kinderzentren Kunterbunt e.V. Germany children and youth Off Road Kids Foundation Germany children and youth, education wellcome Germany children and youth, women Alliance Rehabilitation Hungary education, disabilities, health, labour conditions, unemployment Félúton Alapítvány Hungary health Napra Forgó Kft. (Sunflower Ltd.) Hungary unemployment, disabilities, labor conditions LifeGate Group Italy communications/media, consumer awareness, energy, environment, trade San Patrignano Community Italy drug rehabilitation, enterprise development, health Aflatoun, Child Social and Financial Education Netherlands children and youth, education, financial inclusion Barka Foundation for Mutual Help Poland homelessness, housing Barka-Kofoed School Poland homelessness, housing Center for Citizenship Education (Centrum Edukacji Obywatelskiej) Poland education La Fageda Spain enterprise development, health Gump- & Drahtesel, Velos für Afrika Switzerland unemployment, rural development, environment and sustainability Infoklick.ch Switzerland children and youth Job Factory Basel AG Switzerland children and youth, labor conditions and unemployment Stiftung Blind-Liecht Switzerland communications/media, disabilities Doga Gözcüleri Dernegi (Nature Observers' Society) Turkey enterprise development, environment Hey Tekstil Turkey enterprise development, women Kamer Turkey women, human rights, domestic violence, honor killing, forced marriage, education, enterprise development TEMA Foundation Turkey environment The Way Home Ukraine HIV/AIDS, Homelessness and Housing Belu Water United Kingdom environment, water Camfed International United Kingdom children and youth, education, women Homeless World Cup United Kingdom sport, homelessness, housing, communications, media North America People Tree United Kingdom environment, trade Riders for Health United Kingdom health Evergreen Foundation Canada environment, sustainable cities Andean Health and Development USA health College Summit USA education First Book USA children and youth, education Freelancers Union USA labor conditions and unemployment KickStart International USA agriculture, enterprise development, technology, service innovations Landesa USA land and property rights, povery alleviation Medicines360 USA public health Microfinance International Corporation (MFIC) USA financial inclusion Novica USA culture, handicrafts, enterprise development PATH (Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health) USA health Rubicon Programs Inc. USA enterprise development, labor conditions and unemployment ShoreBank Corporation USA Financial Inclusion Teach For America USA education Benetech Initiative USA disabilities, human rights, environment, education, technology Oceania Cambia Australia innovation, agriculture, health, technology, intellectual property, science cool nrg International Pty Ltd Australia energy, environment
Current Schwab Opportunities