Introducing Blessing Iroha Digital Skills Initiative (BIDSI) - Empowering through Digital Education

🤝 Reimagining Education (Part 4): Building Partnerships That Empower Teachers We’ve rethought perception. We’ve reimagined policy. Now let’s talk partnerships — because transforming education isn’t a solo effort. When we say “it takes a village to raise a child,” we must also remember: 👉🏽 It takes a village to empower a teacher. 💼 Private sector organizations can play a transformative role — through sponsorships, mentorship programs, technology support, and professional development grants. Imagine if every company adopted a local school or ran an annual “Teacher Innovation Challenge.” 🏫 Communities and alumni can contribute too — by volunteering expertise, donating learning materials, or even organizing appreciation days for educators. 🌍 Collaborations with NGOs, EdTech firms, and teacher-training institutions can create sustainable ecosystems of growth — where teachers have access to modern tools, leadership exposure, and global learning opportunities. Because education doesn’t thrive in isolation — it grows through connection, collaboration, and community. If we truly want to make teaching a first choice profession, we must bridge the gap between schools and society. When every sector sees education as their shared responsibility, transformation becomes unstoppable. 🚀 💬 What’s one partnership idea you think could strengthen teacher empowerment in your community? #ReimaginingEducation #TeachersLead #EducationTransformation #PublicPrivatePartnerships #ProudToTeach #CommunityDrivenChange #SupportOurTeachers #TeachingMatters #NationBuilders #MeridianConsult

Meet Buba, a student with determination stronger than circumstance. In The Gambia, the dreams of young people are often shadowed by struggle. As Buba tells me in our short interview, life here isn’t easy jobs are scarce, opportunities are few, and every day is about survival and hope in equal measure. Many young people like him look beyond the horizon, believing that a better life can only be found across the sea. But the truth is heartbreaking the journey is dangerous, and for too many, it ends before it ever truly begins. Yet listening to Buba reminded me why we started TechforAll Foundation. Because it doesn’t have to be this way. We believe every young person deserves a future they don’t have to flee from. By turning donated computers into tools for learning and abandoned spaces into IT training hubs, we are helping young people gain skills, confidence, and opportunity not far away, but right here at home. This is what happens when technology meets hope communities rise. FULL VIDEO AVAILABLE: https://lnkd.in/dqPn722k #TechforAllFoundation #DigitalInclusion #TheGambia #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact #EducationForAll #Sustainability #DigitalSkills #HopeThroughTechnology

Sector Trends & Learning ✦✦ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 ✦✦ 2024 taught hard lessons. ⟡ 89% of charities believe tech change is relevant (https://lnkd.in/emfP7tZs) ⟡ Turnover is high — around 18.1% vs 11.7% in private sector (TPP) ⟡ Income is unstable, costs keep rising (https://lnkd.in/ee-Uc_4R) Learning now means: ▸ Building tech into delivery ▸ Retaining talent with culture, not slogans ▸ Pitching impact with clarity, not jargon ▲▲ DM me “Trend Map” if you’d like a one-page sector brief I use with boards ▲▲

Want to make a difference but not sure where to start? Here's what's working right now in social impact: 📈 Data analysis for nonprofits 💬 Community engagement 📊 Impact measurement 🌱 Sustainable business models 🤖 All things AI Formal routes: • Online courses from top universities • Certifications in social entrepreneurship MOOCS and specialized providers Informal paths: • Volunteer with local organizations • Join impact-focused communities such as PCDN.Global • Learn from practitioners' stories The best part? You can start building these skills today. Ready to grow your impact toolkit? Subscribe to our free impact newsletters for weekly insights and resources. What skill are you working on right now? #SocialImpact #CareerDevelopment #SkillsBuilding #SocialEntrepreneurship #Nonprofit #ProfessionalGrowth #ImpactCareers

Want to make a difference but not sure where to start? Here's what's working right now in social impact: 📈 Data analysis for nonprofits 💬 Community engagement 📊 Impact measurement 🌱 Sustainable business models 🤖 All things AI Formal routes: • Online courses from top universities • Certifications in social entrepreneurship MOOCS and specialized providers Informal paths: • Volunteer with local organizations • Join impact-focused communities such as PCDN.Global • Learn from practitioners' stories The best part? You can start building these skills today. Ready to grow your impact toolkit? Subscribe to our free impact newsletters for weekly insights and resources. What skill are you working on right now? #SocialImpact #CareerDevelopment #SkillsBuilding #SocialEntrepreneurship #Nonprofit #ProfessionalGrowth #ImpactCareers

What does it take for nonprofits to go beyond technical adjustments in organisational capabilities and programme maturity, to embed a culture that drives measurable outcomes?   In our latest blog, Saumya Lashkari from 360 ONE Foundation, a domestic Indian foundation advancing Outcomes-Based Financing, argues that a powerful enabler is an outcomes-oriented culture, one that integrates: 🔹 Performance (clear, measurable goals) 🔹 Knowledge & learning (real-time reflection and adaptation) 🔹 Innovation (agility, experimentation, and smart risk-taking)   This practical guide shows how nonprofits can sharpen their mission, empower staff, set fit-for-purpose targets, and use data to drive continuous improvement. It is part of a larger outcomes-readiness framework for non-profits, developed with support from the British Asian Trust and the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM).   📖 Read here: https://lnkd.in/e3Q_Quvy

Turning Insights Into Action As a non-profit organisation working in rural South Africa, we see the impact we are making every day – on our campuses, in the surrounding villages, in nearby safari lodges and restaurants, out in the real world. To us, the impact of transformative education is visible in the confident smiles of the young people we have the privilege to work with. But some types of impact are not as easy to see, touch and feel. Think of the impact that a steady, decent job has on a family that is used to subsisting on very little. Think of how a rural child might dare to dream of a career in technology after being exposed to coding. This is why we produce an Impact Report every year. It provides us and our partners with data-driven insights into how we are impacting the communities we serve. For example, it’s not just about how many graduates we produce at our Bridging Year Academy and Career Academies – we also want to know what they are doing now and how they have been able to improve their families’ and their own quality of life upon graduation. These insights give us evidence of what we’re doing right and show us what we can improve on. If we constantly reassess where we can have the most impact, we can refine our strategy to shift the trajectory of thousands of young people. Qualitative data helps us to do that, complementing the visual evidence of transformed lives we see every day. We may be a heart-driven organisation, but facts help us to keep doing what we’re doing. The future is data-driven, and we are on board for the ride! Read the full impact report for 2024 here https://lnkd.in/dR3WVzYi #WonderFilledLearning #ImpactReport #RuralEducation #GoodWorkFoundation

Over the past couple of months, I’ve had the opportunity to dive into an area of nonprofit operations that, until recently, I hadn’t fully developed a competency for - grant funding. In previous roles, grants weren’t viewed as a major funding stream. We focused heavily on earned revenue and annual campaigns, and I didn’t often interface with grant opportunities. In my current role, though, I’ve seen how strategic grant work can underwrite existing programs, seed innovation, and deepen community impact. Partnering with our Grants Director, Jacob Meeks, I’ve been able to participate in every step of the process from sourcing opportunities to applying, managing compliance, and stewarding funder relationships. It’s been eye-opening to see how grants, when approached intentionally, can become true partnerships in advancing our mission. Here are a few takeaways and resources that helped me along the way: 🔍 Finding Opportunities - Explore tools like GrantWatch.com and, honestly, ChatGPT - Check local community foundations and corporate giving programs for regional or industry priorities that align closely with your work. 🧩 Evaluating Fit Ask: - Does this align with our mission and capacity? - Can we deliver the outcomes realistically? - Is the reporting load sustainable for our team? Being strategic about where you apply is as important as writing a great proposal. ✍️ Applying & Stewarding - Tell a clear, data-informed story that connects your impact to the funder’s goals. - STEWARDSHIP! ... share updates, express gratitude, and demonstrate outcomes beyond the numbers. I’ve learned that grants are out there, they're helpful to the bottom line, but truly provide hope and opportunity for your operation. For anyone looking to build their grant knowledge, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned or swap resources. It’s been one of the most enriching parts of my professional growth this year and a great reminder that learning never stops. #NonprofitLeadership #GrantFunding #SocialImpact #LifelongLearning #YMCA

🌟 Series Wrap-Up | Saturday Skill Ups with NVP Over the past 2 months, IPN and New Venture Partners (NVP) came together to host Saturday Skill Ups, a weekend learning series designed to help nonprofit professionals build practical and relevant skills. From campaign-building and technology adoption to branding, budgeting, and donor relationships, each session gave participants tools to strengthen their organisations and lead with confidence. A big thank you to the NVP team for their incredible expertise and facilitation — and to every participant who joined us in this learning journey! 👉  If you missed attending these sessions, you can access the full resource collection here: 1. From Cause to Movement: Building Campaigns People Care About: https://lnkd.in/gBSbfN2s   2. Beyond Buzzwords: Knowing When Your Nonprofit Needs Tech: https://lnkd.in/g_VhfmZV   3. Built to Work: Designing Programmes for Maximum Impact:  a. Program Design Principles and Processes:  https://lnkd.in/gAtETjzT b. Program Design Frameworks: https://lnkd.in/guVVxRTd 4. Branding as a Leader: When to be “You” and When to be Your Organisation: https://lnkd.in/gAjJRnNq 5. Making Data Work for You: Using Research to Improve Practice and Communicate Impact: https://lnkd.in/gq2DuVAe 6. Navigating Budgets: A Practical Guide for Nonprofits: https://lnkd.in/gbM-tHXf   7. Pitch Perfect: Strengthening CSR Proposals: https://lnkd.in/gSV4wMpe 8. After the Grant - Building Donor Relationships: https://lnkd.in/g385ZjZq Here’s to more learning, collaboration, and impact together! 🌱 #SaturdaySkillUps #IndiaPartnerNetwork #NVP #NonprofitLearning

This is one such example of how new models of learning can solve a long-standing challenge in capacity building for nonprofits that don’t have the time, resources, or bandwidth to attend high-touch programs, or for those who’ve completed one and want to continue their journey of learning and organisational development. That’s the gap a platform like India Partner Network helps fill. With over 3,500+ nonprofits on one side and partners like New Venture Partners (NVP) on the other, IPN is helping bridge the gap between where NGOs are and where they aspire to be by making capacity building more accessible, continuous, and ecosystem-led. Minu Sagar Ashwini Rajamani Lavy Sharma Pankaja Balaji Niharika Anjan Sital M. Solomon J Manohar CA Munaf Merchant Richa Goswami Aletta D'cruz Shraddha Jha Varshini Murali Akanksha Negi Vidya Sridhar Nitish Dorle #CapacityBuilding #NonprofitLearning #OrganisationalDevelopment #SocialImpactLearning #NGODevelopment #SkillBuilding