Millions of children of primary school age are not attending school. This is not because they chose to be out of school, but because they do not have access to a school. Basic education is important. Aside from education being a civil right; reading, writing, and basic arithmetic are vital life skills. However, families who have been living in poverty for too long may not be aware of the advantages of sending their kids to schools. Quality, inclusive education is an effective tool for fighting poverty. As individuals who have experienced the power of education, we must be committed to promote access to education for those who are living below the poverty line. We can help by supporting causes by non-profit organizations like CREATE and UNICEF. These organizations help spread awareness about every child’s right to obtaining quality, basic education. They also mobilize drives for remote, impoverished communities to provide them as much help with their education as they can. Access to education is not a privilege, but a universal right. Let us take a stand and help those who are living in poverty get access to education. Ahmed Nashaat here. Visit my blog for more discussions about access to education and other tools in fighting poverty.
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There are numerous reasons the prospect of working at a non-profit is so appealing to many professionals. Non-profits provide opportunities for challenging yet rewarding work in a variety of industries. The following are three examples of non-profit organizations that are both passionate about the causes they support and providing their employees with a great work environment: Image source: anderscpa.com 1. Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch (HRW) is a non-profit, non-government, international organization involved in the research of and exposing human rights abuses and helping victims obtain justice. HRW employs thousands of people, including human rights lawyers, journalists, and academics. HRW is a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity, with high scores in financial performance and accountability and transparency metrics. HRW has a four-star rating in jobs and recruitment website Glassdoor. Most of HRW's former employers who posted reviews were happy with the company culture, supportive higher-ups, and numerous opportunities for growth. Image source: huffpost.com 2. DoSomething
This organization prides itself in keeping its work environment fun. DoSomething is dedicated to cultivating a culture of volunteerism and activism in young people. It motivates and enables young, social people to take action on issues that matter to them. Like HRW, DoSomething has also earned Charity Navigator's highest possible score: four stars. It also has a four-star rating on Glassdoor, with former employees praising its diverse workforce, open and welcoming company culture, and great work-life balance. Employees also enjoy some great perks, such as a competitive salary, comprehensive health and insurance benefits, and a three-week paid vacation. 3. DonorsChoose This non-profit helps individuals donate directly to classroom projects in public schools around the country by creating a place where teachers can post their requests and facilitating the transfer of the funds necessary to accomplish the request. DonorsChoose has completed 60,000 classroom projects so far. DonorsChoose is also a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity with a four-star score on Glassdoor. Its diverse staff comes from a variety of backgrounds, from education to corporate law. DonorsChoose employees benefit from a flexible work environment, a competitive salary, a professional growth stipend, free comprehensive health/dental/vision coverage, five weeks paid leave, and even free snacks and coffee. <i>Hi, I'm Ahmed Nashaat, a finance student and hopefully a future social entrepreneur. Follow my Twitter account for more discussions on the perks of working in a non-profit.</i> In general, members of the new generation of young adults tend to be socially conscious. More and more young people today would prefer to patronize brands and enterprises supporting causes like education and the environment. At the minimum, they would prefer companies that are conscious of their social impact. This desire to contribute to society even extends to the new players in the world of business. Tech enterprises are adopting more socially minded principles in their businesses, adding a philanthropic component into their operations. Newer businesses are sometimes built from this principle from the get-go, with their operations revolving around fulfilling their core mission rather than exclusively on turning a profit. Social entrepreneurship has thus entered the lexicon of modern business, pioneered by millennial entrepreneurs with a vision and placed into consideration by the titans of business. Far from being a lofty concept, social enterprise has led to the proliferation of flourishing new startups, guided as much by social justice principles as by the profit motive. Often, the products themselves are solutions for longstanding social problems, such as vehicle sharing services for congestion and car dependence and new toys to inspire young girls to take up engineering. The main obstacle to the rise of social enterprises is the longstanding division between making money and making a positive difference. Even companies that give back often perform corporate citizenship programs as side projects rather than key aspects of their operations. Social entrepreneurs have taken different steps to face the challenges of bridging the longstanding gap between philanthropy and profit. Some have turned toward refining their business model to successfully market their product and letting the social change become the consequence of their success. Meanwhile, others have taken to reclassifying their enterprises into public benefit companies, allowing them to make the necessary profits to move flourish without compromising their mission statements.
The spirit of social enterprise is even spreading to nonprofit organizations themselves, which can benefit from a startup-influenced setup and strategy. Ahmed Nashaat here. Catch more of my thoughts on social enterprise and business philanthropy on Twitter. Coming from a business-minded family, I had no difficulty choosing the entrepreneurial path. Hence, I enrolled in an MBA program in finance in Los Angeles to further my knowledge in the field. As much I want to justify my passion for business as a major driver for my decision, many other factors pushed me to follow my dream. If an MBA is something you are interested in, here some key considerations before applying to graduate school: Timing. Is it the right time for you to pursue an MBA? Majority of MBA students are in their mid-20s to early 30s. Of this number, only a small portion comes directly from college. Prior to their enrolling in business school, some have experienced working in a business environment to gain experience in the field. Career path. More than the credentials, treat MBA as a tool to further your education. Be mindful of the programs you may want to study like this could affect your overall perspective both in life and business. Time and resources.Of course, time and money also have to be considered. The completion of the program will ultimately depend on your commitment. Enrolling in MBA is like going back to college. In most cases it can be even more challenging depending on the specialization you are planning to take. Going to graduate school is a major life decision. While having the degree amplifies your credentials and promises a higher salary, those reasons alone are not enough to justify your pursuit for a master’s degree. So, take the time to consider the factors listed above before making a final decision. Let’s talk about business school. Follow me, Ahmed Nashaat, on Twitter for more discussions on life as a grad school student.
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