The last quarter has been active and rewarding for the project. We have crossed the half-way mark thanks to your generous support and have installed 54 carts, out of the total 100 carts, our goal. We now have 22 women, trained and ready for the opportunity and would like to ask you to spread the word to your friends and encourage them to financially support this project.

During this quarter, SUZLON India’s CSR team visited the center. They wish to engage with ECO Kitchen through their corporate social responsibility program.

We are pleased to say that while Chennai has been reeling under a runaway inflation, thanks to your support we have held our prices for the entrepreneurs and they, in turn for their clients.

The process of identifying and training eligible entrepreneurs has been strengthened. We have a full time training team in place and have published a schedule of training for the entrepreneurs. A training manual has been developed. The entrepreneurs gathered and discussed what worked and did not for them. Their feedback is now incorporated in to the project.We also have an schedule of visits by our sales and marketing team to the carts to assist them to expand their market. 

Many of our donors have expressed a desire to see a video of our project. We are in the process of creating one.

Thank you again for your support. Do join our facebook page www.facebook.com/ecokitchen. 

Report on Empower 100 Women As Food Entrepreneurs In India on March 8, 2012 (Chennai, India).

We are pleased to report that on this International Women’s Day 2012, we have three more exciting developments to share with our donors and supporters:

(a) We are entering in to a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Nutrition and Home Science, Women’s Christian College, Chennai, to develop a more comprehensive approach towards community nutrition. Our meals have always aimed to nourish body and mind, and with this partnership, we would access evidence-based approaches to low cost nutrition that is pleasing to the palette as well.

(b) We have been invited to discuss the project with the Chennai Corporation, the civic body for city administration, and we are in fact hoping that we can place carts in their offices. This would mean not just a mark of recognition for our hygiene and safety, or even a validation of our model; beyond that it would allow our entrepreneurs an opportunity to foray in to other Government offices where foot falls are steady and the locations gain approval from their families.

(c)  The Rotary Club of Chennai Mid Town, and the Rotary Club of Rockville, US, are together exploring ways to support our project. This is a great beginning.

We are in the process of conducting a survey among our consumers to predict their needs and to ensure that our food at the cart meets those needs. Our entrepreneurs will be trained in collecting needed data in simple forms (self administered) for this purpose.

Our quarterly medical check for our entrepreneurs is scheduled in first week of April. We are planning to work together with the Government Centre for the purposes of referral and have enlisted volunteer clinicians and nurses at this time for running a clinic. We may be requiring the assistance and time of a pediatrician, as the women are likely to bring their children to the clinic.  Should you know someone interested in supporting us, please do ask them to write to us at info@ecokitchen.org

VISITOR FROM GLOBALGIVING:

We were pleased to host an event by Ms. Donna Callejon, Chief Business Officer, GlobalGiving, at our kitchen on Jan 27, 2012, where she presented about Global Giving to other non-profits at Chennai. We were glad that we could showcase our facility and our community work to her during this visit. 

VISIT OF THE MAYOR OF CHENNAI:

The Mayor made a surprise visit to our facility on February 23, 2012. We look forward to working closely with his office in developing the project further.

REQUEST:

March 14th is the first GlobalGiving bonus day of the year. Starting at 12 AM, US EDT, GlobalGiving will be matching all donations made through www.globalgiving.org up to $1,000 per donor at 30%. Please spread the word.

The organization that raises the most funds on Bonus Day will receive an additional $1,000 from Global Giving. The organization that has the most unique donors on Bonus Day will receive an additional $1,000 from Global Giving.

We are still 22000$ away from our stated goals to establish 100 carts. We are nearing fifty carts presently and we indeed hope to receive your continued support. Please share our Global Giving Page link with your friends.