Connect young innovators with business in need!

Dear Amazing Leadership Initiatives and Respective Donors,

By creating simple and innovative solutions, high school students have been able to make an inimitable impact on different businesses in Nigeria. This summer, bright students from Leadership Initiative’s IBAP program gathered at Georgetown University to tackle the problems that different businesses were facing.  

JAFI Security, a security business based in Nigeria, was one of those businesses that benefited from the students who worked to strengthen their defense system against the attacks of Boko Haram at a valued university. The company's problems were rooted in communication error; therefore, the students figured out that a system of walkie talkies and code words would be the most effective to respond faster in the event of an attack. This system of walkie talkies is currently being tested in phases within the company, but it already has "made a significant impact" on "reducing the gap of communication" between workers to supervisors in those test groups. Although preliminary testing will not be finished until the end of October, the owners of JAFI Security are "so excited" about this development and cannot wait to "see the long term effects" of this "life-changing" project for them. Even though only this singular solution has been tested so far, the owners cannot wait until the students return to t hesummer program to help create more solutions. 

To see the lives of these people enriched with excitement and vigor truly shows the power of what one person can do. This is why Leadership Initiatives was created - to inspire and promote progress in people that do not have the same opportunities as others. High school students can change the world - if they have the necessary tools to be the catalyst for that change. 

It is amazing to see how such a small idea from teenagers can change the lives of people across the globe. If we allow students to continue to cultivate a better future for others, their imagination will surely make a difference in those people that they work with.

I just want to say thank you again to all of our wonderful donors because you allow our programs to prosper and expand to change more lives. Your generosity allows Leadership Initiatives to the fund student solutions in the IBAP and summer programs and implement them into the business. Our business leaders in Nigeria have benefited so much from the student's work that they are now able to reach out to other people in their community and empower them. Thank you so much for believing in Leadership Initiatives and the students from our programs. You are making a difference in the lives of those working in JAFI Security and others within our program!

If you would like to check out more stories like JAFI Security's, please visit liempower.org.

Thanks,

Leadership Initiatives

Dear committed Leadership Initiatives donor,

Students that attended the International Business Summit this year at Georgetown University, worked with a series of professionals and mentors to solve problems facing small, developing businesses in Nigeria. One team, made up of 5 students, worked collaboratively throughout the week to help a catering business owned by a young woman named Rabi. Rabi is 20 years old and graduated from secondary school just three years ago. She works at her catering business six days a week to provide for her four siblings and both her parents.

The team of students decided to focus on 3 main problems: Financial management, new recipes, and advertising. Their first focus was creating a way for Rabi to keep track of her income, expenses, and profits. The team created 3 spreadsheets to keep track of her financials, where each spreadsheet would target a specific financial category. For example, there was one spreadsheet for all the money Rabi spends, another for all the money she makes from selling pastries and the last spreadsheet was for profits. All these sheets would be printed out and put in a binder for organization. The next problem that the team addressed was finding new recipes for Rabi to add to her menu. The group of students created both digital copies and hard copies of the recipes and techniques , therefore Rabi would have easy access to them. The team even found video tutorials to ensure Rabi understood each step of the recipes. The last problem the team solved was they needed a method to attract new customers as all Rabi’s current customers only knew of her business by “word of mouth”. The team decided to design business cards and a banner to catch the eye of customers as they walk by. One of the team's most creative idea was to create a customer feedback survey, where people who buy pastries from Rabi would volunteer to fill out a form asking about the service and in return they would acquire a free pastry.

Rabi works hard everyday in order to support her large family. Rabi learned how to cook from her older sisters when she was younger and as a result, Rabi would like to help train young women in her community to cook in the future. Like all of Leadership Initiatives’ business owners, Rabi is incredibly grateful for this experience and is excited for the changes that will be implemented in her business. Thank you for your charitable donations as they have contributed to the progress the LI Team and business partners have made so far. If you would like to read more stories like Rabi’s, check them out at liempower.org.

Sincerely,

The Leadership Initiative Team

Dear Amazing Leadership Initiatives and Respective Donors,

Because of your generous donation, we have been able to unite hundreds of students worldwide for a great cause; to help many business owners all across Bauchi have business training to improve their innovative businesses like never before. These businesses are a statement of independence, for it is about the people of Nigeria saying they can control their own destinies, that they can provide for their families and loved ones, and no longer have to worry about providing educational resources and opportunities for their children and immediate family.

Furthermore, our students create novel solutions firmly grounded in principles of social entrepreneurship. We have previously helped businesses in Bauchi, Nigeria in; Counter Insurgency and Business Relations, technology and Innovation, Orphan Care, and Empowering Women. This project will help train new community university campus security, engineers and empowered women who will open up new shops, and new businesses which will initiate community improvement.

Many students created fantastic solutions, including one team which created a free and highly effective solution for the Maiduguri University of Nigeria’s Security Force. Rather than using costly CCTV cameras to fight petty theft at the campus, students proposed to enact an anonymous tip line. With the use of WhatsApp or any other cellular communication system, students and faculty can seamlessly be connected to security personnel. With Apps like WhatsApp, information that is sent is encrypted, making it a secure line. Security Guards on patrol at the University also have access to smart phones, allowing them to receive the tip from the Intelligence Officers. As a byproduct of using a cellular communication system, this can substitute the need for Walkie Talkies.

Because of you and your generosity, we have been able to continue our efforts and develop independent profit-generating businesses that serve as models for growth in surrounding communities. Project beneficiaries fill voids in the local economy while improving their families' health, education and financial stability. Previous leaders have sent their brothers, sisters and children to school, helped invest in new businesses within the community, offered new services to community members such as the disabled, establishing infrastructure for the future growth of Nigeria.

Leadership Initiatives will be regularly providing updates and insight into these projects as the month's progress through GlobalGiving reporting program. Of course, at anytime you can request a project update to learn up to date info on how this project is progressing.

As a supporter of the "International Leadership and Business Summit 2017", Leadership Initiatives would love having you involved. If you ever want to help grow our programs, learn ways you can participate, or have new ideas on how to develop our programs please contact me at mbailly@leadershipinitiatives.org. Your hard work and intelligence is the greatest gift we could receive as we try to create a better world.

Thank you once again from the bottom of everyone's heart here at Leadership Initiatives. If you would ever like to speak to our staff on the ground, a project leader, one of our International Leadership and Business Summit student participants, we would love to set up a Skype chat for you, so you can personally see the change you are creating.

Wishing you, your family and your friends the absolute best!!!!

Respectfully,

Marshall

Dear Amazing Leadership Initiatives and Respective Donors,

Investing in others is a major objective in the LI campaign, and our International Business Alliance Program allows us to do just that. Through IBAP, Leadership Initiatives gives high-school students the opportunity to create life-changing ideas for our business partners in Nigeria. Our summer conferences also provide these young leaders the chance to acquire invaluable experience as they interact with business experts across a variety of professional fields to gain an abundance of knowledge. 

A large number of professionals will speak to the program's participants to provide personal insight and wisdom they have obtained by working in their specific fields. A few of the organizations represented by our speakers include NASA, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Pentagon, Peace Corps, and AdoptUSKids. Though every organization was not able to be named, Leadership Initiatives is both thrilled and deeply appreciative to have such a range of guest speakers. Their expertise provides a critical advantage for our students, and the program's benefits are greatly strengthened by their individual guidance and counsel.

During the conferences, students become a part of a team that partners with a specific business in Nigeria; each business is allied with multiple groups. These competing teams will work with their fellow group members to learn about their business partners' fiscal and organizational goals as well as their available resources. With this information, teams develop ideas and practical solutions to facilitate the growth and stability of the business. As the program continues, teams establish a more personal relationship with their partners and begin to better understand the impact of their work. 

After a week of collaboration, students present their ideas and plans to a panel of judges, including their business partner. The panel then picks a single team whose solutions best benefit their partners. The entire program gives students a week of immeasurable experience, helping young men and women to become a new generation of leaders. Doubly so, the business owners in Nigeria are helped by Leadership Initiatives to become not only genuine leaders within their business, but leaders in their community as well. By investing time, experience, and hard work into the futures of others, LI is able to take part in changing lives across the globe.

Dear Valued Leadership Initiatives donor,

I would like the take a moment to introduce myself and my International Business Alliance Team.  My name is Meredith and I am the Team Lead for the Ridgefield High School chapter.  Along with my teammates, John, Caroline and Kasey, Leadership Initiatives has given me the chance to help change the world.

Our business partner Maria is the owner of the Unique Beauty Salon in Bauchi Nigeria.  She opened her Salon in 2004, but quickly realized that while she knew how to style and braid hair, she lacked the technical skills necessary to run a business.  She applied to Leadership Initiatives’ Business Creation Program where she took classes that gave her the skills to strengthen and expand the salon.  In 2016 Maria began working with our team to help continue growing her business.  Prior to our involvement Maria’s advertising was solely based on word of mouth.  We are currently working on creating a comprehensive marketing strategy to draw more people to Maria’s salon.

Our team reached out to the business department at Ridgefield High School.  We partnered with an upper level Marketing class and presented information about Maria’s business.  Leveraging their suggestions, we worked to create a new logo, facebook page, flyers, and business cards for the Unique Beauty Salon.  Soon to be implemented, the new marketing strategy will help increase her clientele.

One of the most fulfilling aspects about working with Leadership Initiatives is being able to see the tangible impact I am making on someone’s life.  Maria’s salon helps send her children, and the children of her employees to school.  It helps them buy food, clothes, and other necessities.  I am confident that starting with the improvement of Maria’s salon in Bauchi Nigeria, her community, country, and continent will feel the positive impact her own gains will bring. The entire world can be changed by the ripple effect of progress.

This progress and partnership has been made possible by your donation and much of our success is owed to your support.  Thank you for your generosity! 

Best regards,

Meredith Karle

Ridgefield Team Lead and New Business Programs Coordinator