PROGRAM OVERVIEW

To expand the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs (EDGE) program into social entrepreneurship, Columbia University’s Center for Career Education has partnered with New Development Solutions (NDS), a U.S. and Guatemala based corporation established in 2003 by former Peace Corps Volunteers and successful social entrepreneurs Greg Van Kirk and George Glickley. NDS' founders utilize their in-depth experience to help development organizations and entrepreneurs design, smart, scaleable and highly integrated business models for their constituents in rural communities.

NDS has established a program, Social Entrepreneurs Corps, to help students jump start a career in international development by working side-by-side, on a grassroots level with professional social entrepreneurs.

In a month students will:

• Participate in a survey of rural economic development strategies and execution.
• Experience practical, successful social entrepreneurship models in a developing country environment.
• Gain insight into a new culture and the nuances of indigenous society interaction.
• Be given an opportunity to work side-by-side with the leaders of CE Solutions and New Development Solutions.
• Receive 30+ hours of classroom Spanish study followed by in the field practical application.
• Have a chance to work with some of the over 75 local entrepreneurs that we train and support.
• Go on an adventure, hiking through the remote villages in the backcountry and mountains of Guatemala.

Highlighted NDS successes include:

• Creation of rural, social enterprises that have grossed over $500,000 in less than four years and created more than 75 new jobs.
• Consulting and/or design for such diverse initiatives ranging from a hearts of palm exporting business to a tourism-focused restaurant to a national eye glass sales social entrepreneurship venture.
• Design and management of the first rural economic fair in a Maya region of 200,000 people.
• Design of a business plan for the first rural investment fund in Guatemala.
• Restructuring of a national social enterprise initiative in El Salvador.
• Creation of a unique "Micro-consignment" model.
• Creation of the most comprehensive databases in Guatemala for small businesses and development organizations.
• Design of a best practices guide for rural internet centers and WIFI initiatives.
• Design and creation of two tourism web portals and over 50 websites.
• An analysis of income generating potential of a rural greenhouse-based food security project.
• Creation of rural enterprise feasibility studies, work plans, training manuals and marketing strategies.