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It’s very likely over the next year you will be staying in an Airbnb somewhere in the world. Exploring a city is something I urgently look forward to every trip I take. Creative cuisine, original cocktails, and electric culture are all things I love to discover when traveling. One of the most intere

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations are registered in the United States. And behind every nonprofit organization is a talented, dedicated, nonprofit founder with a compelling mission and a transformational vision. These non

Human Trafficking is a huge global problem. By United Nations definition, human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as abduction, fraud, force or coercion) for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation includes sexual exp

In the land of the snow-capped Himalayas, responsible tourism company Fernweh Fair Travel has introduced income-generating programs to India’s lowest caste, the ‘Untouchables’, residing in remote villages in India’s northern region of Gopeshwar, Uttarakhand. Through fair trade and sustainable touris

In an unprecedented move last December, Bali Governor Wayan Koster introduced an all-encompassing ban against single-use plastic, including plastic bags, Styrofoam and straws, though some remain skeptical on the effectiveness of the policy in mitigating the devastating impact of plastic waste. Retai

This will mark the 6th edition of our Social Entrepreneurs to watch for list. If you want to check out the previous years of social entrepreneurs you can see them here: (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018). Over the past five years I have had the great pleasure of speaking with over 400 social entrepreneu

Once again, the time to make New Year’s resolutions is upon us. Many people find themselves a bit disillusioned at this prospect — after all, how many can even remember what they resolved to change for 2018, let alone followed through on? It’s time to reclaim the resolution as a positive force for h

With our socially conscious wedding seemingly a distant memory now, I wanted to shine the spotlight on some of the tremendous social enterprises I have had the pleasure to work with in preparation for our nuptials. While our celebrations were admittedly far from a sustainable affair, I hope my exper

Tribes for GOOD is an online platform and impact travel organization connecting people around the world with innovative grassroots and social impact in India. The platform provides two opportunities for locals and foreigners: social impact journeys and volunteerism. Their Social Impact Journeys imme

A little over a year ago my colleagues and I at ISSIMO became aware of the increased interest and movement toward the idea of business for good — or using capitalism to make positive change in the world. Feeling inspired, we decided to promote this idea with a video manifesto made in conjunction wit

At some point, you’ve likely seen your favorite celebrity or influencer share about the issues that matter most to them, but these days many are going above and beyond when it comes to using their influence for good, and starting companies that make an impact. Social impact companies started by cele

We all know plastic pollution sucks. Seeing and knowing how bad the global plastic pollution situation is, I find myself constantly looking for people, groups and initiatives that mean plastic pollution on earth can be reduced. Cue the amazing women at Rehash Trash. First of all, this is a local, fe

Building a sustainable and ethical wardrobe from scratch may seem like a challenging undertaking. Most shoppers want to be in sync with the latest trends, and not many know enough about ethical and eco-friendly labels—are the pieces frumpy and expensive?  But as the industry undergoes a revolution o

Despite the rise of socially responsible businesses and conscious consumers, the fashion industry seems to be falling behind. It is common to read reports of clothing brands whose ethics and manufacturing practices are called into question—some even accused of slavery in their supply chains.  But er

While traveling for business in India and on an educational tour through Ecuador, I saw the devastating effects of exploitation on farmers and artisans in the developing world. But I also saw the incredible impact that fair trade, as a business model, can have on producers and their communities. Lis

For the last six years, the European Social Innovation Competition has supported social innovators from across Europe. Previous winners have included an open source home building platform, a multimedia tool for blind people and a revolutionary peer-to-peer learning platform. The 2018 edition will gi

Photo credit: ATEC*Biodigesters A solar-powered food dehydrator, an affordable voice prosthesis and a waste-to-fuel biodigester were among the social and environmental innovations awarded at the 2018 DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge (SVC) Asia on 18 October. A total of S$135,000 in cash prizes was h

For the past two years, Cassandra Ciarallo, founder of Chic Made Consciously has been creating and designing her handmade ethical jewelry collection. The collection is created from tires made by the Balinese community at Art Cycle Bali. As Chic Made Consciously continues to expand on their brand mor

According to a recent study by the Guardian, the number of homeless people recorded dying in the UK have more than doubled in the past five years. Official figures show that at least 4,751 people sleep rough on any given night. On average, homeless people die at the age of 43, nearly half of the gen

featured photo: Asmin A. Monib a volunteer at Kapamagogopa Inc (KI) working at their offices in Iligan, Mindanao, Philippines, 17 May 2018. Photo by Greg Funnell Away has supported the work and mission of Peace Direct since we were founded, which means if you’ve bought anything from Away—from a suit

We’ve all heard of Social Enterprises. First with TOMS SHOES years ago and now so many more businesses are changing their business model to social enterprises or a B-CORP. It’s amazing that in today’s day in age things have evolved so quickly and businesses are started to giveback. Customers are als

Photo by Chad Madden There’s no better way to start your morning than with an intention to help others. To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down three ways you can support three causes mere minutes after shutting off your alarm. 1) Cleanse with Hand In Hand Soaps Start your morning with a clean

Photo by Adolfo Félix Starting a social enterprise is a wonderful endeavor that allows an entrepreneur to blend their passion for business and their desire to create a positive impact into one. The for-profit nature of their charitable enterprise allows them to tap into strategies used by both chari

I am the Founder of The Empowerment Bag. We are a brand of practical & eco-friendly bags that empower survivors of sex trafficking. All our bags are made by women at risk of sexual exploitation in West Bengal, India. These women are given an alternative to the sex trade through literacy training, se