As an organization that empowers the local community, Bpeace has grown considerably during its nine years of existence, working in countries affected by conflict and violence. The organization listens to the business ideas from local entrepreneurs and matches them Bpeace volunteers who skilled in that area.
Toni Maloney, the organization’s co-founder and CEO, said Wednesday at the Clinton School that this method gives the people involved “confidence and self-worth.”
In Afghanistan the local entrepreneurs have created more than 12,000 jobs through this program. The organization works with over 30 local business people in Kabul and will be hosting 10 of them for a U.S. visit, Maloney said.
She shared a story about a family who, prior to collaborating with Bpeace, couldn’t send three of their four children to school, despite the mother being a schoolteacher. Bpeace worked with parents to promote and organize their jewelry business. Today, the jewelry business has been featured on QVC and the oldest daughter attends high school in New York.
The stories shared by Maloney echo the success of Bpeace’s work in promoting entrepreneurship in violent areas.
Bpeace works hard to promote existing opportunity in these communities, Maloney said. The ideas are there, and Bpeace can provide the skill and capacity to make them realities.
The organization’s work is fueled by the knowledge that job creation can influence and create peace, she said. New partnerships are investigated daily and the organization continues to grow and gather success stories.
Video of Maloney’s lecture will be posted soon at www.clintonschoolspeakers.com.
This post was written by Clinton School student Maggie Carroll (’13).
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