Bridgepoint, through Leaders' Quest, is creating positive change in communities in India, China and Brazil through a three year financial commitment to support grassroots leaders living and working in local communities. It is enabling them to create projects that address critical issues such as livelihood, health, education and violence against women.
Through our support, grassroots leaders in these countries are chosen to help improve the lives of people in their local communities. Each 'Bridgepoint Fellow' will commit up to 25 hours a week and will design and deliver a project which has an immediate impact on the most pressing needs of their communities. In turn, Bridgepoint Fellows, through the implementation of these projects will develop their own skills and potential as leaders.
Some 75 Fellows have been created in India, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Bangalore and Karnataka and are expected to focus on health, education, women's empowerment, violence, access to basic amenities and governance. In China 24 Fellows will be created in six provinces (Shanxi, Hebei, Guizhou, Guangxi, Henan and Sichuan) and their project work will include farmers' cooperatives, sustainable farming, small-scale loan schemes, HIV & AIDS awareness and eco-tourism. In Brazil, we will have 12 Fellows and they will work on projects to do with youth groups and support for children to stay in school, small-scale businesses and sporting/cultural activities.
The 'Bridgepoint Fellows' are immersed in training and community work and complete modules in research and communications techniques, advocacy and human rights, before returning to communities to work with up to 500 families and helping them with critical local concerns and causes.
As a result, they are able to put their new-found knowledge to the test, committing up to 25 hours a week to create projects that address these issues and providing mentoring hours for local communities at grassroots level.
