Archive | November, 2010

What are you thankful for?

By on November 23, 2010 in Office Updates

Thanksgiving has the National Office feeling all warm and fuzzy inside! We are reflecting on what a great year this has been, and we want to share just a few of the things that we are thankful for:

  • Nourish’s work with communities around the world. Our chapter coordinator, Allie, recently spent a week in rural Mexico researching impact evaluation and training with a peer organization, CHOICE Humanitarian. She visited a Nourish project completed by Nourish UNC in Guanajuato, Mexico, and was extremely pleased to find that the project is still in use and positively impacting the community’s youth. Students worked with the Bajio Community Foundation in 2008 to teach computer skills, develop education plans, and work with community members on business development. The project provided funding for a community center, which, on Allie’s visit, was being used as a distance learning center. It is great to be reminded of the lasting impact of Nourish’s work!
  • The amount of time and hard work our students are willing to dedicate to Nourish each year. This semester has seen many successful ventures- some tried, true, and still thriving; some new, exciting, and growing.
  • Upcoming opportunities for meaningful impact all over the world. Chapters are working hard to finalize projects for next summer, and- spoiler alert- they’re going to be awesome!
  • Our incredible and growing community of board members, donors, supporters, and friends.
  • The dozens of coffee shops within walking distance from our office!
  • Hope. The work of Nourish gives us hope everyday. Check out our holiday cards and consider sharing the gift of hope this season!

What are you thankful for?

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UNC’s Chancellor recognizes Nourish

By on November 19, 2010 in Nourish in the News

Chancellor Holden Thorp and University Entrepreneur in Residence Buck Goldstein recently published Engines of Innovation: The Entrepreneurial University in the Twenty-First Century. In it, they highlight UNC, citing the university as a leader in providing student entrepreneurs with the tools they need to be successful and pointing to Nourish International as an example of this student innovation. UNC’s Hunger Lunch, a weekly venture whose funds go to support programs abroad aimed at reducing hunger, has become a model for ventures at Nourish chapters across the US. The idea is simple–cornbread, beans, and rice for $4–but the impact is enormous, and it is now a sustainable enterprise. To learn more, sign up for our e-newsletter or donate to show your support for Nourish.

UNC students have proved that innovation can make a big difference in contributing to a sustainable global future. In an interview, Holden said that “Innovation is…critical to our long-term future. When all is said and done, the U.S. is still viewed by most of the world as the leader in developing new approaches to big problems and our research universities remain the envy of the rest of the world” (interview found here). The students of UNC, in particular those working closely with Nourish International, are equipping themselves now with the tools they will need for a lifetime of change-making.

For you students out there with a liberal arts background, you’re in luck! Buck Goldstein stated that “nothing can prepare a truly innovative entrepreneur better than a liberal arts education” (interview found here). We’re quick thinkers, able to think on our feet. If you are interested in pursuing entrepreneurship, UNC offers an entrepreneurship minor. Alternatively, if you have a cool idea, share it with us so that we can help you put it into action!

If this interests you and you’d like to learn more, feel free to click around our website and learn more about Nourish’s past projects, current ventures, and ways to get involved!

You can sign up for our e-newsletter so we can keep you updated on all the exciting things Nourish is working on, Give the Gift of Hope this Holiday season with our limited edition greeting cards, or even donate to help Nourish grow and expand to even more universities across the US.

We here at Nourish are really excited to be a part of this growing, student-led entrepreneurial movement for lasting change. We hope you will join us and have some fun along the way!

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Learn, Discuss and Engage with Nourish…Introducing the Global Education Curriculum!

By on November 12, 2010 in Chapter Updates

Nourish International as a movement encourages discussion and debate about the many approaches to development. For these purposes, the National Office has created for Nourish Chapters the Global Education Curriculum, a series of  introductory modules focused on international development theories and specific issues, such as water sanitation or youth empowerment. Each module includes a short article or video and suggested discussion questions, and it is NINO’s hope that chapters will use these mini-lessons to inspire conversations about the nature of the important work they carry out as members of the Nourish International community. Sarah, International Projects Intern and author of the Global Education Curriculum, explains that “given the complexity of international development, we hope to help students dig deeper into understanding approaches to development and specific initiatives. With these modules we encourage students to question different approaches to development and delve deeper into understanding why Nourish International takes a grassroots, local and community driven approach to international development.”

If you know of an interesting development initiative that would spark debate, let us know and we’ll be sure to create a new GEC for our chapters!

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Spring 2011 Internship Search Begins! Apps due Nov 29th

By on November 10, 2010 in Chapter Founders, Office Updates

NOURISH INTERNATIONAL SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR ITS SPRING 2011 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITION:

Chapter Founders Team Member

Commitment: 10 hours a week

Skills needed: The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, motivation, and creativity. The ability to thrive in a team environment is a must!

Description: Chapter Founders Team Members will be integral to the expansion of Nourish International model to other universities throughout the country. Team Members will contact faculty and staff from chosen target universities to publicize our program. They will also market the program using existing connections with current chapters. Additionally, the Chapter Founders team will support student recruits while guiding them through the application process.

Strengths developed: Chapter Founders Team Members will have the opportunity to strengthen the following skills:

-        Relationship building

-        Time management

-        Verbal communication

-        Written communication

Positions available: 4

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Interns work closely with full-time Nourish staff to expand and strengthen the organization’s capacity to deliver upon its mission to eradicate poverty by engaging students and empowering communities.

Positions are for the National Office of Nourish International (not the UNC Chapter), which is located at 133 ½ E. Franklin Street, suite 105, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (between ColdStone and Bank of America).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates must be enrolled in or have completed a four year degree program.  Nourish International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on items such as race, gender or sexual orientation.

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to allie.treske@nourishinternational.org by Monday, November 29th at 5:00pm. Please include a statement describing why you would be a good fit for this role and how this position fits into your larger career trajectory and values. Internships are unpaid opportunities to support transformative work and gain professional experience working on a high performing team of changemakers.

ABOUT NOURISH INTERNATIONAL

Nourish International is one of the Carolina Entrepreneurial Initiative’s earliest success stories. Founded at UNC as “Hunger Lunch” in 2003 by Sindhura Citineni, Nourish International received inspiration and assistance from CEI’s programs and community to develop into a nonprofit venture. It incorporated in 2006 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on eradicating poverty worldwide. Nourish now works with students on around 25 campuses in the United States. This summer, Nourish sent 65 students to work on community development projects with partners in 11 communities worldwide. In 2008, Nourish received the North Carolina Peace Prize for excellence in cross-cultural solutions and sustainable development. For more information, visit www.nourishinternational.org

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Thank You!

By on November 5, 2010 in Office Updates

Thanks to our vendors and sponsors for helping to make the Masquerade Ball such a huge success!

3 Cups

American Party Rentals

Savory Fare

Total Wine & More

The Doris Duke Center

Knurture

My Overstock Boutique

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Donuts Hot Now!

By on November 5, 2010 in Ventures

Deacon Donut Delivery Days is a highly profitable venture recently introduced by Wake Forest University. Nourish students pre-sell and deliver boxes of Krispy Kreme Donuts to students on campus. In its first run, the Chapter earned $410, a 51% profit margin. Student leaders took initiative to collaborate with the Wake Forest administration on this venture. Administrators enabled the Chapter to link to the on-campus dollar system, giving students the option to use pre-paid campus dollars to order donuts from Nourish. The added convenience for customers played a large role in boosting the profitability of this venture. In true Nourish fashion, this venture provided much more than donuts. “With each box of donuts, we also delivered a pamphlet that gave information about Nourish International and our chapter, promoting awareness of the global poverty issues and giving students a better idea of how to get involved,” says Chapter Leader Paul Szurek.

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