Displaying Archive for the ‘economic sustainability’ Category

We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

Connie K. Duckworth / January 24th, 2011 / posted in afghan people, afghan women, economic sustainability, sustainable economic development / 1 comment

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

– Albert Einstein

“Systems thinking” is about understanding how individual component parts influence each other within a whole framework. In a science lab, for example, systems thinking can be easily observed when small amounts of a catalyst create big chemical reactions.

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An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.

Connie K. Duckworth / January 12th, 2011 / posted in afghan people, business social responsibility, economic sustainability, opportunity, social change, social investment / 1 comment

An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.

– Albert Einstein

Everyone I know personally or professionally shares a singular perspective—how glad we are to see 2010 in the rear view mirror. The past two years, in fact, have been exhausting on every front—economically, politically, globally—and our collective fatigue level is high. It’s hard to run life unceasingly at DEFCON 2. At the same time, there’s an innate optimism that comes with flipping to the blank slate of a new calendar year. It refreshes our spirits, revives our energy, stiffens our resolve and restores our hope for positive change.

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Wear Peace Proudly

Connie K. Duckworth / December 9th, 2010 / posted in afghan people, afghanistan families, economic sustainability, social investment, social programs, sustainable economic development / 4 comments

I’ve been running somewhat silent on STIR blog these past two months due to a particularly high level of activity across all fronts in Afghanistan that’s kept me running full throttle. There’s much to catch up on.

First and foremost, I am delighted to announce the launch of Peace Cord™, a new artisan “product with purpose” available now in time for the holidays, selling online for $10 and $15, and providing 150 additional jobs for women in rural Afghanistan.

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Empowering Women, Empowering Their Children

admin / October 7th, 2010 / posted in afghan women, afghanistan families, economic sustainability, events, opportunity, social responsibility / no comments

With Child Health Day on Monday and U.S. National Children’s Day coming up this Sunday, October is a month dedicated to improving the lives of children in our global community.

At ARZU STUDIO HOPE, our mission is to empower women weavers in Afghanistan; and by doing so, we also strive to help their families. As the saying goes, “Educate a woman and you educate a family.” ARZU believes in this statement, with education being a main priority.

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Afghan Women Hard at Work

Connie K. Duckworth / September 7th, 2010 / posted in afghan women, economic sustainability, social business enterprise, social programs, sustainable economic development / 1 comment

Yesterday was Labor Day – a time to celebrate and reflect upon the achievement of workers. It’s the perfect time to take stock in several micro-businesses that ARZU seeded earlier this summer. Each of these new enterprises shares the same overarching objective: to create sustainable jobs for rural Afghan women at fair wages through the sales of their products. That’s the ARZU STUDIO HOPE economic model for rugs in a nutshell, simply recast into new innovative applications.

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Frugal Thinking

Connie K. Duckworth / August 23rd, 2010 / posted in business social responsibility, economic sustainability, opportunity / 1 comment

I recently read an interesting report by Booz & Company called ” The Importance of Frugal Engineering.” It cites the development process of the Tata Nano car as a case study to illustrate the imperative of this approach in designing products for the developing world. To me, the idea of “frugal” can and should be extended to the larger platform of international development. This is the vision of sustainable community development that is very different from the standard approach taken today.

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Afghan Women’s Rights Are Non-negotiable. Full Stop.

Connie K. Duckworth / July 15th, 2010 / posted in afghan women, afghanistan women, economic sustainability, opportunity / no comments

Washington’s trial balloon of “reintegrating” the Taliban raises red flags for those of us working to help Afghan women keep their seat at the table in the “new Afghanistan.” We’re worried that women will get traded away when the final deal gets cut, and we know this would be a disastrous mistake.

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Now, back to Helmand Province…

Connie K. Duckworth / July 1st, 2010 / posted in afghan people, afghanistan women, economic sustainability, social programs, sustainability strategy / no comments

My first impression of this part of Afghanistan can be summed up in two words: heat and sand. June daytime highs are around 110 F, although the evenings cool off to a comfortable 90 F. The landscape is monochromatic beige, as far as the eye can see. The ground is beige, the mud household compounds we fly over in helicopters are beige, and when the sandstorms start to blow, even the air is beige.

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What Afghans Want

Connie K. Duckworth / June 28th, 2010 / posted in afghan people, economic sustainability, opportunity, social responsibility, sustainable community / 2 comments

This week, the press has been in full “scoop” mode. Since I am not a reporter, a talking head, a think tank expert, an academic, a government employee (whether military, political or civil), or even a “vampire squid,” (although I did spend 20 years at Goldman Sachs), I am certainly insufficiently credentialed to opine on the military or political strategy of how the U.S. and ISAF are prosecuting the war in Afghanistan.

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Operation Magic Carpet Ride

Connie K. Duckworth / June 21st, 2010 / posted in afghan people, afghan women, economic sustainability, opportunity, social programs, sustainable economic development / 3 comments

If my blog has been conspicuous by its absence for the last ten days, at least I have a good excuse. I’ve been in Afghanistan – at Camp Leatherneck, Northern Helmand Province to be precise – at the invitation of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Needless to say, it’s been a once in a lifetime experience.

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