SOLID Project, Belgium

Solid is a non-profit organisation that joins forces with socially responsible companies and non-profit organisations. Empowering underprivileged people to step out of poverty and creating honest jobs or market opportunities to boost their economic situation is their mission. Solid focuses on three of the poorest regions of Peru, India and Kenya. With fair handicraft workshops valorizing traditional techniques, they try to fight poverty on a long-term basis. A decent income means a better life.

For more info, check their website: https://solidinternational.be/

COVID-19: The implementation phase is still uncertain, but we are working hard on alternatives to provide the students with an incredible AFD-experience.

project details

What: Designing an extraordinary pop-up event from A to Z (including market research and setting up a financial plan) and researching B2C opportunities

When:
PREPARATION PHASE: FEBRUARY – JUNE
IMPLEMENTATION PHASE: 6-8 WEEKS IN JULY AND AUGUST

Where: BELGIUM

Applications Deadline: 17th of February

How to apply: Send your CV and a motivation letter to gent@afdimpact.org

About the project

If you empower women, you empower a whole community

The artisan sector is the second largest employer in the developing world, after agriculture. Hundreds of thousands of people across the globe, particularly women, participate in the artisan sector. Artisan activity creates jobs, increases local incomes, and preserves many ancient cultural traditions that in many places are at risk of being lost. This is especially important in developing countries where 65% of artisan activity takes place. Solid Crafts is working in a fair way with local artisans in Peru, India and Kenia to preserve traditions and improve livelihoods of poor but skilled and powerful women.

PARTNER SOLID:

Solid Crafts believes that fashion can be a force for good — supporting women’s rights and gender equality, the rights and livelihoods of children globally, improving the situations for some of the poorest members of our global community and preserving our planet for generations to come. That’s why Solid Crafts establishes sustainable handicraft workplaces where disadvantaged people can be employed in an honest and fair way. Solid Crafts strives to economically empower formerly marginalised women through qualitative, elevated, sustainable, dignified and exemplary handicraft workshops; to tell the story of their courage and skill from these triumphant women who are artisanal experts. Solid Crafts focuses on highly qualitative materials and authentic handicrafts.

The profit generated by Solid Crafts is invested back into the community through social projects like assisting teenage mothers, supporting refugees and sheltering and nurturing abused children.

100 % HANDMADE WITH LOVE

What do the students have to develop?

The project students will elaborate an extraordinary pop-up event (from A to Z), where products made by the artisans are sold to the public. A financial plan should be developed and market research should be done. The market research should be focused on two things. Firstly, defining which consumers Solid Crafts wants and can attract to the pop-up. Secondly, which products on top of the existing products would catch on.

All profits go back to the workshop, so the better it is, the more social impact! Solid’s main focus is B2B. This will be a B2C event, a new strategy for Solid to sell handmade products made by their artisans.

Goal

The goal is to organise an extraordinary pop-up event, where products made by the artisans are sold to the public.

Timeline

Deadline applications project coach: 30th of January 2021

Deadline applications project students: 17th of February 2021

Introduction and first meeting: 20th of February 2021

Preparation phase: February 2021 – June 2021
Implementation phase: July 2021- August 2021

If you apply for this project and get accepted for the team, the following would be, amongst others, your challenges and goals:

– Complete communication plan, financial forecast, operational plan, PR plan, …

– Present findings

– Elaborating the communication and marketing

– Practical organisation of the event

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a highly motivated student with a good knowledge of the English language. Students of all academic backgrounds are allowed to apply. However, for this project we are especially looking for students with backgrounds or special interest in:

Economics with interest in sustainability

Organising events

Craftsmanship

If this sounds like the challenge you need in your life, not only to make the world just a little better but also to gain an incredible amount of experience in the process, do not hesitate to apply.

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN.

DEADLINE: 17th of February 2021

HOW TO APPLY: Send your CV and a motivation letter to gent@afdimpact.org.

If you have any questions feel free to send us an email at gent@afdimpact.org.