mit annual conference 2009 presentation
DESCRIPTION
Microwork for the World's PoorTRANSCRIPT
MIT Legatum Center 2009 Annual ConferenceLeila Chirayath Janah
Founder and CEO, Samasource
The NeedPaul Parach, 24Dadaab, KenyaRefugee Work Program
Born in South Sudan
Orphaned at 9, walked to Kakuma camp
Denied formal employment
Speaks English
Learned to use a computer 2 months ago
samasourcegive workTM
samasourcegive workTM
1.2 billion youth in the worldat least 200M in Africa (World Bank)
+
50% unemploymentup to 70% in some regions (World Bank)
+
Rising education levels and literacyLiteracy now at 84% globally, up from 76% last decade (UNESCO)
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samasourcegive workTM
“I joined the militia because I thought I could get paid after the war. I knew I was risking my life but I had no other choice. My mother was finding it hard to feed us. I
joined to have a job.” - Sylvestre, 18, Congo-Brazzaville.
samasourcegive workTM
Microwork (or, The World Really is Flat)
samasource
Mako
Abdiyo
Hassan
Marian
web services
virtual assistance
data entry
image moderation
trainingquality assurance
contractingbilling and invoicing
samasourcegive workTM
Our secret sauce: transparency
Worker bio, earnings
Partner story
Connection tools:$$, work, or social
mediaEarnings to date: $335Projects to date: 12
Client testimonials:
Working with Tashina has been a pleasure -- she manages my calendaring and travel booking with ease.
See more >>
samasourcegive workTM
Subscriptions
App Test - Painless Application Testing
SimpleAutomated Transparent
samasourcegive workTM
Major Wins
Rockefeller FoundationTempleton FoundationBusiness in Development NetworkStanford Social Enterprise ChallengeRainer Arnhold Fellowship
Premal Shah, President, KivaBill Trenchard, former CEO, LiveOpsDr. Paul Milgrom, Stanford UniversityTim Ferriss, Four-Hour WorkweekMohamoud Jibrell, CTO, Ford Foundation
Partnerships & Support
Grants & Funding Donors & Advisors
Growth
6 Countries
18 Service Partners
517 workers
$220Kin sales
Since September 2008:
samasourcegive workTM
Future Directions
More PartnersMore Work
Virtual Goods
Imagine a virtual fair trade handbag or UNICEF card
Virtual goods = $2.5B market, 0 (or very low) marginal cost to produce
What we could offer: Customized songs, poems, sayings, images, e-cards
Capture the 15% margin on socially labeled goods
Great existing relationship with largest distribution channel in the world
Domestic expansion pilot in E. Palo Alto
Growing our hubs in South Asia, E. Africa
samasourcegive workTM
Our Impact
Paul is no longer a “lost
boy”
samasourcegive workTM
Thank you.
Where to find us:
samasource.org
@samasource [email protected]
/samasource