United Nations Refugee Agency's Refugee-Led Innovation Fund Winner
Why We Do This
La nostra storia inizia con Malish James, un rifugiato sud-sudanese nel campo profughi di Bidibidi, in Uganda. Conoscendo le sfide locali con Malish e la sua comunità, abbiamo scoperto un problema:. le organizzazioni internazionali stanno tagliando le razioni di cibo. I rifugiati faticano quindi a permettersi altri beni essenziali come i vestiti per i figli, finendo spesso per vendere o scambiare i pochi aiuti alimentari che ricevono.
A livello globale, 1,4 miliardi di adulti non dispongono di servizi bancari, il che li esclude dai prestiti convenzionali. Quasi la metà di queste persone vive nell'Africa subsahariana, concentrata in aree rurali e colpite da conflitti, dove la povertà è la più difficile da sradicare.
Our journey
To address aspiring unbanked entrepreneurs, we introduced a groundbreaking new business model: the first-ever pay-it-forward community microloan, merging charity and microfinance. With Malish as our co-founder, we identified potential entrepreneurs, conducted a co-created pilot, and established our first community loan groups in Bidibidi. Since starting in 2022, we have developed our digital platform to secure donations from the Global North, which are then transformed into microloans in the Global South. As businesses thrive, loans are paid forward to new entrepreneurs in the same community, creating a sustainable ripple effect of new initiatives and independent local financial structures.
What sets us apart
Bridging Gaps riduce l'indebitamento dei beneficiari fornendo microprestiti senza interessi e consentendo la ripresa dell'attività in caso di crisi. Il nostro obiettivo di “spostare il potere” dà potere alle comunità, creando le loro strutture finanziarie e promuovendo l'autosufficienza attraverso il modello pay-it-forward.
Instauriamo relazioni strette con i beneficiari dei nostri prestiti attraverso la formazione all'imprenditorialità, l'incubazione di imprese, il coaching e la mentorship a lungo termine. Il forte sostegno delle organizzazioni partner locali aumenta ulteriormente il nostro tasso di successo grazie alle relazioni esistenti e alla fiducia nelle comunità locali.
Our Vision for
the Future
We want to see a world in which everyone has the means to create the life they dream of.
Beyond immediate economic benefits, our approach ensures long-term livelihoods. Each business, following our social business approach, contributes to the community's well-being. This way, we not only create new local financial structures but also empower the next generation of social entrepreneurs.
These are our
Core Values
Innovation
At Bridging Gaps, we take immense pride in our innovative and unique approach, cherishing it's adaptability that allows us the freedom for boundless creativity.
Trust
We promote trust through transparency towards all our partners and by maintaining personal relationships.
Optimism
As an entrepreneur from the world's poorest communities, optimism is vital. That’s why it's a key element at Bridging Gaps, where doing good is easy and fun.
Shifting the Power
Co-founded and co-led with the initial refugee community, Bridging Gaps prioritizes inclusive decision-making and community-led projects for empowering and sustaining supported communities.
Connection
We build connections between the Global North and the Global South, striving to nurture enduring relationships for everyone involved.
Compassion
In our diverse team, we prioritize care and compassion for each other, our partners, and microloan recipients, fostering an inclusive and respectful environment.
Our Volunteer Team
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Aida Letaru
Facilitator
🇺🇬 Uganda
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Ambassadors
Open Positions
Legal Operations
Volunteer position (unpaid)
🇩🇪 Germany
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You have a background in law, administration or a related field? We are looking for someone to navigate us through the German legal jungle, support our ongoing processes, annual administrative and legal requirements, support internal processes like contracts with partners or volunteers, support design and structure of other legal documents, an HR handbook, donation receipts, and other processes as needed.
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Opportunity to grow into the role of COO based on successful completion of the first assignment.
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Ideally you will bring some experience within the German non-profit sector.
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Volunteer 5-10 hours per week
Finance Manager
Volunteer position (unpaid)
🌍 Global
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We are looking for someone to join us as a Financial Manager, plan and carry out our annual budget, manage our team of fundraisers and partnerships managers, and support in the creation of budgets for grants and funders.
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Opportunity to grow into the role of CFO based on successful completion of the first assignment.
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Volunteer 10-15 hours per week