Rural Electrification Renewal Energy (REwiRE) Wins Impact Investing Challenge

May 16, 2012 by Robin Eschler

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The winning Stanford team of the International Impact Investing Challenge shares their Rural Electrification with Renewable Energy (REwiRE) project for a remote island in Indonesia where only 5% of the population has electricity. Worldwide, 1.3 billion people do not have access to electricity, 84% of whom live in rural areas. Using micro hydro electric power, they intend to extend the power grid to the island of Sumba, one of 18000 islands in Indonesia.

These social entrepreneurs will be providing a sustainable business model to extend power to these remote areas in partnership with IBEKA, an organization that has already established numerous micro hydro facilities as village cooperatives. REwiRE will be a holding company that develops funding for the expansion of the electrical grid, first in Indonesia and ultimately in other countries. With the help of impact and institutional investors, REwiRE will provide electricity for light, refrigerators, computers, cell phones and the overall building of better education, health, economy and life style.

For more detail, including bios and a Power Point presentation for prospective investors, click here to visit our Socially Conscious blog.

Filed Under: World Tagged With: electric power generation, Himani Phadke, hydo electric, hydo power, hydoelectric, hydro electric power, hydropower, impact investing, Impact Investing Challenge, Indonesia, Jonathan Strahl, Kelcie Abraham, Maria Riaz, power grid, renewable energy, rural electrification, social entrepreneurs, social impact, socially conscious investing

About Robin Eschler

Robin L. Eschler, the founder of Social Impact Marketing, started her career in developing foundational marketing strategies for companies of all sizes, from Fortune 500 to individual entrepreneurs and local businesses. She has developed and implemented international campaigns to launch high tech products and services and guided new business owners to successfully navigate the difficulties of growing a business.

Her life-long passion for helping others led her into nonprofit work for over a decade. Early on, she recognized the need for nonprofits to adapt to a rapidly changing world in which technology dominates and for-profit business practices are central to success. Her determination to help social causes in a sustainable way led to her creation of the Women's Radio show Socially Conscious Investing.

Impact investing in for-profits with a mission of social change such as the fight against extreme poverty is a blossoming business sector around the world. With the economic decline, it's clear that Wall Street requires change. Social impact investing addresses that need in a way that provides financial and social ROI.

As the Host of Socially Conscious Investing on WomensRadio, Robin's goal is to educate people about the growth of social impact investing and social venture. Interviews are conducted with socially conscious business experts including foundations and nonprofits, social venture investment firms, micro-loan organizations, investors, educators, authors and social entrepreneurs.

This show's mission is to help change the world through sustainable business practices that contribute to the economy, combat poverty, end hunger and provide better lives to all.

Twice, Robin has been recognized and received the highest honorary award that Rotary International gives, the Paul Harris Award, for service above self. Her community work has included developing local programs for disadvantaged populations such as foster children, troubled teens, and people with disabilities.

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