Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan is a human rights and development organization.

Sudan, Africa

London, Ontario, Canada | casscanada.net | cass.can@sympatico.ca

Revenue Canada charitable registration BN: 86394 8212 RR0001

Smart Aid

Social entrepreneurship: Investment in south Sudan

What is Smart Aid?

Smart Aid is a program to help establish micro-enterprises in south Sudan. It encourages investors to visit the region and collaborate on initiatives that will benefit the local economy.

All profits go to fund CASS programs in local communities. This permits investors to receive a charitable donation receipt, while giving communities the resources they need to rebuild after a brutal civil war.

Why Sudan?

During Africa's longest civil war, the people of south Sudan endured untold hardship — slavery, almost no economic opportunity, massive forced relocation. In 20 years of war, the south lost two million lives and saw five million people displaced from their homes. Foreign aid was necessary just for mere survival.

In January of 2005 a comprehensive peace accord was signed, ending the conflict. A new infrastructure needs to be built, and the Sudanese are looking for enterprise that will reduce their dependency on foreign aid. In a land with abundant natural resources and an industrious people, there's great opportunity to make a difference.

How Does It Work?

In January 2005, CASS met with community leaders to discuss working together on economic development through our Smart Aid program.

Smart Aid has a group of investors working closely with CASS to fund and oversee projects. There are regular trips to south Sudan to monitor developments. As a project becomes successful, its profits are reinvested to improve local communities.

South Sudan offers an unprecedented opportunity for social entrepreneurship and charitable investment.

The second step . . .

CASS is working to establish two important components of life in south Sudan:

The first involves developing educational institutions, women's empowerment programs and other activities to develop social life. While preparing the area for development, this provides neither jobs nor a productive economy.
The second is a partnership with business people who want to become social entrepreneurs. Smart Aid allows them to apply their business skills and resources to redevelop local economies in south Sudan.

To find out more, contact CASS.

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