“Everybody knows the proverb about how it’s better to teach a man to fish than just to give him a fish, but there’s a step beyond that: it’s better that a man’s neighbor is the one teaching him to fish, his peer.  If some expert swoops in from afar you miss half the value of the interaction because of the inequality in that relationship. But if it’s his peer teaching him? Then the man is much more likely to offer something in return.  You are much more likely to create a real sustainable relationship rather than just a new dependency.” – Theresa Williamson, Founder, Catalytic Communities

Can individuals change the world? It’s all a matter of leverage…

At BRINQ we’ve been exploring the creation of peer networks for local innovators in the Base of the Pyramid, particularly for innovation in toys and all things play! And although we’ve already written a number of recent articles about them, we thought it was a good moment to again bring up our friends in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who exemplify the power of peer networks. Those friends of course are the folks at Catalytic Communities (CatComm) , who we recently entered into a partnership with to help fundraise and expand their local world-changing network globally.

Why our intense interest in Catalytic Communities? Raw admiration for their work aside, we’re just heeding the advice of Njeri Muhia, an economics professor at Egerton University in Njoro, Kenya who mentored us on participatory methods for development. Njeri told us, "Instead of trying to build entirely new infrastructure in poor communities, first try doing something new with existing capacity and groups." In Brazil, Catalytic Communities has already built a powerful peer network of community leaders and innovators drawn from amongst Rio de Janeiro’s 750 squatter communities (favelas) and such a resource provides huge opportunities to new ventures like ours. In fact, through Patrick’s involvement with the Base of the Pyramid Protocol, we found that networks like CatComm’s are invaluable in seeking out new opportunities for business and development.

Then there’s PledgeBank, a UK based organization launched earlier this year that also leverages the power of peer networks. Pledges made at PledgeBank.com can be anything from fundraising for your favorite cause, volunteering at a local charity, to finally kicking that nasty nicotine habit. The key is that PledgeBank pledges go into effect only after you recruit enough of your peers to make the same promise: "I will do this if 1000 other people pledge to do so too!" PledgeBank therefore harnesses and encourages the power of individuals to become groups, and it doesn’t even need to be people who know one another, just ones that share a common cause.

Both organizations enable individuals to band together to create new movements, to allow the local to join with the global, and in doing so change the world. Given that similarity,it’s only natural that Catalytic Communities would decide to use PledgeBank for its 2005 fundraising drive.

"I will set up a $10 monthly donation to CatComm (or $120 annually) but only if 399 other people will too, and only if one philanthropist will match our joint donations dollar for dollar." — Patrick Donohue Deadline to sign up by: 31st December 2005 Join us in empowering a global network of community solutions! JOIN THIS PLEDGE at http://www.PledgeBank.com/catcomm/

It turns out that it’s not the big foundations but the individuals like you and I who are the most powerful philanthropic force around. Lynne Twist, author of the book The Soul of Money and award winning fundraiser (she’s raised some $200+ million for non-profits, all from individuals) gave us this statistic when we met her last week: of the $250 billion donated in the United States last year, the vast majority was donated by individuals, close to %80. And most of those individuals are in the $150k a year and under group, not just the Bill Gates of the world.

What does this all mean for business? Well, we believe that the organizations which learn to create peer effects - those that catalyze an explosion of grassroots innovation and growth - are the ones that will lead the future in the Base of the Pyramid. A successful model will not be one that just "scales", but instead one that embraces replication and adaptation. The former is about mammoth organizations whereas the latter is all about networks of individuals.

And if you don’t have that network yourself, find a way to become a peer of one that does. All you need is a little leverage…

"All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual." - Albert Einstein

Additional Resources:

• Catalytic Communities - also available in Portuguese and Spanish
• PledgeBank - and CatComm’s Pledge Challenge
• Base of the Pyramid Protocol - BoP Protocol resources at BRINQ.com
• Side Effects - A Day in the Community - BRINQ article about CatComm
• Learning to Swim - Back in Brazil - BRINQ article about CatComm

To the casual observer, it may seem like we haven’t doing much with toys lately here at BRINQ! However, though we HAVE been pretty busy, we’ve had our eyes at everywhere for new toys and innovations at all things play. Everywhere being Brazil, Kenya, the U.S., and of course the Internet.

Here are a few of the toys we’ve come across in the Base of the Pyramid.

	Toys Cars Kids love cars, and they love to play with model cars the world over. Most of the cars we saw were made with scavenged metal wire for the frame, rubber bands for the joints, and cut up sandals for the wheels. A long metal rod with a steering wheel on the end (attached to an axel on the front wheels) allows kids to race their cars around the streets, including lots of popular makes and models: Corvettes, Land Rovers, Jeep, VW Bugs and more. See also the Gallery at Stome.net, Jungle Photos, StreetPlay.com for more.
	Animated wireframe figures We came across wireframe push toys on our first trip out to the Rift Valley in Kenya, then later encountered them throughout Kibera and the other slums of Nairobi. Similar to the wireframe care except with moving parts, rotating wheels on the bottom cause the figure on top to move, a bird to flap its wings, and man to ride its horse. Often the wire would be wrapped in bright thread to give the figure a costume. Check out a number of these toys at ToyResearch on Blogspot.
	BottleCap Toys We ecountered lots of bottlecaps during our time in Kenya, especially the days we spent sorting trash with the Kibera Youth Self Help Group. We also came across a few bottlecap toys, some fishing line or wire and you can make snakes, action figures, and more. Check out FolkArtPlus and WorldPlay.org for more examples.
	Soccer/Football Soccer is one of the most loved sports in the Base of the Pyramid. Every kid dreams of being the next Pele or David Beckham, drafted to play for their favorite English Premier League team like Manchester United or Arsenal. Soccer balls are expensive though, so most kids have come up with an ingenious solution using a commonly donated item… condoms! Wrap a blown up condom in a plastic bag and lots of string, and you’re on your way to the Premiere league! Check out the film “The Ball” at DayZero.co.za
	Anything with a wheel An old bicycle inner tube, a barrel wheel, or even a wheel off a car… if it’s round and rollable kids will play with it! Often we’d see kids in Kenya running behind a rolling tire, pushing it along with a tap of a stick while being chased by other kids. An easy to make toy and mobile too.

We love a good idea when we see it, especially when it’s just like one of our own! Check out World Play, a non-profit founded to share the diversity of toys and play among communities throughout the world. Sound familiar?

See more at www.WorldPlay.org

WorldPlay is a nonprofit corporation supported by a coalition of organizations whose main goal is to celebrate the creativity of children through the toys they invent. It is our aim to promote a better understanding among children of the diverse cultures throughout the world, using creativity and play. WorldPlay presents an outstanding collection of toys created and designed by children throughout the world. Through various media, a book, a video, a newsletter, traveling exhibits, and through this site, we wish to expose others to the creativity of children around the globe through their hand made toys. By spreading the knowledge of these various toys, our goal is to promote an understanding of different cultures from around the world through the toys that children make and play. No matter the economic status, education, or physical abilities, a child’s creativity is universal. We fervently hope that through play, children will gain respect for each other.

Don’t forget to check out World Play’s library of toy designs, complete with directions on how you can make them yourselves!

Another story about one of the BoP Protocol Pilot’s most important partners: Carolina for Kibera (CFK) last week was honored as one of Time Magazine’s “Heroes of Global Health” and Acting President Kim Chapman was featured at the Global Health Conference in New York. CFK is an incredible community-based organization in Kibera: one of the world’s largest slums on the outskirts of Nairobi Kenya. The organization’s programs target issues of ethnic violence, health care, safe spaces for girls, and environmental sanitation and income generation. All their work follows a common theme of participatory development and the organization’s operations in Kenya are run by Kiberans. CFK and its staff were critical to the Base of the Pyramid Protocol Pilot in Kenya and the resulting pilot venture between SC Johnson and the local community groups continues to be advised by CFK staff. Congratulations to everyone at CFK and keep up the great work! Carolina for Kibera Resources:

• Carolina for Kibera - web site at the University of North Carolina
• Interview with Kim Chapman - the News & Observer
• Heroes of the 2005 Global Health Summit - including Kim Chapman and Carolina for Kibera
• BRINQ Photos from Kenya & Kibera - including many photos of Carolina for Kibera staff, activities, and partners
• Base of the Samosa - an article on BRINQ.com and the World Resources NextBillion.net about the BoP and CFK