Through 6 weeks of online forums and a 6-day offline conference, PIM’s 6th annual Model Foundation successfully concluded last week. With advancing progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a basis, the program not only aims at generating lasting momentum in the philanthropy ecosystem but to also nurture highly-effective change-makers across the social impact sector.
With the goal of encouraging social innovation and social entrepreneurship, PIM presented the 2019’s Challenge Topic: How might we transform China’s food system to be more sustainable — environmentally responsible, economically efficient, socially inclusive — by 2030?
This year, our 24 participants hailing from 6 different countries investigated a complex challenge that is close to our hearts – Sustainable Food System in China to advance UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Through learning Systems Thinking and applying it to the challenge, the participants visualized gaps and identified solutions. Through due diligence, the participants performed site visits to identify high-potential social ventures before collectively deciding how best to invest a fund of 20,000 USD in a bid to maximize impact.
Let’s take a look at moments of their journey!……
Bonding over a bowl of fresh-out-of-the-farm veggies!
Consolidating our learning……
Forget your typical presentations……
Judges from various sectors of the food systems industry come to listen to our solutions……
Ms. Gao Ying from Ellen MacArthur Foundation;
Dr. Dong Le from UN Food and Agriculture Organization;
Dr. Shi Yan from Shared Harvest and URGENCI;
Dr. Zhao Jun from Fairtrade Asia Pacific and the World Bank.
Not only did they evaluate the performance of our solutions, they also shared their valuable industry perspective with us.
Time flies when we’re having fun – it’s already our final day together……
China CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Network – 5,000 USD
Words from our participants
It was a comprehensive program from start till finish that I could not have asked for more. Through understanding the challenges and trying to synthesize what I learned, I was able to broaden and strengthen my skills in listening, negotiating, thinking systematically, leading, and teamworking – all which I feel are invaluable. Once again, thank you. I hope you continue to organize such things to nurture more future changemakers.
– Alison Wong, Hong Kong
I want to spread ideas of social innovation to more youths around me and connect changemakers across borders (e.g. China & Japan)!
– Shan Wang, Waseda University
在PIM主办的Model Foundation 2019上认识了、走访了很多做NGO的人，学到很多相关知识，对中国的食品系统也有了一定了解。在几天熬夜奋战后我们的systems map得到了评委们的认可真的好激动，真的感觉自己还要更加努力提高自己才行！最后感谢PIM to make this incredible program happen！
– Dwight Wang, Beijing Foreign Studies University
Special Shout-out to…
Ms. Ni Yunlan | Academy for Systems Changefor being our all-knowing Systems Mapping coach!
As well as:
Ms. Amy Shi | Fonterra
Ms. Isabel Nepstad | Solidaridad Network
for their thoughtful sharing as industry-insiders!And also…We would also like to express our deepest appreciation for the following organizations for your enormous support to make this Model Foundation a success. Without you, Model Foundation would not be where it is today
Partner Organizations
That’s all for Model Foundation 2019 folks!
