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HOW YOU CAN HELP
Artistri Sud is committed to ensuring raised funds are used effectively to pursue its mission. Donations are used directly by the organization on training programs in developing countries. As the organization is almost fully volunteer-based, the majority of donations go directly to implementing programs for what we believe is the key to fighting poverty and building better lives; empowering women.
Artistri Sud Measures Impact on Women’s Lives
40% of married women that contributed less than half of household income now bring in an equal amount or more
Graduates’ incomes increased by an average of 67% within one year.
92% of women in the program reported an increase in their overall household income after completing the program
The women in the program also create new jobs in their community, with an average of 2.3 jobs created post program
Women double their involvement in their community within one year of completing the program.
100% of women reported feeling more confident, included and successful after having completed the program
Jordana Armstrong leads the social enterprise program for the intellectual property management team at Innovate Calgary, providing strategic direction for university-based projects that aim to move beyond research to create direct impact in the community. She co-developed the RBC Social Enterprise Accelerator program at Innovate Calgary – a program that accelerates the growth of high potential social enterprises in Calgary – and plays an on-going role developing curriculum related to creating sustainable impact. She enjoys facilitation, and teaches workshops on social entrepreneurship in the community, including at the Calgary Public Library. Jordana has experience working and living in Montreal, New York, Italy, Hong Kong and her hometown of Edmonton, and aims to keep the number of new countries visited on par with her age. She is passionate about sustainability and social inclusion, reflected in her extensive work with social enterprise. She holds a BA (joint honours) from McGill University.
Susan Maruya is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has experience working for a large international firm and is currently a principal leading the Assurance Standards Group at one of the top ten medium sized firms in Montreal. She has over twenty five years’ experience in accounting and auditing and founded the first Women’s Discussion Group on Accounting and Assurance, which brings together women from numerous leading accounting firms to share their knowledge and experience. Through her travels, particularly her trip to Nepal a couple of years ago, she was struck by the lack of resources and support for women in third world countries. She saw how hard the Nepalese women had to work day after day with no real relief or change in sight. This experience inspired her to join an organization like Artistri Sud. She felt she could make a difference for these women through her contribution in the role of Chair of the Finance and Accounting Committee of the Board. With the hope of empowering women in developing countries her wish is that their world becomes a much better place.
Miki Kanungo is a business improvement consultant specializing in process improvement, optimization of organizations as well as learning and development. Having experience in a variety of large multinational companies as well as his own business endeavors he is passionate about sharing his time and energy and is excited to help Artistri Sud in strengthening its impact on various individuals and countries. Acting as Ambassador and consultant on a variety of projects and organizations, he feels he can make a difference for women in developing countries through his contribution in the role of Director of Strategy and Planning. Miki has his executive MBA, he is certified Green Belt in Lean Methodology and holds the certified Human resources designation.
Arda Minassian is a tax lawyer specialized in global mobility services helping her clients with tax matters related to their mobile employees. Upon hearing about Artistri Sud’s mission, her desire to be involved grew. She finds volunteering with Artistri Sud to be highly rewarding, given her deep-rooted belief in supporting women’s empowerment in underdeveloped countries by giving them tools for greater financial autonomy and independence. Arda believes this type of mobilization helps lead women and their families to have a better life.
AMBASSADORS
Artistri Sud Ambassadors are engaged individuals committed to making meaningful change in the world. They support Artistri Sud in our efforts to empower women artisans and entrepreneurs around the world to create sustainable livelihoods and transform their lives and those of their families and communities. Interested in becoming an Artistri Sud Ambassador? Send a short expression of interest and your CV to info@artistrisud.org
The world can be a better place. Empowered women will make it happen.
Norma is now capable of helping her single mom pay the rent.
Artistri Sud is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 in Montreal, by Dr. Jennifer Lonergan, to support women’s empowerment around the world.
By developing their capacity, we help women create sustainable livelihoods for themselves. Greater financial autonomy and the ability to generate their own income empowers them to exert a positive influence on their families and their communities.
In partnership with local women, we evaluate their existing businesses (usually small cooperatives) and look for ways to help them generate increased revenues and improve their standard of living. Then we design and implement training programs to develop the skills they need to achieve sales and growth goals on a sustainable basis.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
AWE is honoured to benefit from the wisdom, expertise and experience of the following advisors.
Artistri Sud benefits from the expertise and commitment of over a dozen experienced professionals who provide strategic advice and contribute actively to committee work, awareness-raising and fundraising objectives.
Véronique Geoffrion: Certified Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant and founder of Bottom-Line manners. She works with companies, charities and individuals giving seminars on important aspects to succeed in the business world and international arena, like how to Out-Class the Competition or how to Dine Like a Diplomat.
Clare Hallward: One of the founders of Project Chance, a program and an apartment building for single mothers committed to completing their education and their children. She was Vice President of the Lindbergh Foundation in the States and Chair of their Grant Selection Committee. In Montreal, she has been Chair of the Board of Directors of the Thomas More Institute and got her own degree there in her sixties.
Anita Nowak, PhD: Empathy expert and Academic Associate at McGill University, where Anita is responsible for the Integrated Management Fellows Program, which combines faculty-led projects and experiential learning about the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the form of Impact Initiatives.
Lucille Panet-Raymond: Has spent 40 years in the non-profit world. She worked at the Montreal Women’s Y for ten years, 5 of which were as Assistant Executive Director where she was involved also in capital campaigns and special events. She also spent another 25 years at Panet-Raymond et Associés, consulting with over 20 clients. Her volunteer board experience includes La Fédération des femmes du Québec, the National YWCA of Canada, Auberge Transition, la Fondation Solstice, la Fondation Léa Roback and the IRB (Institutional Review Board) , Faculty of Medicine at McGill University.
Fred Schick: MA. Trilingual international development professional with over 10 years of practical field and office experience in the non-profit sector. As an Ecological Economist, he is specialized in training in small business development, environmental education, and food security. He has trained over 500 adults in microenterprise development in Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia the Caribbean and USA, and has also coordinated over 100 volunteers specialized in agro-ecology and rural development in Ecuador.
Paul Simard: Director, Community and Impact Partnerships at UNHCR. Paul believes in the power of partnerships, of collaboration and of innovative and intentional partnerships. In helping to create the foundation for those opportunities to exist, he works to connect people with people, programs or projects that can create positive and meaningful outcomes that will advance innovation and entrepreneurship.