How to set up thriving community-owned and women-led projects internationally For this Episode, you should bring your pen and notebook, especially if you are working at a non-profit, planning to start your own social impact project, or looking to transition from the corporate world into the impact world. 📝 I speak with Shilpa Alva, founder and executive director of Surge for Water, about the long journey from early childhood impressions of injustice to building a global organisation focused on community-owned and women-led WASH solutions. Shilpa shares learnings and insights into how personal experiences informed her leadership path, why the most important work begins with listening, and how co-creation with local partners shapes every project. 👂🏻💞 We look at the tensions, responsibilities, and cultural nuances that come with international impact work. We speak about the realities of running a lean organisation, partnering with local teams in Uganda, Haiti, and Indonesia, and finding ways to honour cultural context while staying committed to the mission. ⛵️ We explore how funding models evolved from small community support to grants and corporate partnerships. We also discuss how to stay true to core principles while navigating donor expectations and organisational growth. Shilpa shares openly about the physical and mental implications of building an international for 6 years on weekends and night shifts only, taking the leap from corporate to impact work, and why she now plans in line with a different fiscal rhythm that allows more rest and clarity for the entire team. We end with her hopes for the coming year and the importance of creating more space for thoughtful decisions. 🪷 💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode ✨ Securing Funding through networks, events, and grants ✨ Navigating cultural nuance and organisational growth ✨ Building community-owned and women-led WASH solutions ✨ Core to international projects: Listening before Acting! ✨ A successful approach to Co-creation with local partners 👋 ABOUT Shilpa Alva (she/her) Shilpa Alva is the Founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, a global nonprofit addressing the water and sanitation crisis through community-owned and women-led solutions. Since founding Surge in 2008, she has helped deliver safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health solutions to hundreds of thousands of people across 12 countries—by partnering directly with local organizations to ensure long-term sustainability. With a background in chemical engineering, global supply chain, business operations, and international development, Shilpa brings both technical expertise and strategic vision to the global WASH sector. Her work has been featured on platforms including TEDx, and she speaks regularly at international forums, sharing insights from her work across East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. 🔗 CONNECT & follow Shilpa Alva's work 👉 Website 👉 Surge for Water on LinkedIn 👉 Surge for Water on Instagram 👉 Surge for Water on YouTube **** You want to work in the Social Impact Field, as well? Not sure if you have the right skills or lacking the network? 🔔 Join the Sustainability Career Compass 🧭 In this programme, I show you how you can create your own pathway towards work with impact that is aligned with your values and higher purpose ✨ It is a 6-step journey covering all the essential elements that Marina also intuitively followed. 👉 You can sign up directly via this link. - Join the community of change agents! 💞 If you have questions about the programme, feel free to connect with me via email: [email protected] 🫶 💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗 If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓⚖ For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓 Take care of yourself and others! Pia 🤍 P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂 #impact #socialimpact #womenleaders #wash #sustainability #communityled #nonprofit #regeneration #wateraccess #globalhealth #fundraising #leadership #purpose #femalehealth

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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