B1G1

A few years ago, I met two of the most inspiring people I know. Paul Dunn and Masami Sato are the Founders of an incredible organisation called B1G1.

B1G1 is a social enterprise and non-profit organization with a mission to create a world full of giving. Unlike conventional giving models, B1G1 helps small- and medium-sized businesses achieve more social impact by embedding giving activities into everyday business operations and creating unique giving stories. Every business transaction (and as a result, the business’ day-to-day activity) can impact lives for as little as just one cent.

The work that B1G1 does is incredible and over the past 10 years, they have created over 120 million giving impacts through more than 2,100 businesses from around the world — each making significant impacts every day. Together they support over 500 carefully vetted projects globally.

Having grown up in Zimbabwe and spent much of the past 15 years in Asia where small contributions can make a massive impact, the work B1G1 does resonates hugely with me.

I am delighted that through an introduction from Masami and Paul at the inaugural B1G1 conference in Bali last year, I was introduced to Nicky Mih, the Founder of Free to Shine which does incredible work to reduce the trafficking of young Cambodian girls for the sex trade. I am honoured to have been invited to serve on the Advisory Board and I also mentor Nicky.

Whenever I speak, I select a B1G1 partner to make a contribution to. The process is incredibly simple and the selection of projects allows me to support not only Free to Shine but also the likes of the education of children in Zimbabwe and the provision of water to families in Ethiopia. My rationale in the case of Zimbabwe is obviously to give something back to my country of birth.

In the case of water in Ethiopia, the recognition that no mass participation event would be possible without water for the participants, combined with the fact that some of the best distance runners in the world come from Ethiopia. I was incredibly fortunate to meet the legendary Haile Gebresalasie, probably one of the greatest distance runners ever, when we invited him to the Singapore Marathon a few years ago.

To find out more about the amazing B1G1 organisation and sign up as a member please click here.