LEADING INNOVATION THROUGH SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ARZU STUDIO HOPE is a pioneering model of global social entrepreneurship, using revenue-generating business practices to drive transformational social change. Success is measured in terms of positive impact on society with profits benefitting Afghan women, their families and communities, instead of traditional shareholders.

In 2008, ARZU’s Founder and CEO Connie K. Duckworth received the prestigious Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, which recognizes the most innovative and sustainable approaches to resolving the world’s most pressing problems.

By identifying the people and programs bringing about positive global change, the Skoll Foundation empowers them to extend their reach, deepen their impact and fundamentally improve society.

These three-year Skoll Awards support the continuation, replication or extension of successful programs addressing a broad array of critical social issues: tolerance and human rights, health, environmental sustainability, institutional responsibility, peace and security, and economic and social equity.  Within these areas, the Foundation is particularly interested in innovators working on climate change, water scarcity, pandemics, nuclear proliferation and Middle East.