Impact

“Pope Francis’ hope is to see the challenges of Laudato sì taken up in credible initiatives and actions. 
The Laudato sì CHALLENGE is one such bold response!”

—His Eminence Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson

Our Mission: Take up the challenges set forth in Laudato sì by answering the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth—through bold, coordinated and measurable impact.

The Laudato sì Challenge (LSC) is a new kind of enterprise. Our foundational stone, and our light of inspiration, is Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato si’: On Care for Our Common Home. This unifying and uplifting document serves as our roots and our wings.

A BETTER MODEL OF IMPACT

We are always striving to build a better model of impact through co-creation and collaboration between four sectors: public, private, faith and academic. Our thesis is that these sectors can, and must, come together to co-create sustainable and ethical solutions that address the grand challenges facing humanity. Each sector has unique skills, experience and resources and if we can align private sector business objectives with academic sector findings and faith and public sector impact outcomes, we can scale up against problems, which exist at scale.

Below are success stories that demonstrate the impact we are generating at The Laudato Si’ Challenge Foundation:

Success Story: Clean Water Project - Senegal

working with the senegalese ambassador to the Holy See to provide clean water to vulnerable populations in senegal

The Laudato sì Challenge foundation provided a $40,000 grant to Ambassador Martin Tine to support a clean water project in Senegal.

The Sahel region is home to some of the most resilient people in the world as their day-to-day lives are more tested by their environment than anything else. In Senegal, this hits close to the Catholic Church’s population at large, and in particular the Liebermann interregional major seminary which hosts 101 students from Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Guinee Conakry, Burkina Faso, and the Gambia. Ambassador Tine will use the $40,000 to work with dedicated partners to build a new clean water supply system focused on two objectives:

1. Providing a stable source of clean water for the student body and the staff as well as the two religious convents that are a part of this community

2. Providing a reliable source of water for this agricultural pastoral activities the community relies on and that is part of the training to be economically self-sufficient based on farming.

Success Story: Sri Lanka Ocean Strainer

TRAPPING harmful PLASTIC BEFORE IT ENTERS OUR OCEANS

The Laudato sì Challenge Foundation partnered with MAS Holdings, a Sri Lankan textiles company founded in 1987, to install proven ‘Ocean Strainer’ trash traps in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Laudato sì Challenge has provided the funding to build five Ocean Strainers. These Ocean Strainers are designed by MAS engineers, incorporating technical advice from the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) on customizing the design to suit local marine environment conditions. The trash trap acts as a floating barrier, trapping plastic waste before it can reach the ocean, the company said in a media statement.

Commenting on the company’s decision, Chief Executive Officer of MAS Kreeda and MAS Apparel Board Member, Sarinda Unamboowe stated, “We were really encouraged by the interest this pilot generated, and the impact that we created with just one ‘Ocean Strainer’ trash trap. In five months, we collected over 30,000 kg of waste just from the Dehiwala canal.

The installation of the first strainer went so well, that on January 25, 2022, The Laudato sì Challenge committed to funding four more ocean strainers, which we funded on June 1, 2022. To date, The Laudato sì Challenge Foundation has provided $30,000 to build a total of five ocean strainers in Sri Lanka: two in the Serpentine Canal, one in the Dematagoda Canal, one in the Kittampahuwa Canal and one in Manigamulla Road Canal—in all diverting an estimated 291,200 kilograms of waste from the ocean each year.

The Laudato sì Challenge will continue working with MAS Holdings, with the goal of raising USD$2M and placing Ocean Strainers on the 110 canals across Sri Lanka, which is estimated to stop 80% of all plastics from the entire country from entering our common oceans.

Success Story: Mandulis

creating and deploying new technologies and business models, to address the energy access "trilemma" by reconciling reliability, sustainability and affordability.

The Laudato sì Challenge Foundation provided $350,000 in seed capital to Mandulis Energy, which owns and operates renewable energy projects in Africa. Mandulis started in Uganda, where they pioneered private sector led deployment of on-grid and off-grid renewable energy infrastructure.

Mandulis delivers a triple top-line sustainable business that crystallizes the social, commercial and strategic value of the abundance of renewable energy resources across Sub-Saharan Africa, and leverages the commercial, policy and regulatory developments driving the transition to low carbon economies.

Success Story: BioUp

PROVIDING SCHOOLCHILDREN IN GHANA AND SENEGAL WITH SUFFICIENT NUTRITION TO SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

To “answer the cry of the poor,” The Laudato Si’ Challenge partnered with BioUp, to provide nourishment to schoolchildren in Ghana and Senegal. The Laudato Si’ Challenge provided a $50,000 grant to BioUp, which supply 50,000 servings, designated for sites in Ghana and one school in Dakar (at 5 & 4 serving/child/school/week, respectively) and will serve a total of 1,000 children for 12 weeks.

In the next phase, BioUp will deploy 90,000 servings, enough for roughly 1,400 students for three months.

The ultimate aim is to provide one million children across Africa with sufficient daily nutrition to fully support their brain development and education.

Success Story: The Cardinal’s Foundation for Distance Learning (CAFDIL)

providin equal educational opportunities with a focus on the marginalized and disadvantaged youth in rural and remote communities

The Laudato sì Challenge Foundation provided critical seed funding to The Cardinal’s Foundation for Distance Learning (CAFDIL), whose mandate is to realize the vision of Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson of providing equal educational opportunities, especially for the marginalized and disadvantaged youth, living in rural and remote communities.

Success Story: Ambassador Martin Tine and myagro

SENEGALESE AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE TO PARTNER WITH MYAGRO TO SPONSOR 20-30 FARMERS IN SENEGAL AND TO LAUNCH A DEMO FARM PROJECT WITH A DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

“On behalf of The Laudato sì Challenge Foundation, its fiduciary board and our community of leaders, it is our great honor and joy to recognize Ambassador Martin Tine with the 2023 Diplomatic Leadership Award, and to provide him with a USD$80,000 donation which will be used to launch the Laudato Si scholarship project which will support small local producers. specifically sponsoring 20 to 30 farmers who will be selected by you and by MyAgro  Additionally, we are happy to hear you will support a Laudato Si demo farm project with drip irrigation system. This award will help to equip a farm with a mini drill and an irrigation system.

Ambassador Tine, our world faces many challenges. We need more leaders like you. Leaders with the courage, conviction and compassion to see things through -- to answer the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth -- to move humanity forward! I am blessed to call you a friend for life and we are so grateful to you, Ambassador Tine, for everything you do and everything you are.”

—Eric Harr, CEO, Laudato sì Challenge Foundation

Success Story: Assisi Innovation Hub

providing THE SEED CAPITAL AND INITIAL RESOURCES TO LAUCH A NEW INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION HUB IN ASSISI, ITALY—INSPIRED BY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI—TO ADVANCE AND ACCELERATE INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE GRAND CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND POVERTY

The Laudato Si’ Challenge Foundation is providing an initial seed investment of $50,000 to design and deploy the first-ever innovation hub in Assisi, inspired by the works of St. Francis of Assisi and his “Canticle of Creation.” This new innovation hub will advance and accelerate some of the world’s most innovative solutions to the challenges of climate change and poverty.

The Assisi Innovation Hub will launch in 2024, the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s Canticle of Creation.

Success Story: Sara Hakimi

providing FUNDING SUPPORT TO A RECENT GRADUATE OF the School of Foreign Service—AS SHE SEEKS TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE WORLD. AS WE SEEK TO CHANGE THE WORLD, IT’S GOOD TO START WITH ONE PERSON.

Dear [Laudato Si’ Challenge],

Hope my email finds you in good health.

My name is Sara Hakimi. Although I do believe you know about me, allow me to introduce myself and give you some updates on my life.

I am a former Afghan diplomat who left Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, to attend a fellowship program at NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. I spent six months in Rome for the program and meanwhile applied to many universities to pursue my master’s degree. At that time, with your help, I was introduced to Father Philip.

After a couple of months, I was admitted to Georgetown University to study for my MA in Security Studies at the School of Foreign Service. While I was trying to gather some funds for the period of my studies in the United States, the Laudato sì Challenge (LSC) generous scholarship took that financial burden off my shoulders which I am really grateful for. I am excited to share that I recently graduated and am seeking job opportunities in the field of international security.

I am writing this letter after two and half years since I left my country. I feel proud of myself that even after many years of struggles and when I had frequent thoughts of giving up, I still stood strong and continued to take control of life into my hands with the support of great people like yourself. In the middle of frustrations and disappointments, the Laudato sì Challenge (LSC) became a ray of hope for me. I started to believe in myself again and continue fighting for not only myself but every girl who was trapped in Afghanistan with no right to study and work.

In the past few years, I learnt that even if life puts you in the worst conditions and you feel you cannot make it out of that misery, keep some hope in yourself. Having great people beside you who see potential in you and invest in your future plays a key role, and I was fortunate to have you as that person in that period of my life.

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering support and belief in my abilities. I look forward to one day meeting you and thank you for all your kindness and support in person. I am sharing with you a couple of my photos from our program's graduation reception. 

With sincere gratitude and warm regards,

Sara Hakimi

Success Story: Kijani Ajabu

providing sustainable fashion at a fair price, supporting female entrepreneurs and providing economic freedom for women and their families.

To “answer the cries of the earth and the poor”, the Laudato Si Challenge has provided seed funding to Kijani Ajabu, a sustainable fashion brand based in South Africa. The brand empowers women of color to achieve economic freedom. It addresses the climate crisis by creating clothing that is sustainable and long-lasting. The fast fashion industry often comes at a high cost to both people and the planet;  poor working conditions, low wages, waste, and high carbon-footprint transport.

Kijani Ajabu, led by Nyaniso Tutu-Burris, granddaughter of the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, is committed to providing sustainable fashion at a fair price, supporting female entrepreneurs and providing economic freedom for women and their families.

The seed funding will enable the brand to expand its reach and further develop its model with 100 women from two township-based NPOs. The NPOs train women in income-generating skills such as sewing, beading, and screen printing. The brand is committed to bringing back dignity to Africa by making an economic impact for women across the African diaspora.

Kijani Ajabu is clothing with a conscience: using fashion to change the world one thread at a time.

Success Story: Responding to the Cry of the Poor with The John Paul II Foundation for The Sahel

Supporting the foundation’s mission to “give testimony of the Pope’s closeness to the people living in the poorest areas of the planet, by promoting projects to fight desertification, in areas such as the environment, agricultural development, water pumping systems and renewable energy.

In response to an urgent and desperate situation across The Sahel, The Laudato sì Challenge Foundation made a rapid $100,000 grant to The John Paul II Foundation for The Sahel to “respond to the cry of the poor.” Specifically, the funds will cover the following

• A project to create an autonomous market garden borehole for the benefit of Saint Bellarmin College in Sapaga - Koupéla;

• A pig farming project (Grand Séminaire Saint Pierre Saint Paul de Kossoghin) in Ouagadougou;

• A project for the construction of a barn for the breeding of pigs in the Diocesan Center for couples- catechists of Bendoné in Doba; and,

• A hospital management project in Sarh.

“Hunger, thirst, suffering have no religion, no ethnicity, no culture or skin color. They simply have a human face and it is that of the woman, the child or the man. It was in this encounter with a face gnawed by suffering that Saint John Paul II had a providential initiative because of his great faith in God” —Fr. Prosper Kiema, Executive Director, John Paul II Foundation for The Sahel

Success Story: Humanity 2.0

supporting a global movement towards human flourishing

“The Laudato Si’ Challenge Foundation provided a generous sponsorship of the inaugural Human Flourishing Forum at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Nov 3-4, 2022 in Rome. The Forum consisted of a two day program involving leaders and luminaries from around the world exploring what constitutes and inhibits human flourishing. The Forum was hosted by Cardinal Peter Turkson and co-convened by the Humanity 2.0 Foundation and The Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University. The support of the Forum by The Laudato Si’ Challenge helped contribute to important outcomes that will significantly advance human flourishing scholarship and the burgeoning flourishing movement.”

—Mr. Matthew Sanders, CEO, Humanity 2.0

Success Story: Farm of Francesco

Growing a global network of demo farms committed to integral ecology and Laudato Si.

To “answer the cry of the Earth,” in December, 2021, The Laudato Si’ Challenge announced a partnership with The Farm of Francesco, a global network of demo farms committed to integral ecology and the Laudato Si principles. The Laudato Si’ Challenge Foundation is providing patient, mission-aligned capital — in the form of venture philanthropy — and ongoing mentorship to support these bold entrepreneurs as they seek to grow their solution globally.

Success Story: Aqus

a private sector-faith sector partnership to Deliver Clean Water Across Africa

The collaboration between Aqus and The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, that helped to stop the spread of cholera by providing clean water to people, in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, is a good example of our model in action. In addition to investing $100,000 into Aqus, The Laudato si’ Challenge has been working with the Aqus team for three years—to advance and accelerate their commitment to impact even more broadly.

On one side, a bold entrepreneur with an innovative solution; on the other, the Church with influence and distribution.

Success Story: Alfanar and Soufra

WORKING WITH ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT VENTURE PHILANTHROPY ORGANIZATIONS TO EMPOWER A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FOUNDED AND OPERATING IN A REFUGEE CAMP

The Laudato sì Challenge provided a $40,000 charitable contribution to Alfanar to invest in a social enterprise called Soufra, a women-run catering company turned food truck business founded by Miriam Shaar. Soufra operates in Burj El Barajneh, a Palestinian refugee camp located in the southern suburbs of Beirut outside of Beirut.

This is a good example of “venture philanthropy” at work—that is, supporting a bold, innovative social enterprise that empowers people to “change their orbit” (His Eminence Cardinal Turkson ) and be “the protagonist in their own solution” (His Holiness Pope Francis), in a specific, measurable and time-bound way

Success Story: Blue Like an Orange Sustainable Capital

Investing in Companies That Implement the Sustainable Development Goals

Bertrand Badré, former CFO of the World Bank, is now CEO of Blue Like an Orange Sustainable Capital. In the 2019 Laudato si’ Challenge summit in Rome, Mr. Badré committed to “actively seek out and support companies that provide economic opportunities to refugees and immigrants.” In March, 2020, with the support of The Laudato si’ Challenge, Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital took a big step towards fulfilling its Commitment to Impact by closing on its structured financing to MOVii—a Colombian company that provides access to financial services to the underbanked and unbanked population through the use of new technologies, offering a variety of products and services to individuals and to SMEs. Importantly, this includes refugees.

Success Story: Burpee Seeds and “Gardens of Hope”

PLANTING “GARDENS OF HOPE” TO EMPOWER 50,000 VULNERABLE AND DISPLACED FAMILIES TO BE THE PROTAGONIST IN THEIR OWN SOLUTION

“Mr. George Ball, Chairman of the W. Atlee Burpee Company, and the Roots of Hope initiative, is proud to make the following Commitment to Impact to The Laudato sì Challenge as we help put the principles of Laudato sì into action: The W. Atlee Burpee Company will provide seeds to 50,000 migrant and refugee families, by the end of 2020. These vegetable gardens will provide enough food for a family for an entire year.”

—Santiago Navarro-Monzo, friend and philanthropic advisor to George Ball, Chairman of the W. Atlee Burpee Company

The W. Atlee Burpee & Company was founded in 1876 by Washington Atlee Burpee in Philadelphia. Burpee Seed Company is one of the world’s largest suppliers of seeds. The Laudato si’ Challenge worked with the Burpee Seed Company, The International Catholic Migration Commission and Catholic Charities USA to provide 50,000 refugees with “Gardens of Hope,” providing those families for enough food for one year. With the success of this pilot, The Laudato si’ Challenge is now working with Burpee Seeds on a new, broader commitment to impact.

Success Story: Siglo

PROVIDING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS TO 7,000 UNDERSERVED people in mexico

In 2019, The Laudato sì Challenge provided $50,000 in venture philanthropy to Siglo, an enterprise that provides high-speed internet access to vulnerable and underserved people in Latin America.

Siglo has since installed fast wireless broadband in 1,200 homes in Nezahualcoyotl, a dense part of the underserved urban sprawl outside of Mexico City. Fast broadband at home used to be a luxury, but during COVID-19, it became essential for school and work. Over 7,000 vulnerable people now use the network every day.

We are proud of the Siglo team which hit all its marks during challenging times in Mexico and under the duress of COVID-19.

Success Story: The Great Green Wall

Building an 8000-kilometer Natural Wonder of the World Across Africa

The Great Green Wall is an African-led movement to grow an 8,000km natural wonder of the world across the width of Africa. Launched in 2007 by the African Union, this game-changing African-led initiative aims to restore Africa’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in one of the world’s poorest regions, the Sahel. Once complete, the Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet.

The Laudato si’ Challenge is facilitating key partnerships to drive funding and awareness for this urgent initiative. For example, in March, 2020, The Laudato sì Challenge secured funding from Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, who received an Executive Producership on the Great Green Wall documentary—and is now working to leverage the reach of Twitter to drive more funding and awareness behind this movement to unite Africa, sequester carbon and prevent forced migration.

For more Laudato sì Challenge Foundation case studies, kindly contact us.