Past Projects

Bangladesh

1997-2003

Impact First starts a women’s rights, micro-enterprise and community health project in Bangladesh with local partner Nari Uddug Kendra (NUK). The project provides microcredits and training to 7,500 women on business skills, leadership, decision making and planning within the household. In addition, 6,000 men receive training about gender issues, women's rights, and domestic abuse.

Bolivia

1996-2003

Impact First implements a micro-enterprise and community health project with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Pro Mujer in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Impact First provides business, health and leadership training to over 12,000 women accessing micro-loans.

2000-2004

Impact First and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) initiate "Credit and Civil Society Strengthening in Rural Bolivia" with local partners ANED (Acción Nacional Ecuménica de Desarrollo), CIPCA (Centro de Investigación y Promoción del Campesinado) and FONCRESOL. The project targets 3 regions of existing Yanapanaku Village Banking program and focuses on training female entrepreneurs to identify community needs and propose solutions that combine community responsibility and government assistance.

2004-2007

Impact First continues to work with partner Pro Mujer Bolivia, enhancing its institutional capacity and ability to provide quality financial and non-financial services to women in Potosi and Tarija.

Brazil

1990-1991

Impact First works with local partner IPREDE to provide child nutrition and health education workshops, along with medical services in Fortaleza, Brazil.

1992

"Street Children of Fortaleza" project in Brazil focusing on education and self-esteem building.

1992-1995

Impact First initiates work in the land occupation community of Pici, Fortaleza, Brazil. Focus is on setting up community health and skills training initiatives. Impact First provides its first micro-credits, creating a small revolving loan fund for individual lending.

Impact First initiates the Novas Vidas community development project in Brazil. The project focuses on agricultural sustainability, irrigation and water resources. Also community health is addressed through the construction of a clinic and provision of health education.

1995

Planalto do Pici microenterprise fund, a one year micro-enterprise pilot is initiated in Pici, Brazil.

1996-2005

Impact First begins a new micro-enterprise and community health project in Pici, Brazil, with partner Cearah Periferia. Following the successes and lessons learned of the earlier pilot project, health, business training and group microcredits are provided to women.

Haiti

1987-1989

Haiti - Potable Water & Irrigation project in Carrefour, Riviere Froide with local partner Little Sisters of St. Theresa. Project provides access to clean water for orphanages.

1989-1992

Leogane Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Haiti - Agricultural improvement and animal husbandry project provides skills training and improved infrastructure for local farmers.

1996-1999

Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Impact First partners with Save the Children to provide health education in areas such as hygiene and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. In addition the project provides skills training to women, and sets up various Boys and Girls Clubs.

Honduras

2004-2007

Impact First and the Swedish Cooperative Centre work with the Alianza Hondurena de Cooperativas de Mujers (ALHCOMUJER) in Honduras. The project provides credit and training to over 500 women. Focus is also placed on strengthening ALHCOMUJER’s capacity to provide services to its member organizations and credit unions.

India

1996-2003

Impact First along with the Toronto Calcutta Association (TCA), the Society for Community Development (SCD), and the Matthew 25 Society, begins a community health and micro-enterprise project for sex workers in the red light district of Kolkata, India. More than one thousand sex workers receive micro-loans and training in sexual and reproductive health, family planning, business development, leadership and women's rights.

Jamaica

1988–1993

Impact First works in Kingston, Jamaica with local partner Seivwright Gardens and Craft Coop. Provides education programs targeting basic education for children as well as skills training and agricultural instruction for 16,000 unemployed youth.

1989-1993

Impact First and partner Bennetland Community Development Council work together in Kingston, Jamaica on "Operation S.M.A.S.H." (Social Mobilization and Self Help). Operation S.M.A.S.H. focuses on education in areas such as health and nutrition, literacy, drug and alcohol abuse, and skills training. Sanitation is also addressed through building toilets. Project assists 15,000 people, mostly women and youth.

1989-1995

Jamaica - Impact First helps to found S-Corner Clinic and Community Development Organization. S-Corner is a successful and sustainable Community Based Organization serving local health and development needs to this day.

Liberia

1986-1989

Impact First works in Liberia opening the West Point Well Baby Clinic. Focus is on treatment and prevention with funding from CIDA, UNICEF and the Government of Liberia. Pipeline is also built through the community during construction of the clinic to improve local sanitation. Materials are provided to single mothers to help them expand their businesses.

Nicarargua

2004-2007

Impact First partners with Pro Mujer in Nicaragua, providing access to basic healthcare, training on nutrition, family planning, sexual and reproductive health and domestic violence prevention to 6,500 women. Impact First also provides institutional capacity building and support to strengthen Pro Mujer Nicaragua’s networks and partnerships with local healthcare providers.

Peru

2001-2004

"Post Credit Training and Capacity Building" in Puno, Peru. Impact First partners with Pro Mujer to provide post-credit training to over 9,000 female entrepreneurs on health and business development.

Philippines

2001-2002

Impact First partners with the Philippines Development Assistance Program – Canada, to promote sustainable enterprises in 10 farming communities near Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon, Philippines.

Uganda

1991-1998

Uganda - together with Banamwandu Tumaliridde Caring Group (BTCG), health, education and skills training project through music and dramatic performances. Project places strong emphasis on HIV/AIDS education and awareness and preventative health measures amongst youth.

Vietnam

1999-2004

Impact First partners with the University of Toronto’s Waste-Econ Program to establish an integrated micro-enterprise program for waste-pickers in Hai Phong, Vietnam. In addition to a revolving loan fund, the project provides health education with a specific emphasis on minimizing occupational health hazards.