International Conference on Socio-Economic Inclusion and Empowerment of Disadvantaged Groups

Greetings!

We are very pleased to inform you that the International Conference on Socio-Economic Inclusion and Empowerment of Disadvantaged Groups through Asset Building Strategies is being organized by Sunshine Foundation on August 21st-22nd, 2008, at the International Conference Room of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.

Whether it is in developed or developing regions, there are people who are disadvantaged because of their limited ability for social and economic participation. The issue has now become how to empower these people. Since many forms of social exclusion have their roots in economic inequalities, strategies based on economic empowerment have proved to be an interesting approach.

This conference aims to examine how strategies to build assets – tangible like money and property, or intangible like education and social capital – can lead to greater socio-economic inclusion and empowerment.

The international conference will cover the following topics:
1. Creating opportunities and incentives to save - Individual/Family Development Accounts
2. Creating employment opportunities - Social enterprises and community business initiatives
3. Creating access to financial services - Microfinance and specialized financial services
4. Building knowledge and skills - the importance of social capital

International speakers and resource persons include:
‧ Dr. LEE Seong-Gyu, President, Seoul Welfare Foundation / Korea
‧ Dr. Tanatat Puttasuwan, Board of Trustee and Advisor to the Chairman, People and
　 Community Development Association / Thailand
‧ Ms. Jayshree Vyas, Managing Director, SEWA Bank / India
‧ Ms. Tanny Marks, Manager, ABLED Program, Vancity Credit Union / Canada
‧ Dr. Li-Chia Yiu, President and Founder, Centre for Socio-Economic Development / Switzerland

Details about the conference and registration are available at
http://www.sunshine.org.tw/socio-economic/
For more information, please contact Ms. Marie-Claude Pelchat at marie@sunshine.org.tw

We look forward to your support and participation.

Yours sincerely,
Marie-Claude Pelchat / International Affairs Specialist
Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation
3F, 91, Nanking East Rd., Section 3 Taipei 104, Taiwan
Tel.: (886-2) 2507-8006 #611　　 Fax: (886-2) 2505-3339
Email: marie@sunshine.org.tw　　Website: www.sunshine.org.tw