Programs and Events 2009
Events 2009
France Celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week
State Department Special Representative to Muslim Communities, Farah Pandith, discovered a unique space devoted to social entrepreneurship when she visited La Ruche in Paris on November 9th. La Ruche is a non-profit organization that serves as a space for social entrepreneurs to exchange best practices and ideas. It also provides working space on both a temporary and permanent basis. Social entrepreneurship is using entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to bring about social change.
Since its opening in May 2008, the U.S. Embassy has developed a relationship with La Ruche and the social entrepreneurs based there. The Embassy has provided a grant to La Ruche, and invited Said Hammouche, the founder of Mozaik RH, a company that specializes in job placement of workers from diverse backgrounds, to participate in the State Department International Visitor Leadership Program. Hammouche spent three weeks in the U.S. to learn about social entrepreneurship in the United States. On November 9th, he spoke to Ms. Pandith about why he started his company and the benefits of a space such as La Ruche.
Special Representative Pandith left La Ruche full of ideas for future cooperation. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed her commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and great ideas such as La Ruche.