Jeroo Billimoria
Jeroo Billimoria is the founder of Aflatoun[1], formerly known as Child Saving International, and Childline India Foundation.
Early life
Jeroo Billimoria was born July 20, 1965, in Bombay (Mumbai), India, to a family of professionals, Billimoria credits her strong social beliefs from her mother, which was instilled on Billimoria from an early age. When Billimoria was 17 years, her father died. In the days following his death, people in the local community formed long queues to pay their last respects to a man who had been a “quiet philantrophist,” so quiet that Billimoria had never realized that he had reached out to so many people. This realization led her to join the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, rather than following the profession of her father as a chartered accountant.
Education
Billimoria holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Bombay University and a Master of Arts degree in Social Work from the University Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India, where she was awarded best student. She has also received a Master of Science degree in Non-Profit Management from the New School for Social Research University in New York.
Entrepreneurial Activities
Billimoria began work with street children living on the streets of India, many of whom had run away from home, by creating Childline India Foundation, a 24-hour emergency telephone service for children in India. After answering phone calls from these street children through Childline India helplines, Billimoria noticed that children had many characteristics of entrepreneurs: they were brave, smart, innovative and creative. However, many of these children reverted to a life of crime, drugs or prostitution. To help children break free from this cycle of poverty and crime, Billimoria created Aflatoun, a non-profit organization focusing on the Social and Financial Education of children.
Aflatoun (Child Savings International)
Aflatoun is a non-profit organization that operates internationally to provide children aged 6-14 years old with social and financial education. Aflatoun reaches over 500,000 children.[2]
Recognition
Testimonials
Media Coverage
Public Speeches and Appearances
Publications
Awards
In 2004, Billimoria became the Executive Director of Child helpline international. She has been named an Fellow by Ashoka: Innovators for the Public[3] and by Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship[4]. She has also been awarded the Skoll Foundation For Social Entrepreneurship Award.
Notes
External Links
- Podcast Interview with Jeroo Billimoria Social Innovation Conversations, December 21, 2007