6.1

Principles

Contrary to charity, where money is given away to promote a good cause, socially responsible investing is a combination of commercial business investments, seeking a satisfactory rate of return with a substantial “social” component, whereby ideally:

• Large-scale employment is created.

• Rural economic development is promoted: the poor rural community is improved and quality of life is vastly improved by the creation of new companies and new jobs — a general increase in economic activity.

• Increased incomes alleviate the community from poverty.

• Local communities are empowered.

• Education of the farmers, wives, and children plays a central role.

• Women will able to earn their own income and get access to education.

• Local communities keep their land and investors are not engaged in “land grabbing.”

By investing directly in a community development an investor is able to create a greater social impact: money invested in a community institution is put to work directly. For example, money invested in a community development may be used to alleviate poverty or inequality, spread access to capital to underserved communities, support economic development or green business, and create access to education.

6.2