2012 was a busy year for Imagination for People. During the year, new partnerships were created,platform development advanced quickly and new mandates were issued to us – but it looks like 2013 will be even more exciting. We can finally put the functionality that we've been working on for the last few months online. Among other things, a new tool that will let you make a call to the community for any of your needs, a funding tool is also being developed and your profile page will be improved. January and February will be particularly busy, so we invite you to keep abreast of the new launches through our Facebook and Twitter pages.
In the meantime, let’s review some of our best moments in 2012:
- Internal messaging: Since last February, you can directly contact I4P members using internal messaging. It’s a wonderful way to create new connections and form new partnerships.Improved project sheets (with more changes to come): We have made a number of changes to the projects sheets in 2012. The most recent was its redesign which we made to facilitate navigating with tabs. For now, two are accessible, but new tabs with new functions will be coming out in the next few months.
- Launch of international francophone groups on third places: Launched at the Autran 2012 meetings last January. The objective was to produce a definition of third places, a guide of the major steps to put in place a third place, a charter, and identify francophone coworking.
- The 4th InnovAfrica forum in Dakar: For the second time, Imagination for People organized the InnovAfrica forum in partnership with the Organisation mondiale de la francophonie. For one week, new uses for information technologies for social innovation in Africa were discussed. This year was particularly special since we launched the moniba, an innovative currency for training. Harvard Innovation Summit: Last September, Frank Escoubès, founder of Imagination for People, went to Harvard University within our partnership for “Igniting Social Innovation Summit”. IP tools and the platform were made available to participants in order to help social entrepreneurs develop their ideas, create synergies with the community and accomplish their missions.
- Launch of Montréal Creative: In our IP Cities program, we launched the first project with the City of Montreal. Using the Imagination for People platform, Montréal Créative looks to support social innovation projects at a local level.
- Invest for Change Partnership: The Invest for Change team joined the IP team to create an online space that gathers innovative projects and financial institutions/funding organizations. The pilot project should be launched in France in 2013.
- HEC Montreal Graduate Competition: Last fall we announced our partnership with HEC Montreal for their International Case Study Competition that took place during the winter semester.
- Launch of our Android app: Since last October, you can download our Android app that can be used to explore and discover new innovative projects among other things.
So we look forward to 2013 with anticipation and excitement. We are thrilled with the support that you have given us since our creation and will work to continue providing you with the tools to help you improve your local and international communities.
Happy New Year!
The I4P team
