A life changing trip to India
The Road to Parity is a small UK-based charitable organisation seeking to make the world a fairer place by helping the poor in developing countries set up tiny businesses. The organisation was founded in November 2018 by Briton, Jonathan Hill, who was inspired to act as a result of his master's research into base of the pyramid (BoP) communities in rural India.
Although Jonathan had seen poverty all over the world, including on a previous trip to India, this was different. With the help of a Marathi interpreter, he conducted ethnographic research at close quarters with rural, Indian families. He heard and saw first hand the difference it could make to a family if they were just able to start a simple, tiny business.
The major hurdle to micro-enterprises in poor communities is start up money. Keep in mind that 10% of the world's population - or 736 million people - live on less than US$1.90 a day, according to The World Bank. However, this is only part of the story. Nearly half of the world's inhabitants struggle every day to meet basic needs.
Jonathan decided he could no longer sit back and enjoy the benefits of a developed world upbringing and The Road to Parity was born.
His research into life at the base of the wealth pyramid was later expanded into the academic book, "Marketing in the Dark" - royalties from which help fund the non-profit initiative.
While the research which led to the organisation being established was conducted in India, The Road to Parity is open to helping people in all developing countries.
Although Jonathan had seen poverty all over the world, including on a previous trip to India, this was different. With the help of a Marathi interpreter, he conducted ethnographic research at close quarters with rural, Indian families. He heard and saw first hand the difference it could make to a family if they were just able to start a simple, tiny business.
The major hurdle to micro-enterprises in poor communities is start up money. Keep in mind that 10% of the world's population - or 736 million people - live on less than US$1.90 a day, according to The World Bank. However, this is only part of the story. Nearly half of the world's inhabitants struggle every day to meet basic needs.
Jonathan decided he could no longer sit back and enjoy the benefits of a developed world upbringing and The Road to Parity was born.
His research into life at the base of the wealth pyramid was later expanded into the academic book, "Marketing in the Dark" - royalties from which help fund the non-profit initiative.
While the research which led to the organisation being established was conducted in India, The Road to Parity is open to helping people in all developing countries.
