As Impact Investment Exchange celebrates its 10th-year anniversary, it promotes female empowerment through art with its inaugural youth art competition and exhibition
Tatler Asia
Above A happy beneficiary of one of IIX's impact enterprises, Green Enterprise, an Indonesia-based producer of organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil made from sustainably sourced coconuts from local small-scale farms. Through this, Green Enterprise ensures the local communities have a sustainable livelihood. It also actively promotes environmental and wildlife protection in the areas it works in

The Cause

More effort to narrow the gender gap can help to grow Singapore's gross domestic product by about US$20b—5 per cent of its total—by year 2025, according to a 2018 report from McKinsey Global Institute. Globally, there continues to be a US$320b global credit gap that restricts small female business owners from accessing financial services to start and expand their businesses, founded the World Bank. 

(Related: 10 Women Who Are Shaping Singapore)

In response to these challenges, global organisation Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) has taken matters into its hands. A pioneer in impact investing with a focus on recognising female leadership in the workplace, IIX aims to help build a more inclusive world for sustainable peace by growing global awareness of the value of women and empowering the underserved as part of the solution of the future.

Tatler Asia
Above A beneficiary of one of IIX's impact enterprises, ATEC Biodigesters, which provides access to clean energy such that those it supports can breathe cleaner air and spend less time on subsistence activities such as collecting firewood to burn for cooking

The Impact

This year, under its sister entity, the IIX Foundation, the organisation ventures down a new path in its fight for gender equality. It harnesses the power of art to give the voiceless a voice and launches the inaugural She Is More Youth Art Competition, of which Singapore Tatler is exclusive luxury media partner. The competition is open to visual and performance art submissions from young talents around the world, and runs from February 28 to April 9. It culminates in a ticketed opening night and exhibition on May 9 at the Sundaram Tagore Gallery in Singapore, with the winning art piece going on display for the public at the art gallery from May 10 to 11. 

(Related: Learn How To Live Sustainably At The Conscious Festival)

On the significance of the initiative, Durreen Shahnaz, founder and CEO of IIX says, "The She Is More event provides an opportunity to everyone—from those from underserved communities living in the back streets of a city, to others working in the Wall Streets of the world—to play a role in building a more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable world." The event aligns with her vision for IIX which she started 10 years ago, which is to provide "a chance for us to change the narrative of women as victims, to recognise them as solution-builders; to drive women’s empowerment by building opportunities for everyone to value and give voice to women." 

A silent and live auction will take place during the opening night, with all funds raised going towards pushing forward IIX's work in empowering women around the world.

For more information about the She Is More initiative and event, email sheismore@iixglobal.com. 

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