Hasina Kharbhih, an Ashoka Fellow and Aspen ILI Fellow, is the Founder and MD of Impulse Social Enterprises. She is also the Founder, former Team Leader and presently Chair of Board of Impulse NGO Network, a social organization working on the issue of human trafficking for the last 21 years in North East India.

A force to reckon with in the socio-economic development sector, Hasina has been working in the social sector for over 20 years. She has dedicated her life to create innovative solutions to provide sustainable livelihood to the North East communities in India, with a particular focus to address the problems associated with human trafficking. Hasina was granted Ashoka Fellowship in 2006 for conceiving the Meghalaya Model presently known as Impulse Model. The Impulse Model comprising of 6 Ps and 6 Rs provide a structural and a holistic approach to combat human trafficking by facilitating convergence of resources from different stakeholders. Successful pilot testing has led to its wider adoption in eight north eastern states of India and it is being reviewed for national replication. The model was selected as the 2nd Most Innovative Development Model in the world by Global Development Network under the Japanese Most Innovative Development Project, which opened the door for wider regional replication of the Model in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal. As a direct impact of this model, thousands of children and women have been given their lives back and because of the Prevention initiatives, the likelihood of people having to face the ramifications of human trafficking has been immensely reduced.

Over the several years, she has gained a multi-sector expertise, including leadership and institutional management, livelihood and rural development, anti-human trafficking, migration, gender based violence, child rights, HIV/AIDS education and intervention, substance abuse and adolescent health. As a social entrepreneur with a management background, she and the Impulse team have implemented numerous beneficial initiatives under the Impulse Model, researches and trainings in the North East India creating large scale social change. These programs have won support from various national and international bodies such as the Indian Government, the World Bank, United Nations (UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNODC, UNDP) USAID, and AUSAID.

In the years 2002 and 2003, Hasina was invited to participate in ‘Women in Management’, a two-part training programme in Sweden at Centek Lulea University and the Philippines through a scholarship from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. This programme focused on strengthening leadership skills and creating a network with other women leaders in management.

In 2002 again, she was invited to participate in the International Visitors Program on NGO Management, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

In 2004-2006, she represented India as a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for Positive Living.

Similarly, in 2006, she travelled to the USA and Thailand and attended “Changing Faces Women’s Leadership Program” through a scholarship from the East-West Center Grantees under Fulbright Scholarship from India (Hawaii University).

In 2010, she received Aspen ILI Fellowship which is primarily awarded to help foster the next generation of value based leaders in India between 30-45 years.

She has received numerous recognitions including

• Asia Award for Excellence in Youth Work from the Commonwealth Youth Programme of the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat, 2000
• Woman of Substance Award from the Ryan Foundation in India
• The Rising Talent award from the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society France ,2007
• North East Excellence Award in the Achievers category from Indian Chambers of Commerce,2011-2012
• FICCI YFLO Raga Young Women Achievers Awards for Social Entrepreneurship from Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, 2012
• Asian Activist-a Award from Human Right Now Japan, 2012
• CNN-IBN India Positive Award ,2012
• Gold Star IVLP Award International Visitor Leadership Programme from US State Department in 2013 for her impactful contribution towards institutional building based on her learning on NGO Management. She was asked to revisit the US to share her story.

In 2013, Hasina competed in zonal, semi-final and final rounds of the first season of CNBC SONA Group Awaaz Masterpreneur Reality Show in Kolkata and was declared the winner of the show! Masterpreneur is an Indian Reality Show that gives a platform for emerging entrepreneurs to showcase their journey to a jury of experts and millions of viewers.

By and large, Hasina is also a trainer and researcher on human rights, management, leadership, HIV/AIDS, Life Skills for Adolescent Health issues and has trained numerous groups at different level such as law enforcement, uniform personnel, NGO, government official, international agency, youths, children etc.

She lives in Shillong, Meghalaya, in the Northeast of India. She has worked as a freelance journalist and has authored and co-authored many books with works appearing in publications ranging from local to international. She has published several poetry collections and enjoys cooking in her off time.

For further information on Ms. Kharbhih please visit her personal website at www.hasinakharbhih.com and the Impulse NGO Network website at www.impulseasia.org.