Friends of UTokyo is proud to share the news that Geeta Mehta is on the list of Forbes’ 2024 “50 Over 50”, an annual list of women accomplishing groundbreaking and innovative work in their 50’s and beyond. Dr. Mehta is featured in the “Impact” category for her work as founder of Asia Initiatives.
Dr. Mehta is an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. She graduated from the University of Tokyo with a B.S. in Urban Engineering (Ph.D. 1998) and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of UTokyo.
The following is from Forbes profiling Geeta’s work:
In 2000, architect and urban planner Geeta Mehta founded Asia Initiatives and put a groundbreaking idea into action. Inspired by carbon credits and airline loyalty points, Mehta and her organization pioneered social capital credits (SoCCs) to help people lift themselves out of poverty. In action, SoCCs are earned when individuals give back to their community by doing things like planting trees or repairing roads. Those credits, in turn, can be redeemed for digital or financial skills training, health care services or low-interest loans. This new kind of currency is being used in India, Ghana, Kenya, Taiwan and the U.S.
For Geeta’s work at Asia Initiatives, please visit https://www.asiainitiatives.org
