We are extremely excited to have emerged as a winner in the ZeroDX Award in the Category of “ZeroDX Incorporated” in Qingdao China. The inaugural “Zero Distance Excellence Award” celebrates and amplifies zero distance to customers and the recognition of similar self-organized models to the “RenDanHaYi” model of Haier, who many call the next evolution of management, where there is no distance to customers, no boundaries to innovation but enabled and self-organized teams who brought Haier to 80,000 employees in self-organized 4.000 microenterprises (a quick overview here.)
SINA Founder Etienne Salborn, accompanied by Henry Othieno of Tusafishe, proudly received the award. This recognition is a testament to SINA’s dedication to enabling disadvantaged youth and refugees across Africa to become the change they wish to see and social entrepreneurs. Our unique model, combining self-organization and “freesponsibility”, is instrumental in creating regenerative communities where individuals are drivers of their own futures.
Haier’s “RenDanHeYi” model, which has been lauded as the next evolution in management, resonates deeply with SINA’s vision of a freesponsible world. This philosophy is about eliminating barriers between the organization and its customers, fostering innovation through autonomous teams, and encouraging employees to take full ownership of their roles. The “Zero Distance Excellence Award” acknowledges the exceptional efforts of organizations around the world that have redefined how they interact with their stakeholders and operate internally. By adopting radical management innovations, the winning organizations have shown that being closer to the customer is a transformative force, driving both resilience and growth in uncertain times. From the Dutch healthcare provider Buurtzorg to America’s largest tomato processor Morning Star, the awards celebrate diverse approaches to progressive management.
At SINA, this manifests in our commitment to empower every individual to unlock their fullest potential, regardless of their background, and to create impactful social enterprises that address community challenges head-on. As we continue to replicate and expand our framework across and beyond Africa, we aim to replicate almost exponentially from currently 18 to close to 1,000 SINA communities by 2034. Our vision is to transform more lives by enabling youth to create their own social enterprises, reversing their role from passive aid recipients to active problem-solvers in their communities.
Congratulations to all our partners, supporters, and especially the scholars who are the real heroes of this journey. Together, we are creating a world that works for everyone—one community at a time.
Henry Othieno from the social enterprise founded at SINA “Tusafishe”, Chairman of Haier Ruimin Zhang and Etienne Salborn