Comments on: Today’s Question by Anna

By: Savita Vega

Savita Vega — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:44:53 +0000

One of my greatest heroes - even before he won the Nobel Peace Prize - has long been Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and author of "Banker to the Poor," an autobiographical account of his endeavors to find a different approach to lending. I was first introduced to his book and to his work by professor and Liberation Philosopher under whom I was studying Liberation Theology at the time.

When I was first introduced to this notion of doing business, it seemed a totally revolutionary idea. Now, however, I encounter ever more and more projects and start-up businesses designed around the concept of making money, reaping a profit, but helping others better their living conditions in the process.

I tend to remain a bit skeptical when I see big businesses jumping on the bandwagon and claiming that they are helping others climb the ladder to financial self-sufficiency. For example, I just saw an add a few days ago in British Airway's on-board magazine, explaining how CocaCola is helping individuals in Africa by offering them the opportunity to distribute their products in out of the way places, not previously part of their market area. Of course, CocaCola stands to gain from this, as there is no investment required on their part and they are opening up markets in areas they could never reach before due to inaccessibility. How much they are in fact helping those individuals who are assisting them in this process yet remains to be seen.

There are a couple of projects/businesses that I do think are quite exemplary, however, and something that some of you might want to keep in mind this Christmas as you are buying gifts for all those loved-ones on your list. Check these out:

TOMS Shoes:
http://www.tomsshoes.com/
TOMS shoe drop video on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ8c5QWsCRQ

Heiffer International:
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.183217/

Go ahead, be a real Santa Claus this year!

Love,
Savita

P.S.
I wish I knew more about these things. I know so very little about finance and business. And I just wanted to say, Paulo, that what you wrote in your post, the way you described what it means to be a social entrepreneur, is at once so simple and yet so beautiful. "Certain things when shared are not divided but multiplied." Children should be taught this in school - along with how to add, subtract, multiply and divide - because it is such a fundamental rule of human existence and yet one which is so often overlooked. Thank you!

By: Tania

Tania — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:43:16 +0000

We all as a whole should get more involved in our community and social areas to help the well being of those around us ,offer support and ideas ,and help if needed for our community that we live in ..Glad u are involved in social responsibility and that u care about all of these things so much ..You get actively involved in all areas .You raise awareness ,hope and respect of our brother and sisters .. God bless ..xx Tania

By: Marie-Christine

Marie-Christine — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:20:21 +0000

I don’t know much about the WEF,except that they meet each year in Davos (in January or February).
For me, a social entrepreneur is someone who has done their sums (additions and substractions), has learned to take the blows, still keep going for an “encore”, because they know deep down through their research that what they are doing will benefit the community at large.They are people who are prepared to put their neck-out, who through their experiences and the experiences of others are able to compare,do not believe anything until it makes sense to them.They check and re-check and when they are satisfied ,go for it.
In that sense, without any doubt the World Economic Forum is for you and me, for you and us, for you and them.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:01:07 +0000

Your answer makes so much sense. But I know many people are at different stages of this social entrepreneurship. As an individual or as a company. Your description of a social entrepreneur is a great start to get people aware of what they should be concern about. You should spread the word.

By: Savita Vega

Savita Vega — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:43:19 +0000

One of my greatest heroes - even before he won the Nobel Peace Prize - has long been Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and author of “Banker to the Poor,” an autobiographical account of his endeavors to find a different approach to lending. I was first introduced to his book and to his work by professor and Liberation Philosopher under whom I was studying Liberation Theology at the time.

When I was first introduced to this notion of doing business, it seemed a totally revolutionary idea. Now, however, I encounter ever more and more projects and start-up businesses designed around the concept of making money, reaping a profit, but helping others better their living conditions in the process.

I tend to remain a bit skeptical when I see big businesses jumping on the bandwagon and claiming that they are helping others climb the ladder to financial self-sufficiency. For example, I just saw an add a few days ago in British Airway’s on-board magazine, explaining how CocaCola is helping individuals in Africa by offering them the opportunity to distribute their products in out of the way places, not previously part of their market area. Of course, CocaCola stands to gain from this, as there is no investment required on their part and they are opening up markets in areas they could never reach before due to inaccessibility. How much they are in fact helping those individuals who are assisting them in this process yet remains to be seen.

There are a couple of projects/businesses that I do think are quite exemplary, however, and something that some of you might want to keep in mind this Christmas as you are buying gifts for all those loved-ones on your list. Check these out:

TOMS Shoes:
http://www.tomsshoes.com/
TOMS shoe drop video on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ8c5QWsCRQ

Heiffer International:
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.183217/

Go ahead, be a real Santa Claus this year!

Love,
Savita

P.S.
I wish I knew more about these things. I know so very little about finance and business. And I just wanted to say, Paulo, that what you wrote in your post, the way you described what it means to be a social entrepreneur, is at once so simple and yet so beautiful. “Certain things when shared are not divided but multiplied.” Children should be taught this in school - along with how to add, subtract, multiply and divide - because it is such a fundamental rule of human existence and yet one which is so often overlooked. Thank you!