HELLO!
Few days back i was thinking to myself whether is there any kind of social enterprise challenge which is held in other countries since in Singapore we have competition like YMCA Social enterprise challenge etc. Such events i feel is able to spread more awareness among the youths to let us understand how a social enterprise works and what is required since it is very much hands-on during the period for implementation, so i decided to do some research on it and happen to read about this organization known as JA-YE Europe.
JA-YE Europe is Europe's largest provider of entrepreneurship education programmes which has benefited up to 3.1 million students in 36 countries in 2011. Under one of their initiatives, "JA-YE Social enterprise programme" aims to increase the pool of potential social entrepreneurs by providing access to education in social enterprise to young people age 15-18 across Europe. Amazing isn't it? Specially on the topic of SOCIAL ENTERPRISE! (:
In addition, a FERD award would be given to young entrepreneurs who have achieved positive social impact through their activity, showing commitment to making positive social development in the society.
Just earlier on this year in June, a winning enterprise, Nomeno ("No means no") from Norway emerged among 100 other social enterprises and i really find their idea very innovative. Not only that, it is also a cause which i feel attached to. They developed a product called Safe and Sound, a bracelet where there is a built-in warning whistle which helps to summon help in an emergency when faced with rape or any form of violence. Upon innovation, they sold a total of 100 bracelets and donated their earnings to the Norwegian National Association for Victims of violence.
It's a pity that i wasn't able to find their presentation video, i really want to view it and to also share it with all of you! *sigh*
Nonethless, my purpose of writing this post is to convey the message that more and more things are done to create the awareness of social enterprise (JA-YE is one good example which reaches out to Europe which consist of very large population) and with the increasingly growth of importance in SE, i believe that more and more entrepreneurs will consider taking up the route of being a social entrepreneur to make a difference in this society.
References
JA-YE Europe (2012) About the award.
Retrieved December 3, 2012, from http://www.ja-ye.org/pls/apex31mb/f?p=17000:1002:4393498672868768:::1002:P1002_HID_ID,P1016_HID_INSTITUTION_ID:9887,1
JA-YE Europe (2012) Young social entrepreneurs make everyday life safer for women.
Retrieved December 3, 2012, from http://www.ja-ye.eu/pls/apex31mb/f?p=17000:1003:3461235631548416::::P1003_HID_ID:11396
Hi Kiahgek,
ReplyDeleteAt my point of view, I think that the competitions not only can increase awareness towards the SE, it can also bring in more different ideas and let students or even adults of different thinking to share their ideas.
i believe with better idea, SEs would be able to help more people.
Hi Kiahgek,
ReplyDeleteI feel you. Haha I believed that all of us really gain a lot of experiences in taking part in the competition (YMCA Social Enterprise Challenge) and it is definitely beneficial to us as it teaches us things outside of the classroom. Actually, there is quite a bit of such competition in Singapore. Countries in Asia, US, UK and some parts of Europe are quite ‘hip’ about social enterprises and its developments. So there are many of such competitions and all.
What I am more concern about is the sustainability of their social cause, many of the social enterprise claims that they have help hundreds and thousands of people. The issue is that how do they come up with such numbers? Is it by the number of people that they have provided help or what? Is it sustainable? Does the social enterprise teach them how to fish or provide them with fishes?
Many claims that they have bring about positive impacts creating awareness and all. But what it really matter is real help the social enterprise can provide. Although in the eyes of the public, numbers matter but as a real social entrepreneur numbers don’t matters. As long as you know that what you are doing is right, it is perfectly fine even if you help just a handful of people. That is what it matters, not how you look like in the eyes of the public but what you do is what that matters.
Cheers,
Jia Ning