Poverty and Social Enterprise

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Poverty has plagued the Philippines for far too long.  Government has only nipped the bud. Development agencies has yet to see effective programs that can totally eradicate poverty.   Aid can only do so much. There's an old saying that " it is better to teach the man how to fish than to give him fish".  

Social enterprise might possibly be the long term solution to poverty.  Social enterprise focuses on multiple bottom-lines and one of the bottom-line is the uplifting the lives of its primary stakeholders which is the marginalized poor.  The Social enterprise's "raison de etre" is to help the poor through business activity. Social enterprise can lead the way for the poor to get involved in entrepreneurial pursuits.

Is this even possible? - where the poor is actually engaged in business  With much needed help from social enterprise this might be possible.  But in order for it to succeed, the poor should be a part of the enterprise. However, it is not that easy.  The marginalized poor have no idea how to start and much less manage a business.  This is only possible with adult education approach and business mentoring for the marginalized poor.  If this is model works, then there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Involving the poor will take some time.  The entrepreneur behind the social enterprise is key and should guide the marginalized poor until such time that enterprise has become a way of life for them and hoping that that this effort will be imbibed by the first generation.  The next generation will be the beneficiaries.  More income for the poor would do wonder and extricate themselves away from the cycle of poverty.  More income would provide education for the next generation poor, opening more opportunities for them or enhancing their capacities to spawn future social enterprise.  Social enterprise should not only be a program or project but a lifelong endeavor extending generations for it to totally eradicate poverty.

Social enterprises should be encouraged and allowed to prosper until such time it has reached critical mass all over the country.  This is the key.

Development agencies, government and financing institutions should take active part in the proliferation of social enterprises.  Successful social enterprises becoming ubiquitous will spell the end to poverty.



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