Poverty and Social Enterprise

-
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.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Seventies - The "Disco" Era

-
Image
The seventies was undoubtedly the "disco" era.  As a teenager, I listened and danced to the distinct sound of that era. When "Saturday Night Fever" hit the movie theaters in 1978,  I became an avid fan of the Bee Gees and other bands that played the disco sound.   Besides listening to disco sound, I also mimicked dance steps like the "swing" and "L.A. shuffle" from a local popular TV show the "Penthouse Seven." I strutted my stuff every time  I danced with a partner at birthday parties held in friends' residences. Bands that dished out disco tunes during the '70s were  ABBA  with their  song "Dancing Queen";   Donna Summer 's   goosebumps-raising song "Last Dance."  Other bands like  KC and the Sunshine Band ,  The Trammps ,  Van McCoy ,  Gloria Gaynor ,  The Village People ,  Chic , and  The Jacksons   also flooded the radio airwaves in the '70s .   I even followed their progress over...
Read more

Grandfather@50

-
Image
I will be turning 50 before the  end of this year, and what better way to usher in my golden boy status is becoming a bonafide grandfather.  I now have a grandson, his name is Samien. He was born on April 25, 2012. His parents say that the name means "to be heard".  I guess their choice was right because when Samien cries, he is really heard by everybody. I noticed remarkable things in Samien.  While just a new born, he showed to us that he has strong legs and arms.  He can push himself upwards in the crib and was tireless in raising his small arms every  now and then.  Also, he is not the quiet type because he always cries and laughs unlike other babies inside the nursery who are peacefully asleep.  At three months old, he speaks amusing although unintelligible syllables.  Also, at three months, he is rather long for babies his age and quite heavy for a three month old baby.  He weighed in at 5 kilogram during his visit to his pedia...
Read more

Organic Rice in the Philippines For Healthy Living

-
Image
Do you prefer healthy living? Go organic rice! Health buffs would like to get their hands on real organic rice. If you're one of them, do you know which ones are authentic organic rice? This blog will tell you all you need to know about organic rice. Some people think that organic rice is red and brown rice variety only.  Not really. It comes in other varieties and colors such as white, black, etc.  The idea that red and brown alone are organic rice is wrong.  These rice varieties are now sold under specific brands in leading supermarkets in the Philippines, however, not all of them are organic rice. But how will you know if you're buying organic rice or not? Organic rice is farmed without using synthetic fertilizer and chemical pesticide inputs. Besides the inputs, there are other things to consider such as -  How was it planted? What were the farming methods used? Was there contamination along the supply chain until it has reached the end consumer? There...
Read more