What is Social Entrepreneurship?

Definition

Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business, social entrepreneurs act as the change agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss and improving systems, inventing new approaches, and creating solutions to change society for the better. – Ashoka

Social Entrepreneurs are characterized by a shared determination in finding innovative, practical solutions addressing problems in society across fields such as education, youth engagement, health care, human rights or the environment.

What characterises social entrepreneurs?

They are ENTHUSIASTIC about what they are doing.

They are CREATIVE in finding new approaches or combining exisiting ways of problem-solving.

They are DETERMINED to work on their idea and overcome obstacles on the way.

They are ENTREPRENEURIAL in their organization and have an interest in long-term SUSTAINABLE solution.

Their values are guided by the aim of maximizing the SOCIAL IMPACT of their ventures.

Examples:

Wendy Kopp: As founder of Teach for America, she contributed to fight educational inequality in the United States, by creating a programme in which top college and university graduates commit to teach for two years at schools in low-income communities across the country. Besides providing the students at these schools with exellent quality teaching, the participants develop a sense of responsibility and awareness for social problems which often translates into further social impact after the programme.

Jeroo Billimoria: As fascinating example of a social entrepreneur, she started out to found Childline in 1993, establishing a free communication service for street children in Mumbai, providing the a crucial link between the given payphone infrastructure and organizations providing care and shelter for children in emergency situations. The programme has since been expanded and has helped more than 3 million children in 83 cities across India.

Ursula Sladek: Fighting for greener technologies and electricity production and consumption in a 10 year struggle with the former regional monopolist in this area, she founded the Elektrizitätswerke Schönau (Power Supplier of Schönau). As electricity supplier  a citizen-owned social business  that has been pioneering in the creation of a decentralized green power production network, promoting renewable energy and serving local producers.