We, too, can help change the world

I came across the book, How to Change the World by David Bornstein, as part of the suggested readings for the social entrepreneurship class that I’m now attending. The book spoke about social entrepreneurs and businesses that helped communities — the Banker of the Poor, Muhammed Yunus of Bangladesh with his Grameen Bank, who empowered the less fortunate women who were being taken advantage of by loan sharks. We have several companies here in the Philippines as well, like the CARD-MRI of Dr. Aris Alip, that provide micro-finance to poor women. And of course, we have Gawad Kalinga.

It is quite intimidating for me to read about all these great social entrepreneurs who were able to set up programs for the poor, and to actually realize the impact that each enterprise has on the community. I have no big dreams. Well, it’s more like, I’m not that ambitious. I am definitely not a messiah that would have the answer to the ills of society. I am a journalist, enriched by the experiences of being exposed to almost two decades of fieldwork. And what I learned, or perhaps what I choose to see and ponder on is the goodness of people around us. There is an abundance of goodness and perseverance, stories of heroism and selflessness around us. There is human dignity (which is why I don’t believe in dole-outs. I have a high regard for our kababayan). Helping is not dole-out. Helping, in my definition, is empowerment. That is the essence of a social enterprise. 

I had no expectations about the class whatsoever. I decided to enroll only the night before our session, and just learned about it through a friend. The class was composed of individuals from the government, the private sector and the academe. It was quite inspiring listening to their stories, and they all enrolled because they want to do something. I attended the class because I just wanted to start a business, and frankly, I don’t know if I should call it that. I’d be happy with break-even, but it was good, too, that my colleagues would remind me that it’s a business and that means that I would have to make money. Does it mean that when you make a profit, it makes you more of a capitalist and not a social entrepreneur? Is it wrong to recover one’s investment?

Social entrepreneurship is not charity. A charitable institution relies mostly on contribution, whereas a social enterprise is more sustainable. That’s according to the book, Creating a World without Poverty: a Social Enterprise by Yunus. Hopefully, at the end of three months, I would better understand more about what social entrepreneurship is. 

Besides, the definition of terms of what a social enterprise is, what’s more important is our dealings with our fellowmen whether we get into business or not. For me, what’s more important is the fairness, honesty, respect and dignity that we treat others, and that we be good to ourselves, others and the environment. Be good every day, and in every way.  

(E-mail me at [email protected].)