Social Enterprise in China

Last week’s articles on India have me thinking in a mood of the state of social enterprise programs within the developing superpowers of tomorrow.  So when I ran across an article on Change.org espousing the social enterprise movements within China, my curiosity was roused.  The article points out the As I read up however, it became clear that the situation is much more complicated.  For example, a 2008 study by the British Embassy on the state of social enterprise in China suggests that there are a number of problems that may hold the social enterprise movement back.  Perhaps most importantly, the number of organizations investing specifically in social enterprise is extremely limited.  Furthermore, the Chinese government has policies that are not as conducive to the establishment of explicitly social businesses.  Finally, there is less awareness of the concepts behind social enterprises, both at the level of established businesses and in the general population.

It is, of course, hypocritical to expect a huge cultural shift in Chinese business towards social goals when the dominant mode of business in the developed world is still largely driven solely by profits.  Though I, too, share the hope that the relatively few signs of increased social entrepreneurship awareness in China is but the tip of the iceberg.  However, it is interesting to note that this is but one more difference between the development paths that India and China are taking in their race to the forefront of the global economy.

Willie Smits: Alleviating Poverty with a ‘Spoonful of Sugar’

A bit of a short spotlight today on one of the changemakers out there who is using social entrepreneurship to make a difference and a living.  Ashoka Fellow Willie Smits runs a palm sugar refinery in Indonesia that helps local farmers to process their palm juice into sugar and ethanol.  Yet, by making a few changes to his business practices, getting his customers involved in cooperatives, and using renewable energy sources, Smits provides a business model that also acts to preserve local forests, raise living standards, stabilize local communities, and even protect endangered orangutans.

Hear more about Smits’ philosophy in his 2009 TED talk, or read more on Ashoka’s website.

Skoll Foundation on the Impact of Social Entrepreneurs

The Skoll Foundation recently released an eight-minute video describing the spirit of social entrepreneurship.  Part history of the movement, part definition of the term, and part motivational speech, the video draws on a number of the pioneers in social enterprise, and is worth a viewing if you are new to the concept.

The Skoll Foundation was created by Jeff Skoll in 1999, and aims to promote and support social enterprise in the US and abroad.  The foundation also hosts a number of other videos about specific individuals using business models to drive social change.