Social entrepreneurship currently plays a very important role for societies, as it provides solutions to real problems. Fortunately, many people, companies and organizations take up this challenge and get involved; this means a first step towards a better and more equitable world.
Social entrepreneurship plays a very important role for societies today, as it provides solutions to real problems.
It could be said that social entrepreneurs are like masons who come to ‘patch’ the holes that a community suffers, either by lack of expertise, lack of resources or ignorance of the responsible State.
They are people or groups of individuals who see a lack and try to find a solution.
They are the first step towards a better and more equitable world.
As we have developed in the last few years, social entrepreneurs are the first step towards a better and more equitable world.
As we have developed in other articles, there are several types of social entrepreneurship. This can be professional, private, awareness-raising, innovation, necessity, etc. What is important is their purpose: Far from pursuing profit, they make their resources available to do community good.
10 inspiring examples of social entrepreneurship
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If you are interested in contributing to the community you are part of and have not yet found the way to achieve it, you may find the following list helpful. We are going to discuss some examples of social entrepreneurship that you could take as a basis to build your path. Join us to review them!
digital entrepreneurship
1. L’olivera
In the town of Vallbona de les Monges, in Lérida, the cooperative L’olivera has been operating since 1974. The curious thing about this enterprise does not lie in the 17 specialties of wine nor the 5 of oils that are manufactured there, but in the fact that it is a method of inclusion for people with mental disabilities.
In addition, L’olivera uses local resources and industrializes them in a practically homemade way, which guarantees an environmentally friendly production. This project, which employs more than 70 people, also includes a residence and an occupational therapy service.
2. Sourcing Indonesia
The purpose of this social enterprise is to unify local artisans from marginalized places to distribute their creations in more developed countries. It represents a way to meet quality standards, in addition to boosting their sales.
3. Algramo
This idea has solved both an economic and environmental problem in Chile. Basically, it boosts the distribution of automatic bulk dispensers for food and other products.
This way, it contributes to lower-income families, who had to face the additional costs associated with products in small packages, which are the ones they usually choose due to their lack of funds. Likewise, by using returnable packaging, the use of bags and polluting containers can be reduced.
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4. Encore
Sometimes overlooked, the baby boomer generation often finds it difficult to find work. Encore, an organization founded in 1997 in San Francisco and supported by donations,
seeks to connect these people with scholarships, courses and jobs; a beautiful way to provide a new motivation for their lives.
Encore is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 in San Francisco and supported by donations,
that is a beautiful way to provide a new motivation for their lives.
5. Innova Materials
This initiative belongs to a group of young engineering students from the United States, who decided to create pipes that use antimicrobials to eliminate bacteria and improve the quality of drinking water.
Today, this six-employee company makes pipes low cost for automakers, the U.S. government and other companies. 5% of its revenue goes to continuing research for water purification.
6. Nobleza Obliga
This is an Argentine social enterprise that works with the model we know as crowdfunding; that is, fundraising. On this website, a person can register, describe a project and request adherents to finance it.
Nobleza Obliga helps caring people spread their ideas and get help from other socially responsible individuals and companies. In addition, they organize trainings in technology and tools for the promotion of solidarity causes.
Nobleza Obliga helps people of solidarity spread their ideas and get help.
7. Adalab
The main objective of this social enterprise is the inclusion of women in the technology sector. To this end, they train women with employability problems in subjects such as programming, accompany them in their professional development and facilitate their insertion into the labor market.
8. Specialisterne
This project is in operation in Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Scotland and Iceland. Created in 2004, it is a company that promotes the labor inclusion of people with autism. The idea is to take advantage of their high power of concentration and passion for detail; they are also offered the advice of professionals in case they suffer from social or communicative difficulties.
As they themselves define, Specialisterne is looking for people with specific talents to carry out tasks of excellence in the IT sector.
9. Apps for Good
In this case, it is a social enterprise based in London. Its contribution is to offer free courses to educational institutions so that their students can learn how to create web and cell phone applications.
Their contribution is to offer free courses to educational institutions so that their students can learn how to create web and cell phone applications.
This project is funded by fees from private schools and contributions from partners such as Lego or Spotify, as Apps for Good details on its website. In addition to inserting technology in the educational process, this venture rewards the creators of applications with social purposes.
10. TOMS Shoes
This last example is that of a successful company that also makes its social contribution to underprivileged children. In what way?For every pair of shoes it sells,
TOMS Shoes gives another pair to a child in need.
For every pair of shoes it sells,
TOMS Shoes gives another pair to a child in need.
Since its creation in 2006 with an initial investment of 300 thousand dollars from Mycoskie, its author, this company has given away more than 140 thousand pairs to little ones all over the world.
In short, we can conclude that social entrepreneurship is a movement that has come to the world to change it radically. When there is commitment and will for a fairer society for all, the projects are fulfilled.
Here you can see more examples of social entrepreneurship.