Throughout 2018 we placed a spotlight on social entrepreneurship as an innovative way to address social challenges with sustainable business solutions. We believe that the societal benefits from social enterprises can bring about increased economic activity and opportunities for many more South Africans, while playing a pivotal role in breaking the cycles of social ills that many people are facing daily. Social entrepreneurs are those who see social challenges as opportunities, devise sustainable business solutions to meet those needs, and positively impact many South Africans in the process.
The Nation Builder Social Innovation Challenge was a first step in fuelling and highlighting local social innovation solutions, using the trending #Innovate4Change hashtag on social media to support the call to action.
Here is a recap of our some of our top blogs and press articles on the topic of SOCIAL INNOVATION from 2018.
Kerryn Krige is Chief Technical Adviser with the International Labour Organisation, working on its SA Social Economy Policy Project. She is the co-author of the bestselling The Disruptors – social entrepreneurs reinventing business and society: “We are only now starting to understand the impact and potential of our social economy organisations, as they deliver essential goods and services to citizens, whilst opening up opportunities for employment, skills development and trade. And it is our Social Economy Policy process that will bring these organisations from the shadows of the economic stage and into the spotlight.” Read Kerryn’s full article here.
Entrepreneurship Magazine online: “Social entrepreneurship is an exciting business arena that finds new, sustainable business solutions to long-standing problems. Social entrepreneurs see social challenges (such as poverty, homelessness, poor infrastructure or lack of quality education) as an opportunity for change.” Read the article here.
Lungi Tyali is the CEO of Solar Turtle who, with her business partner, James van der Walt, created a solar energy solution for rural and off-grid areas, empowering women and youth while delivering safe and secure electricity by means of their converted shipping containers. They were the winners of the Nation Builder Social Innovation Challenge, and delivered this talk at In Good Company 2018.
Also see Nonhlanhla Joye’s Starting a Garden and Growing a Business. She is the founder and facilitator of Umgibe Farming, Organics and Training Institute.
Lucas Odendaal, investment analyst at Mergon: “Traits that set social entrepreneurs apart from traditional entrepreneurs is their ability to place purpose above, or on the same level as, profit. The impact of their idea or business model extends beyond the bottom line, incorporating the wider community and environment and has a longer-lasting effect compared to traditional business models.” Read more.
