Do you believe in social business in Ukraine? No, seriously, do you? If yes, what are the issues that needed to be turned out into social business? Where do we need the impact in Ukraine?
I keep on asking myself these questions since week, and can't find the exact answer for now. But i'm searching, asking, talking and discovering ICE
Freddy, the CEO is very good in managing the enterprize, he doesn't make it a fluffy charity, indeed, ICE has a clear business model just like any enterprize, and also he always asks if whatever we do brings positive change and corresponds to ICE mission.
I want to share with all of you his TED-talk with his story of social enterpreneurship, it's really useful to see and start believing in social business, but also you will have so much fun watching it :D
Dear friends, honestly share here, what do you think about social enterpreneurship in Ukraine and where the biggest impact is needed in Ukraine?
Marta, thank you for a quite interesting topic and an amazing TED-talk! It has forced me to think, evaluate a bit and to exert my brain. :)
ReplyDeleteI would like to start my meditations with a simple analysis. First of all, let's define what a “social entrepreneurship” is. The main aim of this phenomenon is to recognize a social problem and apply entrepreneurial principals in order to overcome a social drawback. Next, “social problem” is a task that has formulated in the society or some community, and which needs to be solved. As for “entrepreneurship”, it’s a way of organization all currently available resources, opportunities in a way to receive benefits in a future. The main difference, in my opinion, between social and business entrepreneurship is a kind of benefit an entrepreneur is going to achieve: mostly, the last one is profit-oriented, while the main aim of the first one is to satisfy social needs and feel happy, socially valuable because of this. On the same time social entrepreneurship doesn’t prevent from making profits (look, for instance, at Muhammad Yunus and his profitable the Grameen Bank, for which, by the way, in 2006 he has received the Nobel Peace Prize). So, actually, social entrepreneurship is a sphere of our economic life that is (as in case of each business) about satisfaction of human needs and wants, which are caused by imperfection of market mechanism and an inadequate government policy, and that foresees absence of financial profits or a low level of them.
Now, as for Ukraine, we need to start with determination of what is really demanded in our society, because to be successful you must sell what people want and not that you can provide. Ukraine, unfortunately, is full of numbers of various social problems: health, education, food, people’s wealth, NGO foundation, public utilities (ukr. ЖКГ) etc. To find an issue is not a problem, but you need to catch out of thousands such that which will motivate you and your team, applying entrepreneurial way of thinking create a business plan, raise money and “run the ship in a long, successful voyage”! =) Theoretically it looks easy, but in a real world, especially in Ukrainian reality, they’re going to happen a lot of unpredictable obstacles. But I’m sure, the world is not without kind people. And for those who struggle and try to prove that impossible is possible, a big prize is waiting in the end of the days! ;)
Dear Alina, thank you for your insights. Your comment has answered on my questions, and now i believe even more in the idea of social business in Ukraine. I also would like to discuss with you more in Ukraine, when i come back. We need to collaborate with all people who are interested in it, so we could start at least with the network and then - we can create a movement and change. Hugs :*
ReplyDeleteMarta, I'm glad to help you and will be happy to discuss this issue more deeply! =) Have a nice time! ;) Enjoy your life! =)
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