Social Entrepreneurship Forum 2005
SE Forum 2005 
"A Social Enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners."
Cambodia Children
So is this the way to go in the humanitarian world? Is this a viable alternative to provide a brighter future to the people who needs assistance? Maybe... Or at least I hope that it is. Not only will it provide more jobs but it will allow them to become skilled individuals whereby they may be able to earn themselves a decent living without dependance on donations or public funds... Sure sounds good to me.
But in order to support such causes, meant paying what the people deserves, therefore, consumers will have to pay a cup of good coffee at a higher price. Now, how many are willing to take that? Sadly, not many in Asia. And it's a tough battle winning people over and changing the mindsets about certain consumer habits and preferances.
Like bringing along your own carrier when you go shopping, buying products that are biodegradable, CFC safe, plastic that bears the recycle signs... Supporting Companies that practises Fair Trade. And that prices are not always directly affected by quality...
Providing skilled services like what MINDS and Highpoint are doing seem to be more well received. It definatley had helped those people that are in the programme.
However, it still does not change the fact that half the globe of people are still affected by poverty due to consumers demand for cheaper prices... Take Mercy Exchange for another instance - seem to me handicrafts are a dieing trade. People rather buy factory-made products than to pay more for one that is authentically, and painstakingly made-by-hand.
As what Mr Thomas Thomas said during the forum: "it's either fast, good, or cheap." So you can have it fast and cheap, but it can't be good. Good and cheap, it won't be fast. Fast and good, well... it'll never come cheap...
Nonetheless, let us be hopeful. May more good come from this new form of trade than bad...
Drumming on for the future... MINDS performance at SE Forum
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