Using the designs of windmills in a book, William Kamkwamba started building windmills to generate electricity to help power his rural community in Malawi. A social entrepreneur at the center of the movement's eye, William saw moving windmills as a solution to multiple everyday problems. Though at times castigated as a witch, he persevered in his attempt to change the lives of the people around him in a positive way. To see what he achieved, and listen to his story, click on the video below:

William's windmills, in conjunction with the Play Pump (see two posts below), make me wonder whether it might be possible to attach solar panels on the outside of the scaffold supporting the actual wind turbine on top, while on the scaffold's inside, a water pump could be placed (connected to a Merry-go-around). Sound good? Any thoughts? Who has heard of anything like that?

I found this on Guy Kawasaki’s Blog:

It’s a Merry Go-Round attached to a pump to generate water, called Play Pump.  Ever spin sends clean water to a storage tank.  And the best thing is that it pays for itself!

 

 

I was trying to explain a new project I am about to take on in Zimbabwe to a friend, and was asked what a social entrepreneur really is. Unsatisfied with my own answers (notice the "s" at the end), I set out to look for a succinct, coherent, and accurate definition. The best one I found was on the Skoll Foundation website. It first explains the more general who and what of entrepreneurship:

"Entrepreneurs are essential drivers of innovation and progress. In the business world, they act as engines of growth, harnessing opportunity and innovation to fuel economic advancement. Social entrepreneurs act similarly, tapping inspiration and creativity, courage and fortitude, to seize opportunities that challenge and forever change established, but fundamentally inequitable systems."

Before explaining more specifically:

"Distinct from a business entrepreneur who sees value in the creation of new markets, the social entrepreneur aims for value in the form of transformational change that will benefit disadvantaged communities and, ultimately, society at large. Social entrepreneurs pioneer innovative and systemic approaches for meeting the needs of the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised – populations that lack the financial means or political clout to achieve lasting benefit on their own."

I love these two sentences. It gets to the core of what it means to be a social entrepreneur. Working at and with the bottom of the pyramid, a social entrepreneur strives to achieve measurable and meaningful success both on a very human as well as monetary level. Projecting that the expression "very human" might appear weird to some of you, let me point towards the housing bubble. "Making the American Dream a reality!" Entrepreneurs were sprouting out of every corner of the land, providing ways for families to live on land and in houses that they couldn't afford. Focusing on the entrepreneurs, what were they focused on: the money or the human value?

Let me give you another rhetorical example:: TOMS Shoes. For every shoe they sell, they give one away. If you have a look at the shoes, and you know something about the apparel business, you'll quickly discover that they are selling $70 shoes that cost less than $1 to produce. Now, the main reason why these shoes are so expensive, is because they are heavily marketed as doing good for poor children in Latin American countries. Simply put, I'm asking: Is this a marketing trick, the true reason for being, or "merely" a genuine concern of TOMS Shoes? Whatever the true answer may be, I would at least argue that TOMS business model is just another Western approach that, intentionally or unintentionally, maintains and sustains a form of global imperialism cultivating hegemonic structures instated at and dating back to the time of Conquest. A social entrepreneur provides holistic solutions to problems faced by the poorest in the world. He does neither "nourish" nor "feed" the poor - he empowers the poor. Such is my position and understanding about what it means to be a true social entrepreneur. Do not give to the marginalized, disadvantaged, and disenfranchised, but empower them!

Check out this great, informative video about social entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurs:

http://www.youtube.com/user/skollfoundation

My friend Abby Fuller, a graduate from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, has produced a movie called "Do You Dream In Color?" about blind people. She explores how the power of animation can bring their dreams to life. It a full length documentary feature movie, and post production is completed. On their website you can find out more about the movie, watch a trailer about a few extraordinary blind teens, and get involved. More generally, I believe they have put a cool twist on their fight for greater awareness, appreciation, and respect for the often marginalized community of blind people. Here a fascinating short video of Shelby's dream:

My friend and musician Tien Nguyen will be playing at their fundraising party in two weeks in Los Angeles at The Wilson House.You can check out his songs on his website.

India is finally stepping up and backing social entrepreneurs in its own country. I've been following the development for quite a while, and it looks like finally there seems to be some real change underway. I mean in no way to take away any glow from the amazing work of Mohammed Yunus and the Grameen Foundation / Bank or associations such as the Self Employed Women's Association, but the following article underlines the symbolic work and movement towards achieving strong national support for social entrepreneurs and their ventures. It's not that far away! Check out the following article: http://www.livemint.com/2009/10/05215025/Investors-back-social-initiati.html?h=B.

Also, some of friends went with the USC Global  Impact program to India this past summer. Dan Greenberg kept a blog about what he did, as did Bronson Chang, whose venture I described in the previous post. It's wonderful to see that opportunities and outlets for students to engage in social ventures are sprouting across American Universities. The recently instated Stevens Institute at USC is managing the USC Global Impact Program, and has partnered up with the Deshpande Foundation to provide financial and organizational support for a prolonged summer break during which students tackle pressing issues at the bottom of the pyramid in developing countries. They will be accepting applications soon, so be on the look out!

Charity Water is one of the great organizations iPhonebundles is partnering with to make this world a better place. Charity water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. They give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. By selling only 20 cases, we can give one person in a developing nation clean water for 20 years!

With over 1 billion people not having access clean and safe drinking water, providing it is central issue in today's society. One of my friends and fellow social entrepreneur, Bronson Chang, spent last summer in India and tackled the water problem in person. Check out his blog at www.changethroughbusiness.com to read up on him planning, funding, and implementing a reverse-osmosis water plant in Gadag, providing clean drinking water for over 500 families! It's great to see another dedicated social entrepreneur making it happen. And since I'm already talking about him, let me help him promote his latest business, Planting Life. You can buy and even sponsor "Grow-It-Yourself Tree Kits" that empower other people to be change-makers who profoundly and directly impact the environment of our local community and communities around the globe. Check it out, get inspired, and create some meaningful change!

Aloha!

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Let me present to you one of the most amazing institutes in the world: The Stanford Institute of Design! I had the honor to be invited to a graduate class called Entrepreneurial Design for Extreme Afforability taught at Stanford University by several teachers. One of the teachers was James Patell, the renowned scholar who allowed me to sit in and inhale the vibrating air of change. But let me get to the point:

The class Entrepreneurial Design for Extreme Affordability accepts and picks both national and international students from all 7 graduate schools at Stanford (Business, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Education, Humanities and Sciences, Law, and Medicine). This is an interdisciplinary methodology, one that is quintessential for both innovation and invention in my opinion. Approaching problems from a multidisciplinary and -cultural perspective is key to find solutions to mankind’s most important problems, such as poverty and war. If Israelis and Palestinians would allow their children to learn about one another’s culture, they would understand and thus accept, or at least tolerate, each other.

As Entrepreneurial Design for Extreme Affordability class illustrates, projects can and are taken beyond the classroom into the real world, making a tangible impact in improving the lives of the 90% at the bottom of the pyramid. My favorite project, d.light design, has already improved the lives of millions of people by replacing the highly dangerous kerosene lamps with affordable solar lights. Check out the difference in the attached photo. Incredible! Education is powerful, so if you have the privilege to be in school, be it elementary, high school, or university - take advantage of it!