It is important to state that these notes are a subjective harvest of the conversations, showing the key themes and topics in the conversations and contemplations I have had. After sharing them with you as they are I am hoping to share some of the emerging patterns.
In Brighton I had an exciting conversation with my good friend Sarah, studying at the University of Sussex, writing a dissertation on Social Entrepreneurship. In a sparkling conversation we explored some of the definitions of this emerging “profession”, and the twists that this potential “hype” is in. De discovered that it is actually very unclear what a social entrepreneur really is by definition, which is revealing the glowing edges of this growing field of change.
Some of the questions we discovered brought about some inspiring insights, and I invite you to ask these questions yourself and your peers and share the insights you find!
If you look up what a social entrepreneur is by the leading networks of Skoll, Ashoka, Schwab, SSE and Wikipedia and put those words in a Wordle, you get a clear image of the most important words in the description of a Social Entrepreneur:
Mixing Skoll, SSE, LabForCulture, Wikipedia, Ashoka, Schwab
Interesting that Change and Business are so big!
“The International Youth Initiative Program (YIP) is a new social entrepreneur training in Järna, Sweden, for youth aged 18 to 25 who want to create a positive social change in the world. – A course in how to bring your own initiative into being.” – www.yip.se
This powerful invitation called me to join the International Youth Initiative Program (YIP).
There is something new emerging in the world, an interdisciplinary way of entrepreneurial learning and working, striving for social innovation and ecological sustainability. Young people from all continents and cultures are exploring new ways of living without an interest in financial profit. It seems like the time of fixed definitions is also over, as the term “social entrepreneurʼ is a living title for something that is in constant development. Some also call them pioneers of change, pilots, change-makers, social innovators. A little bit of research brings up the following explanations:
“Social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to societyʼs most pressing social problems. They are ambitious and persistent, tackling major social issues and offering new ideas for wide-scale change.” – www.ashoka.org/social_entrepreneur
“[...] A social entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change.” – www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_entrepreneur
“[...] Social entrepreneurs act similarly, tapping inspiration and creativity, courage and fortitude, to seize opportunities that challenge and forever change established, but fundamentally inequitable systems.” – www.skollfoundation.org/aboutsocialentrepreneurship/
“A social entrepreneur is someone who works in an entrepreneurial manner, but for public or social benefit, rather than to make money. Social entrepreneurs may work in ethical businesses, governmental or public bodies, quangos, or the voluntary and community sector.” – www.sse.org.uk
After being at YIP for 8 months I am beginning to understand what that means. Wanting to become a social entrepreneur is not easy. It is not a job or a position. There are no Bachelors or Masters, no teachers, guidelines or tool-kits. Becoming a social entrepreneur is a commitment to life-long learning and personal mastery.
To be able to understand todayʼs complex global issues and challenges and the systems that lie underneath requires an ambition to overcome personal limiting beliefs and fears and to develop leadership over ones own life. It is not a skill level one can achieve, or a job that has a pension.
It is not striving for a better world tomorrow, but for a better world today.
It needs creativity, an open mindset, dreams and stories, courage and consciousness. YIP offers me a place where I can develop myself in this manner, developing my horizontal capabilities, skills and experiences and my vertical understanding of the world and myself. YIP for me is unique, as it focusses on the whole human being (head, hands and heart) and the community aspect. As humanity is becoming a global community, this is a very important and valuable learning opportunity.
Sarah and I discovered that in descriptions of social entrepreneurs often is referred to specific people.
illustrations - Maira Rahme | edit pietradelmundo
Join the conversation in the comments!
Dear friends,
I would really like to invite you to join one of the open courses at the Youth Initiative Program in Sweden! I have put the current list her, for the most accurate list to go www.yip.se/open_courses. See you in Sweden!
Some of the week-long YIP Courses have space for a few additional participants. Anyone can apply to participate. Places are filled on a first come first serve basis.
19–23 October 2009:
Political Economics with Helene Bank
26–30 October 2009:
Business & Sustainability with Jane Lorand
30 November – 4 December 2009:
Study of Man with Marcel de Leuw
11 – 15 January 2010:
Visioning & Entrepreneurship with Jane Lorand
25 – 29 January 2010:
Budgetting and Bookkeeping with Kristofer Lüthi
1 – 5 February 2010:
Communication Skills with Tormod Bjørnstad
8 – 12 February 2010:
Fundraising with Matthias Weber and Burcu Becermen
15 – 19 April 2010:
Freedom and Community with Chen Atid
22 – 26 April 2010:
Health and Culture with the SOFIA Association
24 – 28 May 2010:
Sacred Geometry with Frank Chester
31 May – 4 June 2010:
Agriculture with Nikolai Fuchs
Dates may be subject to change. All changes will be published at www.yip.se/open_courses
Dear friends,
This is the first blog post of my life, I hope the first of many! I started this blog to inform everyone in my network about the work that I am doing and to share my inspiration with the rest of the world. In this blog I will be posting ideas and stories worth sharing, and my reflections on my life as what they call a social entrepeneur; an entrepeneur without money.
Thanks for your interest!
Pieter
of the profit of pietradelmundo will be donated to a project of the 1%Club
