Dr. Dennis Horn, associate dean of the Bryant College of Arts and Sciences, not only wrote a book on how social entrepreneurship can be an ethical practice that helps build practices of democracy, but also has a career in higher education. Spent on a trip to South Africa. Thailand, Brazil, Dominican Republic, India, and Indonesia have implemented programs focused on social impact.
“The idea is to help people live the kind of life they value,” Horn says. She is a new student at the university this year and will be taking the first group of Bryant students through “general education” to Bali, Indonesia in August. Capstone” course.
Social entrepreneurship uses community development and business models to create solutions to social problems. For example, fostering the growth of microfinance or helping women start companies in their communities so that they are not completely dependent on men. Horn points out that companies that engage in social entrepreneurship give their profits back to the community.
“We help people live their best lives, and there are many ways to do that beyond just making a lot of money,” Horn says. “Social entrepreneurs need to continually reflect on what the community needs, embed themselves in the community, and think of social entrepreneurship as a liberating movement.”
Over 40 years of development
Social entrepreneurship emerged in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that companies began to prioritize social business. Corporations began funding social impact sectors and developed ways to give back to communities. Companies like Toms Shoes and Warby Parker have become known for helping people in need through their “buy one, give one” programs.
In addition to donating products, social entrepreneurs have begun investing in technology creation that not only improves people’s lives but also fights larger social issues. For example, Horn points out that efforts have been made to develop cooking stoves that are ideal for locations where access to clean fuel is limited. The project will also help fight climate change by reducing the amount of wood and coal that is burned and emitted into the atmosphere.
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But taking action in communities requires critical thinking and working with local residents to understand needs, determine viable action plans, and consider unintended consequences. Horn points out that unintended consequences are one of the pitfalls of social entrepreneurship efforts, drawing attention to the notorious play pumps that help women transport water from sources to homes.
“These pumps were called play pumps because they were like merry-go-rounds for children. The idea was that the children would play and it would pump water. But the children They quickly got tired of it,” Horn said, adding that the equipment fell into disuse because local residents were not shown how to repair or maintain the pumps.
a conscientious connection
As social entrepreneurship continues to evolve, Horn points out, people are coming up with creative solutions to the problems around them. During past visits to Bali, she has seen amazing innovations in agriculture, education, women’s maternal health, and combating climate change.
“When people think of Bali, they think of tourism, but it’s actually a testing ground for social entrepreneurship and community engagement. I have a network that helps me get the job done,” Horn says.
She points out that bamboo, a native species of the region, is a powerful renewable resource that grows quickly and can be used for innovative building projects. Additionally, one of her friends has built an entire business around tableware made from coconut shells and bamboo. Not only does she employ people in her community, but she also wholesales tableware all over the world.
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Offshore, Horne recalled an organization in Bali that runs a coral reef restoration program.
“The coral reefs were dying, so the organization built metal structures in the water with very low electrical charges that allowed water to flow through them and help the corals grow,” Horn said.
Historically, anglers used explosives in this area to catch fish, damaging coral reefs. Many people are now working with restoration groups to consider more sustainable methods of fishing.
When Bryant students visit Bali this summer, they will see this ingenuity firsthand, Horn said. Undergraduate students spend two weeks participating in site visits to local non-governmental organizations and social businesses and participating in cultural experience activities. They then spend their third week working with local university students to develop a potential solution to one of Bali’s needs, followed by a presentation to community leaders.
“We have to think about the communities that businesses impact,” Horn says. “We need to think about reinvesting in developing countries and empowering people to live the lives they want to live.”
