Social Enterprise: Negosyong Makalipunan

Narito ang una kong artikulo tungkol sa social entrepreneurship. Kalimitan na nating naririnig ang salitang social entrepreneurship ngunit nakalilito pa rin ang kahulugan nito. Ako mismo na gusto maging isang social entrepreneur ay nalilito pa. Minsan tinatanong ko ang aking sarili kung matatawag na ba akong isang social entrepreneur dahil sa layunin kong maging inspirasyonal para sa mga kabataan ang mga ginagawa kong produkto sa aking online business. Kaya minabuti kong aralin muna ang konsepto ng social entrepreneurship at heto na nga at inihahain ko rin sa inyo ang aking natutuhan. Filipino ang ginamit kong wika para sa artikulong ito para mas maunawaan nating lahat.

Social Entrepreneurship: Depinisyon

Ang social entrepreneurship ay isang paraan ng pagtatayo at pamamalakad ng isang organisasyon sa pamamagitan ng mga pamamaraang pang-negosyo subalit may pangunahing layunin na makapagdulot ng mabuting pagbabago o mabigyang solusyong ang mga suliranin sa isang komunikad, kalimitan sa aspektong panlipunan, pang-kultura, at pang-kalikasan. Ang konseptong ito ay maaaring gamitin ng mga pilantropo, mga taong may adbokasiya, mga kooperatiba, mga kawanggawa at ano pa mang mga aktibidad na nagpapalawig ng isang gawaing makabubuti para sa isang komunidad.Subalit kalimitang nagkakaroon ng pagkakalito sa depinisyon ng isang social enterprise, lalo na sa usaping kung dapat bang ang isang social enterprise ay for profit o non-profit. Gayunman, karamihan sa mga aktibo sa ganitong gawain ay sumasangayon sa paglalarawang ito: Kung ang pangunahing tanong ng isang regular na entrepreneur (negosyante) upang malaman kung matagumpay ang kanyang negosyo ay kung magkano at malaki ba ang kaniyang kinita, ang sa social entrepreneur (nagtatag o nagpapatakbo ng negosyong makalipunan) naman ay gaano karami ang kaniyang natulungan. (Social Enterprise Canada)

 Cherrie Atilano is the president of social enterprise Agricool, "a movement which dreams to build the lifestyle of  healthy food consumption while creating agricultural opportunities in the Philippines." - See more at: http://gk1world.com/from-eco-warrior-to-eco-entrepreneur#sthash.0wmDRiVp.dpuf 

Social Enterprise: Depinisyon

Ang social entrepreneurship ay maaaring gamitin sa isang non-profit organization sapagkat ito ay ang paggamit ng mga prinsipyo at estratehiyang pang-negosyo upang maresolba ang ilang mga suliraning panlipunan. Ngunit ang social enterprise ay ang mismong organisasyon na itinatag gamit ang mga estratehiya sa social entrepreneurship upang matugunan ang mga isyung panlipunan o maging global kung saan mahalaga ang magkaroon ng kakayahang kumita sa sariling pamamaraan upang makamit ang mga layunin. Ang social enterprise, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga business o trade activities ay dapat na magbigay ng mabuting social impact sa kanyang komunidad.

Pagkakaiba ng Non-profit Organization sa Social Enterprise

Ang isang non-profit organization ay may layuning bigyang serbisyo ang isang komunidad na may pangangailangan o bigyang suporta ang isang grupo o adbokasiyang may mainam na maidudulot sa lipunan. Kalimitang nanggagaling ang pondo ng isang non-profit organization mula sa mga donasyong bigay ng mga pribadong organisasyon, indibiduwal, at gobyerno. Taliwas sa social enterprises, hindi rin layunin ng isang non-profit organization na gumawa ng mga aktibidad para kumita at magkaroon ng pondo, subalit minsan ay nagsasagawa rin sila ng mga fundraising at iba pang pamamaraan na makalikom ng pondo para sa kanilang organisasyon. Laging ang pangunahing layunin ng isang non-profit organization ay palawigin ang adbokasiya nito. Maaaring tumanggap ng suweldo ngunit kalimitang boluntaryo ang mga miyembro ng non-profit organizations.Samantala, dahil sa layunin ng isang social enterprise na makatulong sa isang lipunan, kalimitan itong naihahantulad sa isang non-profit organization. Subalit ang social enterprise ay may mas mataas na pangangailangan na magkaroon ng kapasidad na kumita. Dapat itong maging self-sufficient upang maisakatuparan ang mga layunin nito. Maaari rin naman itong itatag ng non-profit organization subalit hiwalay ang pamamalakad dito sapagkat malaking bahagi ng pagpapatakbo nito ay may kinalaman sa mga gawaing may kinalaman sa pinansiyal na aspekto ng negosyo. Hindi maaaring haluan ito ng mga kampanya o kawanggawa maliban kung malinaw na direkta itong makakapagdulot ng direktang kita para sa social enterprise. Maaari ring itatag o umpisahan ng isang pribadong tao ang isang social enterprise. Isa siyang sole proprietor ngunit malinaw ang adbokasiya o social relevance ng kanyang negosyo. Maaari ring himukin ng pribadong taong ito ang kanyang mga kapuwa at kasamahan sa komunidad na sila ay magtulong-tulong para sa isang negosyong makalipunan, kahantulad ng isang kooperatiba na isang kilalang klase ng social enterprise.Sa isang banda, masasabing ang social enterprise ay mix ng for profit at non-profit dahil itinatag ito para kumita (for profit) ngunit ang kinita nito ay ilalaan hindi para sa ikayayaman ng organizers kundi para magbigay ng kabuhayan sa mga tao sa isang komunidad, serbisyo sa mga nais paglingkuran, o mabuting pagbabago sa sambayanan o maging sa buong sanlibutan.

Social Enterprise: Self-sufficient

Maaari ring tumanggap ang social enterprise ng donasyon gaya ng mga non-profit na organisasyon, subalit mahalagang dapat makatayo sa sariling mga paa o maging “self-sustaining” ang social enterprise pagdating sa aspektong pinansyal sapagkat ang operasyon nito ay nangangailangan ng tuloy-tuloy na pondo upang walang patid na mapaglingkuran ang napiling komunidad or adbokasiya. Karaniwan sa mga social enterprise ang kumuha ng mga tauhan o manggagawa mula mismo sa komunidad na pinagsisilbihan nito. Isa sa mga pangunahing layunin ng social enterprise ang mabigyan ng magandang pasuweldo ang kanilang mga tauhan kaya hindi maaaring umasa ang social enterprises sa donasyon lamang.Prayoridad ng rin social enterprise na ibalik sa organisasyon ang mga kinita nito. Ang mga social enterpreneur ay kumikita lamang nang naaayon sa kanyang papel sa pamamalakad ng organisasyon tulad ng mga manggagawa rito. Kung minsan pa nga ay libre lamang ang serbisyo ng isang social entrepreneur sapagkat ang tanging motibo nya lamang ay makatulong sa kapuwa at sa adhikain (at maaaring ang social entrepreneur na ito ay may iba namang hanapbuhay o pinagkakakitaan). Tumatanggap rin ang social enterprise ng mga boluntaryo at partisipasyon mula sa mga non-profit organization at gobyerno upang masigurong mapaglilingkuran nila ng maayos ang napiling komunidad. Ngunit malinaw na hindi maaaring dumepende ang isang social enterprise sa donasyon. Dapat itong maging kumikitang negosyo.

Sagot sa Aking Pansariling Tanong

Sa aking palagay ay hindi pa ako isang ganap na social entrepreneur bagama't maganda naman sa palagay ko ang aking layunin sa pagtatayo ng online business na aking napili. Narating ko ang kongklusyong ito sapagkat wala pa naman akong kongkretong komunidad na napag-aalayan ng serbisyo o benepisyo sa pamamagitan ng aking negosyo. Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin nito na ang aking negosyo ay hindi mabuti. Iba lamang ang mundong ginagalawan ng aking negosyo sa ngayon kung ikukumpara sa mga social enterprise. Ngunit maaari kong sabihin na ang aking negosyo ay inspirasyonal at mayroong corporate social responsibility (CSR). (Sa susunod ay tatalakayin ko naman kung ano ang CSR na ito.) Sa iba pang kagaya ko na nais ring maging negosyante, sa palagay ko ay hindi naman lahat ay dapat naising makapagtayo ng isang social enterprise. Malaking tulong na sa lipunan ang isang negosyo na nakakapagbigay ng trabaho sa iba at nakikilahok sa kalakalan nang may prinsipyo, marangal, at patas na pamamaraan.

Mga Sanggunian:

Bromberger, A. R. 2007. Social Enterprise: A Lawyer’s Perspective. Retrieved from http://www.alissamickels.com/BrombergerSE.pdfConcept Paper for the ILS Research Industry Tours in Bulacan, Pangasinan and Baguio “Promoting Gender Equality Through Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship” Retrieved from http://ilsdole.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012socialenterprise.pdfWalters, K. (2007). The rise of the social entrepreneur. Retrieved from http://startups.co.uk/the-rise-of-the-social-entrepreneur/What is social entrepreneurship. The New Heroes. Retrieved Jan. 20, 2014  from http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/whatis/Copyrhttp://www.socialenterprisecanada.ca/learn/nav/whatisasocialenterprise.htmlhttp://www.centreforsocialenterprise.com/what.html

Human Nature: A Social Enterprise

If I need to explain what social enterprise is to anybody, well, maybe specifically to a fellow Filipino, I would just cite Human Nature and he/she will surely understand what a social enterprise is. I am still currently writing a feature on social entrepreneurship which I hope to serve as an introduction on the field for readers. So for now, let me just share with you this interview I conducted in 2010 for my Master of Development Communication class in UPOU. I am certain you will have a good grasp of what a social enterprise is after seeing the video or reading the transcript below.

1. Interviewer: What is a social enterprise?

Ang social enterprise ay isang venture na hindi lang profit ang tinitignan. It is a business venture but at the same time may tinatawag tayo na social advocacy or social dimension.

2. Interviewer: What is Human Nature?

It started November 28, 2008. Ang nagtayo ng Gandang Kalikasan which is the manufacturer/supplier of Human Nature Products is yung dalawang anak ni Tony Meloto. Si Anna at saka si Camille together with the husband of Anna, si Dylan Wilk. So silang tatlo yung nag-start. They contacted their friends if they will be able to formulate the products.

Human Nature, A Social Enterprise from Human Heart Nature website: www.humanheartnature.com

3. Interviewer: What are the products of Human Nature?

Ang products ng Human Nature from babies to senior citizens. So it’s not really a beauty product per se kaya nga personal care na tinatawag.

Human Nature Products

4. Interviewer: What makes Human Nature a social enterprise?

Di ba ang Human Nature ay pro-Philippines, pro-poor, pro-environment? So that’s the philosophy behind it. Lahat ng ginagawa, whether it’s the product or the process, kinuha sya dun sa philosophy na yun.

Human Nature: Mission, Vision, and Values

Interviewer: Yun ba ang hinahanap ng mga tao ngayon?

For the consumer, I think it’s a plus factor that it’s Philippine made. Kasi the brands like Avon, NUskin, Revlon, etc., lahat iyon abroad. These are imported brands. Na meron lang Philippine arm, which markets these products. Pero yung pinagmumulan ng formulation, yung pinagmumulan ng packaging, everything, abroad yun. Dito, Pilipino talaga yung gumagawa.

5. Interviewer: What is the impact of Human Nature to society?

May tatlong catch words yun eh. Doing good, doing well, and doing right.

Interviewer: Ano-ano po yung ibig sabihin ng mga ito?

Okay, yung doing good, kasi meron agad ito immediate impact sa society. Di ba. Parang kapag sumali ka dito o kaya naging parte ka ng Human Nature, meron kang direct impact on society in two ways: one is you promote Philippine made products which already gives employment or livelihood to the farmers, unlike before na kapag puro palay ang tinatanim ng mga farmers tapos six months silang naghihintay, nababaon sila sa utang pero pag ngayon, im talking of farmers who are GK residents and also farmerswho are members of local farming cooperatives in the provinces, so we are talking here of not individuals, we are talking of families. Kasi for example, sa Bacolod lang, yung nagtatanim ng Tanglad, yung lemon grass, 42 families yun.

Interviewer: Dati ang tinatanim nila is palay?

Palay, sugarcane so kumbaga, sa ngayon, (they plant) high valued crops. We call it high valued crops, yung mga sunflower, aloe vera, citronella, tapos mabilis ang harvest. Hindi sila maghihintay ng anim na buwan para nila anihin yung tinatanim nila. So you’re giving them an alternative rather than sticking to one produce which is rice, you are gving them an alternative so nag-co-crop rotation sila. So at the same time, ang important, hindi na sila nababaon sa utang, kasi meron na silang regular na kinikita. Tapos meron na silang pambili ng ipupunla para sa susunod . So regular yun.

6. Interviewer: Human Nature and Gawad Kalinga

Ang Gandang Kalikasan is a partner or a sister/affiliated enterprise ng Gawad kalinga. Kasi may tie-up din ang Gawad kalinga with NGOs in the provinces. One example is the Philippine Federation for the Environmental Concerns. And then yung tinatawag na Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation. Ito yung mga NGOs na nagpoprovide ng hydropower tsaka solar energy sa mga farms tapos naka-tieup din sa mga regular coops ng farmers. Tinutulungan sila magkaroon ng equipment before, yung initial equipment before dalhin sa planta yung raw materials. At saka what’s important is they are given fair trade prices for their produce so hindi sila binabarat. Hindi sila nalulugi, in fact kumikita sila kasi maganda talaga yung produkto, it’s at the market rate.

Human Nature Social Enterprise Gifts from Partner Social Enterprises

Interview: Plus may training pa kayong binibigay.

May training for organic farming. Kaya sabay-sabay yon. Yun nga yung mga Gawad kalinga residents na pumunta na rin into organic farming, hindi nagtapos ang pagtulong kapag natayo na ang bahay nila. Kasi maraming mga tao lalo na if they come from depressed areas tapos irerelocate nila into a site na may bahay or magtatayo ng bahay, they always say paano yung kabuhayan nila. Di naming maiiwan basta-basta. But if you are giving them an alternative means of livelihood wherein the whole family can participate, kasi ang pagtatanim pati bata (pwede). It is also a good way of family bonding.

7. Interviewer: Human Nature and GK Villages

Tapos ang isa pang paraan kasi merong immersion program of the Human Nature dealers with the GK villages. So we do it once a month. We started last January dito sa Quezon City branch nung January 24 and then on February 27, we will have the second batch of dealers who will be joining. Hindi lang limited to dealers ito kasi the dealers can bring two other people who are not dealers. Kaya nga meron isang dealer dala niya buong family niya eh. Mga anak niya kasama. Family activity. As in elementary yung mga anak.

On February 16, we are going to have a similar interaction program with entrepreneurial students of UST, graduating batch. Sila yung nag-request if we can have an orientation with them. Then isasama din naming sila dun sa one of the GK Villages to encounter similar experiences as the Human Nature dealers.

Tapos yung iba, ang naging offshoot non natuwa sila, nainspire sila dun sa initial interaction, merong isang dealer na preschool teacher pala siya. Sabi niya gusto ko na ito maging regular basis for me. I will do once a week to that GK village kasi may preschool doon na mga bata, yung Sibol. So parang nag-vovolunteer teacher siya. Kasi dinodocument din eh. So yung mga leaders, they will see the pictures of the actual pagwowork nila dun. Tapos yung lunch is niluto ng mga nakatira sa GK residences. So sila yung nagpoprovide ng lunch tsaka yung merienda para sa mga participants.

8. Interviewer: Why Human “Heart” Nature?

Kasi ang tao, mahal niya ang kalikasan. Instead na Human loves Nature, Human heart nature.

Essentials of Homeschooling for Christians

Since we are talking about freelance work and home businesses in this blog, I think homeschooling is not a far off topic to be featured here as well. In fact, I believe one of the reasons why most mothers want to try freelance work or come up with homebased businesses is so that they could give more time attending to their children, and maybe homeschool them as well.

Below is an invitation to a seminar on homeschooling given to me by a friend. Read on and find out if it is for you.


*********

"Hey moms and dads!

Ever wanted to homeschool your kids, but feel a bit overwhelmed about the whole thing? Are you searching for effective ways on how to teach your kids at home? Want to figure out how to homeschool without losing your cool?

Then worry no more. Victory Christian International School has just the right seminar for all our homeschooling parents out there. “Essentials of Homeschooling for Christians” will be happening on Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Tanghalang Pasigueño, Pasig City. Our guest speaker will be Ms. Esther Wilkenson, a mother of three homeschooled children and a National Consultant for Bob Jones University Press (BJU Press), the curriculum followed by our HomeStudy^TM Program. Ms. Esther earned her BS degree in Elementary Education and her MA degree in Biblical Counseling. We are delighted to have her share her insights with us.

This is a unique opportunity not only for homeschooling parents, but also for those who are currently planning to educate their children at home. This seminar will let you know which teaching techniques work best in guiding your child in his studies. It will teach you everything you need to know about homeschooling:


Your best homeschool year ever!
Come discover practical skills and helpful tools to keep you and your kids on track.

The importance of Christian curriculum in homeschooling
Find out the significance of instilling a Biblical world view in a way that encourages learning.

How the brain reads and learns
Reading is the foundational skill of learning—yet so many children struggle to read well with understanding. Knowing how the brain learns can help you overcome many challenges related to attention, comprehension, and retention. 

Tickets are available for only Php 400.00. For inquiries, you may call Ms. Germaine at 775-5705 or (0917) 813-2862.

We’re excited to see you there!"

Click this link for more details: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=746581922021889&set=a.217739488239471.70673.140658475947573&type=1&theater

Online Lead Generation Strategies Seminar by informatics Philippines

Everyone knows how important social media presence is in ensuring freelance or business success nowadays. Hence, I am recommending the Online Lead Generation Strategies Seminar by informatics Philippines to those who want to learn more on getting more clients via online sites.

Click this link for more details: 

http://ellegoesintobusiness.blogspot.com/p/seminars-for-freelancers.html

KEY TO STICKING TO BUSINESS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: NOTE TO SELF

When I decided to quit my job and go into business, I really was not sure if I was ready. But I knew I had to do it because I was no longer happy at work and I did not want my attitude to affect the quality of my outputs. Of course, I was worried over how long will I be able to endure months without a sure source of income. After all, just like majority of minimum income earning Filipino families, I too share in paying for our monthly bills. Yet, I still decided to take a leap of faith, very much like as if I'm opening myself to the possibility of a romantic relationship. I knew that starting a business comes with many challenges, but I did not expect that it will take this long for me to get used to how business really works. Nor was I prepared to see my stash of money quickly evaporating and the calendar shedding pages in a rush before I could even sell an item from my online store. Honestly, sometimes, I thought of giving up, but then, I would look at this little note I wrote just a few months ago and I am reminded why I decided to venture into this unknown world.

Yes, the business that I have put up is a sort of a social enterprise and perhaps, this is also one of the major reasons why I am having difficulties with this quest. I hope to combine earning plus being able to inspire people, in this case, by putting up a business that creates products that inspire children, most especially those in small private schools and public schools, to dream and strive for their dream jobs. I design, create and market the products. And then, I also search for articles on the web to post on my business fan page to inspire readers. I do everything on my own, and that is also another reason why business is still slow. Add to this is the fact that I accept editing and writing jobs because I still need to earn for my family and to have funds to keep my business afloat. I think I really am spreading myself thin.

In times of despair and wanting to give up, I look back at my little note to self. And then the passion flares again!* (Yep! This line is from the song "Sometimes when we touch!") I realize that a little note could contain my business mission statement, and seeing it every day would be my key to sticking to my business goals and objectives.

Now, with my business mission statement written down clearly, I am also becoming more open to other possibilities. Like perhaps, I am just an instrument of this business idea which is really intended for someone else or for a bigger group. Perhaps, I can convince an NGO or other social entrepreneurs to join me or I could endorse my idea to them. And then I could go back finding a job where I could read and write and edit and promote stuff - four things that I also truly love aside from forming business ideas. And through that job, I could still inspire children because I was able to fulfill another dream of mine - earn a decent living through writing.

I also read this quote every day, something I found posted in Bo Sanchez's fan page which said:

"Never give up on the dreams that God has placed in your heart. But you can experiment in various ways in fulfilling them - until you find the right one." - Bo Sanchez

It may take me years to realize my dreams (business and personal dreams at that), and similar to planting a tree, it is normal to wait and have faith that soon I will see my labors bear fruit. 



---------------

*This strategy of writing down one's purpose for doing something is something that I have incorporated in the wall charts which I offer in my business. I practice what I preach! See the wall charts here (click the link):

SOS Dream Job Charts