Social Enterprise – Brendan Lancaster's Blog

“If the United Nations was fully funded why would we need the Arc or social enterprise?

The Arc Initiative is an extracurricular program at the Sauder School of Business that “facilitates a genuine two-way exchange of knowledge and business skills” in developing countries. This program provides students with an opportunity to experience a foreign country and to help local business owners develop their businesses through internships. I think that the world needs programs like the Arc to provide entrepreneurs with knowledge when a sufficient business education may not be readily available. In countries such as Ethiopia, where the Arc Initiative is active, business owners who attended the Arc’s workshop found it extremely helpful because it introduced them to multiple facets of business. More information can be found by viewing this YouTube video documenting the student experience of the Arc Initiative.

The world also needs social entrepreneurs to initiate small businesses in developing countries. This YouTube video shares Mohammad Yunus’ story and his vision for change. In the 1970’s, Yunus noticed that in one village in Bangladesh, 42 people needed only $27.00 to break out of poverty and pay back greedy money lenders. He gave these people the money that they needed and spawned “microfinance”. The world needs more change makers like Yunus to help people in developing countries break out of poverty and have the chance to grow their own businesses.

Mohammad Yunus

Social change is something that I am very passionate about. In June 2013 I traveled to Peru with a group of students from my high school to rebuild houses in the slums of Lima. Making a difference in these people’s lives was an amazing experience and one of the most memorable times of my life. I hope to continue to help developing countries and social enterprise and the Arc Initiative would be a great way for me to continue to make a difference.