Immediately upon reading the opening sentence of Yuwei Wei’s post, I could tell her opinions on social enterprises versus charities were congruent with mine. Referring to charities as being “bandaid solutions” makes for an excellent analogy. Seen across the globe time and time again are charities trying to temporarily relieve the less fortunate through the use of soup kitchens, charitable donations, and the like. These often prove to be more of a conscience cleaner for those involved than a solution to the problem at hand.
The idea of short-term aid as opposed to a long-term solution is echoed in the “give a man a fish… teach a man to fish…” proverb, and is not a new concept or idea. Society needs to create opportunities for those who cannot help themselves to learn the skills and gain the experience they require to be self-sufficient.
So social enterprises are the be-all, end-all solution to society’s worries? No, not exactly. While these types of entrepreneurial effort are extremely effective, they cannot hope to reach every impoverished or malnourished individual. I feel that hybrid enterprises, part profit driven and part social impact driven, would attract a larger audience of entrepreneurs; creating opportunities for the less-fortunate while still making a profit may entice a more diverse group of individuals.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2005/jul/06/communities.homelessness