When Mr. Masao Ogura started the Swan Bakery in Japan, he had only one vision in his mind which is to do something good for the society. Through the Swan Bakery, Ogura employed and trained people with disabilities to work for the bakery’s factory and it’s associated cafe’s. He wanted disabled people to be able to live a normal life and to be accepted by the community for who they are. He provided the disabled with steady incomes and empowered his staff by giving them the responsibility of making their own decisions. He made sure that each employee was given a position that suited their skills and needs. Furthermore, Ogura even established neighborhood programs where Swan staff volunteer in their local neighborhoods, maintaining strong relationships with the residents.
I think Mr. Masao Ogura is a great social entrepreneur. He wants to provide job opportunities for the disabled and ensure a better life for them. He shows great commitment to his vision which goes beyond a profit motive. Through the bakery he created a long lasting impact not just to disabled people, but to the society as a whole as well. The effort that he put into setting up the bakery business shows how passionate he is in wanting to improve society and changing people’s views on the disabled. He shows immense support to the disabled and portrays a good role model – proving that citizens who channel their passion into action can do almost anything.
From its first shop in Ginza, Tokyo, in 1998, Swan Bakery now has 26 franchises nationwide providing employment to more than 280 disabled people.