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

The United Nations is a key international organization responsible for maintaining peace, promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. Major growth and development has come about because of the presence of the UN. Responding to immediate needs and global issues, the United Nations does not offer long term sustainable assistance in the same way that Arc and social enterprise does.

In my opinion, even if the United Nations was fully funded, they would need organizations like Arc Initiative to work in collaboration with. Arc Initiative offers long term support for communities and individuals by providing them with practical business training. After the initial involvement of the UN, social enterprise offers a long term solution and addresses issues with practical, applicable innovation. Social enterprise uses ideas to help locals generate income, thus providing them with a future.

In 2013, my older sister travelled to Ethiopia with a team from Arc Initiative. It was truly inspiring to hear firsthand about the impact her team made and the long term support they were able to provide to local businesses though training. Owner of Salem’s Ethiopia, Salem Kassahun is a local business owner in Addis Ababa who received business training in strategy, marketing and finance through Arc. The training and consultation she received  in 2011 equipped her to further expand and develop her craft boutique. Not only did my sister have the opportunity to meet Salem but she brought home gifts which she had purchased from Salem’s shop.

Hearing stories from my sister, and reading articles about people like Salem has caused me to realize the importance of social enterprise and involvement at a fundamental level. The United Nations and organizations such as Arc work hand in hand in the sense that one tackles micro, and the other deals with macro issues. They are both necessary and extremely important.