” If the United Nations was fully funded why would we need the Arc or social enterprise”?
The United Nations and social enterprises have a common goal of making the world a better place by improving human and environmental well-being all around the globe. To achieve this, these organizations work to solve issues such as hunger, human rights violations, pollution, disease and illiteracy.
Despite having common goals, the United Nations and social enterprises such as the Arc Initiative approach these issues in different ways. The United Nations, being a government organization, acts on a larger scale to solve global issues. It works to solve problems such as malnutrition in impoverish communities with programs like the World Food Programme which has food distribution structures in 70 countries.
Social enterprises, on the other hand, work on a much smaller scale and therefore work to solve more specific and focused issues. This entails that each social enterprise can solve their respective problems in unique, innovative and creative ways. The Arc Initiative, for example, works to improve economic well-being in communities in South Africa, Ethiopia, Colombia and Rwanda by developing leadership and business management skills. What truly differentiates The Arc Initiative from the United Nations programs is its emphasis on establishing and maintaining a two-way exchange of knowledge and skills. As a smaller organization, people involved in The Arc are able to build long-lasting relationships where both sides can learn from one another. Together, they work to build sustainable solutions to improve the living standards of people in the community. Regardless of the size of the organizations or the approach they take, both organizations are essential in helping to solve issues that plague the globe.
Sources:
http://www.un.org/en/
http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/Global_Reach/ARC_Initiative
Images: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/World_Food_Programme_in_Liberia_002.jpg
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