Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship’s Post

Inspiring Change Through Faith: Ukraine's Journey of Social Entrepreneurship. In Ukraine's challenging landscape, a beacon of hope shines brightly through social entrepreneurship, deeply rooted in Catholic social teachings. Imagine communities embattled by economic hardship, yet within this adversity, faith-driven social entrepreneurs emerge as harbingers of change. They wield the dual forces of compassion and innovation, inspired by Pope Francis' call for actionable mercy, to lift their fellow citizens out of poverty and despair. These social enterprises transcend traditional profit motives, embedding solidarity and subsidiarity at their core. By transforming beneficiaries into active wealth creators, they offer more than just jobs; they rebuild lives with dignity and purpose. This approach defies the dependency cycle often spurred by conventional aid, championing instead a model of empowerment and mutual growth. Highlighted by the Platform for Social Change, these initiatives marry economic development with spiritual nourishment. They tackle not only the material needs of food, education, and healthcare but also nurture the soul, embodying a holistic vision for human development. From innovative social business models to grassroots volunteer programs and shelters turned into havens for the displaced, the spectrum of Catholic-inspired projects is broad and impactful. Yet, the journey is fraught with hurdles. The transformation from concept to sustainable enterprise demands perseverance, creativity, and a deep understanding of the communities served. It's a testament to the resilience of the Ukrainian spirit and the catalytic role of faith in driving societal progress. As we champion this cause, we call upon you—entrepreneurs, professional associations, and supporters of social change—to join us. Together, we can foster a future where social entrepreneurship is not just a pathway out of poverty but a means to cultivate a more compassionate, equitable, and thriving society for all. #SocialEntrepreneurship #CatholicSocialTeaching #InnovationForChange

📢 **Access Report Unveils Challenges for Ethnic Minority Social Entrepreneurs** A recent report by Dechomai Ltd Firstport and Social Investment Scotland has shed light on the significant hurdles ethnic minority social entrepreneurs face when seeking investment. The findings highlight systemic barriers, including limited access to networks, biased funding practices, and a lack of tailored support, that impede the growth and success of these entrepreneurs. 🔍 **Key Findings:** - Ethnic minority social entrepreneurs often encounter discrimination and bias in funding processes. - There is a critical need for more inclusive networks and mentorship opportunities. - Tailored financial support and resources are scarce, making it harder for these entrepreneurs to scale their ventures. 📢 **Take Action Now!** 1) Read the full report: [Access Report] https://lnkd.in/eNGv2gNz 2) Contact me to learn more about how you can make a difference: bayile@dechomai.co.uk Together, we can break down barriers and create a more equitable environment for all social entrepreneurs. Let's work towards an inclusive future where every entrepreneur has the opportunity to thrive! Supported by Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government Ecosystem Fund, the study is a collaboration between Dechomai, Firstport, and Social Investment Scotland (SIS). 💡 Thiago Carmo Kim Wallace Kojofori Amoyaw-Osei George Tah Jeremy Miles CEIS Group Lauren Scott Dr. Wendy Wu, Ph.D. SFHEA - True Knowledge Reflected in Action Darren Osborne Lydia Everitt Kieran Daly (He/Him) Carmen Paputa-Dutu dinna likonde Alice Gababyat Viana Maya FRSA Kate Forbes MSP Mark Logan Ana Stewart Professor Ross Tuffee Professor Joe Little Dr Samuel Mwaūra King Omeihe #InclusiveInvestment #SupportEthnicMinorityEntrepreneurs #FinancialEquity

In recent months, I’ve spent a lot of time with rural communities across Ukraine, hearing their stories, struggles, and successes. One thing stands out—businesses, local leaders, churches, and civil society often operate separately, each focused on their own priorities. While this approach may seem logical, it misses a crucial point: true progress comes when we work together. Like the parts of a body, these entities need to collaborate for the whole community to thrive. That’s where my team and I step in. We’ve been developing strategies to unite these groups and create stronger, more connected communities. A key part of this effort is social entrepreneurship, which we've identified as a powerful driver of rural development. After extensive focus groups and strategy sessions, we’ve pinpointed three major impacts social enterprises have on rural areas. 1. Economic Resilience In rural regions, creating jobs is not just important—it’s critical. Opportunities are scarce, and social enterprises help fill this gap by leveraging local resources and solving market failures. These enterprises tap into the community’s strengths, bringing economic stability to areas where traditional businesses might falter. 2. Community Cohesion Social enterprises do more than create jobs; they foster a shared purpose. In isolated rural areas, where community bonds can weaken, these organizations bring people together around a common mission. Whether by offering services to vulnerable groups or encouraging local involvement, they help build cooperation and community ownership. 3. Added Value The impact of social enterprises extends far beyond immediate economic benefits. Take, for instance, a social enterprise focused on environmental sustainability by recycling books. It not only trains young people and provides jobs, but also reduces landfill waste and lightens the load on social services. These small steps can create a ripple effect, bringing long-term change to both economic and social spheres. In today’s Ukraine, especially during such challenging times, the role of social enterprises is crucial. They’re not just filling the gaps left by public services—they’re creating innovative, lasting solutions to local problems. By working together, we can build resilient, thriving communities through social entrepreneurship. Let’s turn challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. #PlatformForSocialChange #SocialEntrepreneurship #StandWithUkraine

🤝 Our friends at Dechomai Ltd, Firstport, and Social Investment Scotland have investigated the challenges faced by ethnic minority social entrepreneurs in accessing finance. 📈 The report reveals key insights such as: - 70% of investment providers lack specific goals for engaging with ethnic minority entrepreneurs. - 76% of investors offer 'one size fits all' products, ignoring the unique needs and challenges faced by social entrepreneurs from black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds.  - The barriers identified include low awareness of the social investment market, little or no wraparound support during the application process, low levels of trust in financial institutions and difficulty navigating the business support ecosystem.  The report outlines strategic recommendations to improve awareness and access to social investment, ensuring a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape. 📄 Read the full report here: (https://lnkd.in/emEr9vfz)

Hybrid organizations and hybridity for social entrepreneurship and innovation 2 Hybridity of logics: the institutional environment for social entrepreneurship in poverty contexts Kerryn Krige, Filip De Beule and Alex Bignotti [Presentation by Filip] Krige and colleagues’ research significantly advances the understanding of the institutional environment for social entrepreneurship in poverty contexts, particularly in culturally diverse settings such as South Africa. They contend that Western frameworks neglect the essential role of informal-indigenous institutions in shaping entrepreneurial activities. Their study enriches the discourse by focusing on the complexity and diversity of these environments, thereby offering new insights for both theory and practice in social entrepreneurship. Adopting an “inside-out” research design, Krige and colleagues capture the nuances of indigenous systems and their influence on social entrepreneurship. They examine how social enterprises operate within contexts characterized by high inequality and varying levels of poverty. Their methodological approach integrates both formal and informal institutions, recognizing that resource accumulation, trust, and legitimacy are built within these distinct frameworks. Their findings reveal that these organizations rely on both formal mechanisms, such as the banking sector, and informal mechanisms, including relationships with tribal elders and religious leaders, to build trust and legitimacy. This blending of institutional logics reflects the complexity and hybridity of their operational environment, highlighting the importance of local knowledge and context-specific strategies. Their research contributes to institutional theory by demonstrating how it applies in emerging and challenging market contexts, showing that social entrepreneurship in poverty settings is shaped by both formal and informal mechanisms. The study also confirms that social entrepreneurship organizations in South Africa are generally micro-sized, registered, and deeply embedded in their communities. By providing insights into the unique institutional dynamics of social entrepreneurship in these contexts, Krige and colleagues' work offers valuable guidance for policy development across the African continent and underscores the importance of incorporating both formal and informal factors to support social innovation effectively. Pascal Dey Maria Riniker #ISIRC2024 #SocialInnovation #sustainability #SocialEntrepreneurship #SocialEnterprise #informalSector #InformalMarkets Yuanyuan Dhirendra David

Dear Friends and Supporters, We invite you to join us in a transformative mission: empowering underprivileged students with the knowledge and skills to become the next generation of social entrepreneurs. Your generous contribution can make a world of difference in their lives and the communities they will impact.Imagine a world where every young mind has the opportunity to become a changemaker, regardless of their background. At Hamari Pahachan, we believe that social entrepreneurship can unlock this potential and transform lives. Our mission is to equip underprivileged students with the skills, knowledge, and mentorship they need to become tomorrow’s leaders in social innovation. Social entrepreneurship goes beyond traditional business; it combines innovative solutions with a commitment to social change. By teaching students how to create and sustain ventures that address societal challenges, we empower them to be both economically independent and impactful in their communities. Many talented young individuals from underprivileged backgrounds lack access to quality education and resources that can help them realize their entrepreneurial dreams. This gap limits their personal growth and deprives society of their potential contributions. Your support can help bridge this gap and create a ripple effect of positive change. https://lnkd.in/gxyeGsSr

As a digital creator passionate about African entrepreneurs, I host the YouTube show #AfricanEntrepreneursinDiaspora. My mission goes beyond advocating for fellow African entrepreneurs; I also explore ways we can positively impact our economies and the countries we reside in. One entrepreneur I deeply admire and consider a role model is Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R. Since discovering him on Forbes in 2015, I've aspired to be part of the TEF Foundation. His influence is something I endlessly admire. I recently came across an article he wrote, which you can find here👉🏽https://lnkd.in/dcq4qSbx. I'm in awe of the incredible work Tony Elumelu is doing with the #TonyElumeluFoundation. Here are some highlights from the article: - Empowering Entrepreneurs: The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has empowered 20,000 entrepreneurs across 54 African countries, creating 400,000 jobs and generating over $2.3 billion in revenue. - Climate Change Focus: TEF has partnered with organizations like UNICEF and IKEA Foundation to launch a Green Entrepreneurship Program, addressing climate change through youth entrepreneurship. - Africapitalism: This concept emphasizes private sector-led partnerships to foster prosperity and tackle climate challenges in Africa. -Future Challenges and Opportunities: Africa faces significant climate threats, but these also present opportunities for entrepreneurial solutions, particularly in agriculture and sustainable practices. It's inspiring to know that being an African and youth entrepreneur not only benefits the economy but also provides solutions to climate change. I look forward to seeing more African entrepreneurs emerge and give a big shout-out to the #TonyElumeluFoundation for their impactful work! ----- #AfricanEntrepreneurs #DiasporaSuccess #TonyElumelu #TEFImpact #Empowerment #ClimateAction #Africapitalism #YouthEntrepreneurs #SustainableAfrica #EconomicGrowth #GreenEntrepreneurship #InspiringLeaders

💡Community of Practice is a catalyst for building a more sustainable and fairer society.   🌱This week, we had the opportunity to publicly discuss the significance and benefits of Community of Practice in social economy and social entrepreneurship at the regional level. The meeting of social enterprises in Prešov self-governing region brought together a group of experts, key stakeholders, and enthusiasts to establish the first Community of Practice under the guidance of World Bank experts. 🤝Thank you Alina-Nona Petric Vladimir Benc Imren Arslanoglu   A Community of Practice is a time-tested approach for sharing experiences, innovations, inspirations, and also needs in creating a favourable ecosystem for social economy and social entrepreneurship. It is important to recognize that advocacy and policy influence within a CoP are powerful tools for driving change.   It is amazing to see how collective effort and knowledge sharing can lead to significant advancements and innovations. Investing in the development and support of CoP in the field of social entrepreneurship is an investment in the future, bringing benefits to society as a whole.   #CommunityOfPractice #Innovation

In our latest op-ed, our Executive Director, Peter Fry, makes a compelling case for supporting faith-driven entrepreneurship in Kenya. He explores the challenges faced by #SMEs in their quest for growth, the inherent aspect of faith in Kingdom businesses, and the need to support faith-driven enterprises to foster social and economic development. "This alternative approach creates a more sustainable and impactful solution....providing #jobs and income that empower individuals and families to lift themselves out of #poverty. The approach epitomizes our calling as believers: to take up our talents and skills and create sustainable businesses that bring heaven to earth," he writes. ➡️Read more: https://lnkd.in/dZeDaXuD Sinapis Resource Global Christian Business Angels

Midnight Reflections, In my journey with Forezava , a social enterprise aimed at community impact, I've encountered significant hurdles that many young African social entrepreneurs face. Despite our dedication and investment, translating vision into tangible impact and sustainable incomes remains elusive. And this story can be retold over and over by millions other young social enterprises in Africa and the rest of the World. We believe these are some recommendations for fostering a more supportive environment for young startups: 1. Access to Investment: Establish funding mechanisms specifically tailored for young entrepreneurs, providing both financial support and mentorship to guide them through the complexities of building sustainable enterprises. 2. Capacity Building: Invest in programs that offer practical skills training, business development, and mentorship opportunities to equip young entrepreneurs with the tools needed to navigate challenges and scale their ventures effectively. 3. Policy Support: Advocate for policies that incentivize and support social entrepreneurship, including tax breaks, regulatory frameworks that foster innovation, and procurement opportunities for social enterprises. 4. Networking and Collaboration: Foster a collaborative ecosystem where young entrepreneurs can connect, share resources, and learn from each other's experiences. Initiatives such as incubators, co-working spaces, and networking events can facilitate these interactions. 5. Focus on Sustainability: Encourage a shift towards sustainable business models that prioritize social impact alongside financial viability. Support initiatives that promote environmentally friendly practices, ethical sourcing, and community engagement. By addressing these key areas, we can create a more conducive environment for young African social entrepreneurs to thrive, driving meaningful change and sustainable development across the continent.