49. Become A Social Entrepreneur
More and more individuals are getting fed up with the inaction of governments and putting their own skills to good use in order to change the world. In fact, it’s become so common that there are now several organisations that will fund a social entrepreneurial idea if they like it. But that’s not your only option, there are also many businesses that resolve a social problem and manage to make the solution into a business at the same time, thereby making their project sustainable. Here’s your brief guide to becoming a social entrepreneur:
1.What issues do you feel most passionate about? Is it a particular type of human rights abuse, unethically produced products that not many know about, animal rights abuses, destruction of the rainforest or local habitats, litter or other issues in your local community?
2. Once you’ve decided what really gets your goat, learn everything about it, particularly what can be done to resolve it. Is there something that everyone buys that contributes to this problem and can an alternative be produced?
3. What skills can you bring in to resolve the situation? For example, if it’s poverty, do you have business skills and can speak to large groups of people? If so, you could help people break out of poverty by teaching them how to run their own business. Are you artistic? Are you good at telling stories, listening to people, good at nursing, good at languages, IT or building? All these skills can come in handy. Otherwise, if you can identify a specific skill that’s needed and you don’t have it, can you learn it?
4. How can your idea be sustained? Can you turn it into a business so it can pay for itself or would you need to seek a grant? Could you turn it into a not-for-profit organisation with the knowledge that a lot of people would be interested in funding your idea?
Some examples of social entrepreneurs are:
Green Knickers – this organisation sells knickers made of organic cotton, silk or a cotton hemp mixture so that people have the option of buying more environmentally friendly knickers. (www.greenknickers.org)
Toms Shoes – with every pair of shoes you buy from this organisation, a pair is given to a child in need in South America. (www.tomsshoes.com) Muslim Youth – an organisation set up by Mohammed Mamdani to support young Muslims struggling in a world of conflicting values. (www.muslimyouth.net)
Groups For Budding Social Entrepreneurs
Ashoka – www.ashoka.org
UnLtd – www.unltd.org.uk
Skoll Foundation – www.skollfoundation.org
Schwab Foundation – www.schwabfound.org
The School For Social Entrepreneurs – www.sse.org.uk
Don’t have the time or inspiration to come up with a new idea? That’s fine; chances are, you have a skill or talent that can be tapped into to make a huge difference. It doesn’t have to be something that takes over your life but you could use it on the side of your normal life. For example, if you’re a teacher, you have the potential to influence the children of the future, if you’re an IT whizz, you can get the message across using the internet, if you’re an artist, you can use a beautiful piece of work to inspire others, if you are good at charming people, you can use this to influence people to make a difference themselves. Even a one-off piece of work can make a huge difference.
50. Raise Funds For Your Favourite Charities
All charities need cash to help them in their work but there’s only so much one person can give! However, a lot of people giving a little bit each can certainly add up! There are a number of ways you can raise funds for your favourite charity.
Sponsored Event
You could ask friends, colleagues and family to sponsor you to undertake a huge feet such as a 20 mile walk or a fast (you could also donate the money that you would have spent on food had it not been for the fast).
Fundraising Event
You could organise an event; how about a vegan food fest if you’re an animal lover? A fairtrade tea and cake party if you’re raising to help end poverty? A party or an event for children? You can often rent out rooms in your local library or community centre for a reasonable price or you could use your home!
Organise a Raffle
You could also organise a raffle; often local businesses will be willing to sup-port charities by donating some of their services or products which can be won as raffle prizes.
Organise a Dress Down Day
Talk to whoever’s in charge of your school or office and see if you can organise a dress down day; if everyone pays a pound to go in whatever clothes they like, you’ll soon raise a fair bit of money.
Work for Free
Offer a free service in exchange for a donation to your favourite charity. You could do someone’s gardening, do their housework, wash their car or childmind.
Sell Your Old Items
You can clear some space by selling items you no longer use and giving the proceeds to your favourite charity. You could either sell them on ebay, Gum-tree or at your local car boot sale.
Sell New Items
You could make your own crafts such as jewellery or cards. Or you could make food items such as cakes, chocolates or pastries and sell them with all the profits going to charity.
There are many issues that people don’t know about or causes where people don’t know what they can do to help. With nearly every issue or cause, enough people knowing about it and acting accordingly is one the keys to resolving it. So for whatever cause you want to spread the word about, here are some ideas:
Ø You could post a link or widget on your blog or social network page
Ø A number of organisations have leaflets which they will happily give you to door drop or hand out for them.
Ø You could organise an information stall with friends or family. With a variety of leaflets, information and petitions, this could be a great way of spreading the word and harnessing support.
Ø Use badges on your bags or coats or car stickers to get your message across.
Ø If you are a confident speaker, you could arrange an event to discuss the cause you want to harness support for.
Ø Write messages and website addresses on bank notes; this can ensure the message will be passed through many hands.
Ø See if your local college, school or library will allow you to set up an in-formation board about your particular issue.
Ø Anyone can edit Wikipedia; see if you can put something in about your cause or elaborate on what someone else has written.
Ø Word of mouth
How you deliver your message is just as important as the fact that it needs to be delivered. Here’s some tips from ‘How To Win Friends And Influence People’
Ø Don't criticise, condemn or complain.
Ø Give honest and sincere appreciation.
Ø Arouse in the other person an eager want.
Ø Become genuinely interested in other people.
Ø Smile.
Ø Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
Ø Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Ø Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
Ø Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.
Ø The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.