Likes & Launch

meiflowers:

he goal of GYWSE is to empower young women and provide them with the tools necessary to start a social enterprise.  A social enterprise is a business that operates with both profit goals and social objectives.  Two examples:

The Peepoo: Launched in Bangladesh, the Peepoo is basically a plastic bag that people, who might otherwise relieve themselves on the ground and contaminate the environment, can use instead.  Post-use, people can sell their used Peepoo, which will be converted to fertilizer and re-sold.  This simple concept cleans the environment while providing locals with a source of income.

 The PlayPump: Started in South Africa, the PlayPump is a merry-go-round that uses the energy of children playing on it to operate a water pump.  Ideal for shared use by villages, it serves as a source of entertainment and water.

Both of the above are examples of businesses that generate income while improving the communities they are involved in.  I am particularly interested in social entrepreneurship because of its potential to be self-sustaining, as compared to non-profits which tend to rely on donations in order to operate.