I am very fortunate to work in the world of social enterprise, both in a profit and not for profit sense, where the mandate of my organization is to assist to make these organizations more viable financially.
Because of my work, I am able to see the web of goodness and goodwill that is permeating the world. I get to encounter the good hearts and intentions of those who drive these organizations solely with the mandate of serving others, and serving the planet.
One rarely reads about these enterprises as they are lost in the shuffle of the doom and gloom that radiates out from our media like a lethal disease. And yet, behind the scenes (largely) these organizations are assisting entrepreneurs in the developing world to meet the needs of an impoverished society through the basics, such as making sure they have solar power to run their lives, or adequate sanitation facilities to make living in the slums more bearable.
In our continent, we peripherally get to hear about urban farmers planting vegetables on the top of buildings in Manhattan and Brooklyn or educators who are working with the disadvantaged in the school system, those that the mainstream has written off. But I am in touch with them every day and I admire them enormously and consider it a privilege to assist them in any way I can. Many others are doing the same.
Behind the stories of greed and callousness in the financial world, beyond the superficial fripperies that still hold us in their thrall, a new society is quietly emerging made up of people who truly care. And because their hearts are in the right place, they will succeed.
People/planet/profit, that is the credo, and in that order.
Because of my work, I am able to see the web of goodness and goodwill that is permeating the world. I get to encounter the good hearts and intentions of those who drive these organizations solely with the mandate of serving others, and serving the planet.
One rarely reads about these enterprises as they are lost in the shuffle of the doom and gloom that radiates out from our media like a lethal disease. And yet, behind the scenes (largely) these organizations are assisting entrepreneurs in the developing world to meet the needs of an impoverished society through the basics, such as making sure they have solar power to run their lives, or adequate sanitation facilities to make living in the slums more bearable.
In our continent, we peripherally get to hear about urban farmers planting vegetables on the top of buildings in Manhattan and Brooklyn or educators who are working with the disadvantaged in the school system, those that the mainstream has written off. But I am in touch with them every day and I admire them enormously and consider it a privilege to assist them in any way I can. Many others are doing the same.
Behind the stories of greed and callousness in the financial world, beyond the superficial fripperies that still hold us in their thrall, a new society is quietly emerging made up of people who truly care. And because their hearts are in the right place, they will succeed.
People/planet/profit, that is the credo, and in that order.