* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
There is no doubt that we've made progress in an effort to reshape our planet into a home that's both safer and full of opportunity for all. But the question is this: What can we do to rev up the rate of positive change?
Why not lean a bit more on the methodologies of social entrepreneurs? These social innovators know people in poverty at a personal level, very often better than governments do. They’re in business precisely because they're aware of what consumers at the last-mile need and desire. Social entrepreneurs use their services, programs and technologies to changebehaviors, whether its record-keeping or hand-washing, so that families can live better and children can reach their potential.
So what that many of these leading social innovators are under 30 years old? In a way, that should be expected. “The millennial generation is more educated than those in years past, more connected, and in many ways more socially conscious,” said Mark Marich, executive vice president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network.
Young people are frustrated by often tokenistic forms of civic engagement, like voting. They also believe, per Deloitte, that business must be reset to focus on the greater good. “Entrepreneurship is the way young people today can participate and make a tangible difference. Entrepreneurship gives young people their voice,” said Steve Metcalfe, head of communications and campaigns at Youth Business International (YBI).
The blurring lines between profits and purpose, as well as the sheer number of people between 10-24 (1.8 billion and counting, says the UNFPA), offer a multiplier effect for society. Young founders dedicated to making the world a better, more equal place, are tackling interrelated global issues like poverty and health. They’re also opening doors to inclusion for those less business savvy. According to a study by the S4YE Coalition, of which the World Bank is a member, young founders are more likely than older entrepreneurs to hire other young people.
Enabling entrepreneurs with financing, peer support and mentoring will fire up a powerful sustainable development engine. Metcalfe says that the trick is to think globally but act locally, in order to effectively increase impact without dramatically increasing costs.
The Sustainable Development Goals, and the challenges they represent, can be quite terrifying if you’re an entrepreneur. You think,What am I gonna do to solve the world’s problems? There are some innovators that are hugely visionary and have global ambition, but, for many, it’s identifying a problem in their local community, seeing how to address that to make that local community better,” Metcalfe said. “If more people did that at a local level we’d be in a much better position.”
Local solutions need not be confined by any given city limit. An innovation for smarter water management that works in Bangalore, for example, could be adapted for utility companies and consumers in Bangkok or even Baltimore. Local solutions need not be small-scale solutions, either. Entrepreneurs that make a difference at a personal, household or regional level have a chance to partner with government. Typically risk averse, not wanting to spend taxpayer dollars on an innovation that may work, governments want to see demonstrated proof of impact.
In Mexico, where 97 percent of the population has access to electricity, the entrepreneurs behind Iluméxico are delivering electricity to millions who have never had it. Iluméxico is offering off-grid families that make less than $7 per day solar power, along with financing and servicing, which motivated state governments in Mexico to partner with Iluméxico in the push for universal energy access. And the entrepreneurs behind the social enterprise VOTO Mobile are using mobile technology in a dozen countries to close feedback loops between governments and development agencies and their constituents, especially those in poverty, saving costs and sometimes lives.
These are just two of countless examples of entrepreneurs who are making sure that everyone has a say in building a brighter future. Now, where does this new normal set our odds to meet each of the 17 very ambitious Global Goals by 2030?
“You can’t put a percentage on things like this. But everyone is hopeful that there is more interest, more attention, more awareness, and more willingness to get involved. And today’s class of entrepreneur certainly seems to care more about making a difference than just about making money,” Marich said.
One thing, however, is certain: There are, and will continue to be, more and more opportunities to live social impact every day.
This story is part of a series which spotlights social entrepreneurship’s role in changing the world for the better, produced to support the Unilever Sustainable Living Young Entrepreneurs Awards, launched by Unilever in partnership with Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and in collaboration with Ashoka.
Are you tackling the Global Goals with your startup? Enter your idea today at changemakers.com/globalgoals2015. You still have time! We’ve extended the entry deadline to Nov. 20 to honor Global Entrepreneurship Week.
This article was originally published on Virgin.com
