Final Post - BZSE AND ME ♥

I can't quite believe that three years being a Business & Social Enterprise (BZSE) student in Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) has flown by and it's all coming to an end in just a few weeks. I came into the course through the Direct Polytechnic Admission (DPA) because I kind of knew that being a BZSE student was in line with what I wished to do in life.





I had this dream... 








This dream of having the opportunity to give others opportunities - BZSE has made it possible for me to be so much closer to seeing this dream become a reality. From the theory I've learnt in modules and even forums, to the experiences from field trips to places like Cambodia, to the industry project experience in my final year that allowed me to get a taste of how it would really be like if I were a social entrepreneur; BZSE has given me so much in these three years that I thought would take me at least a whole decade of my lifetime to accomplish.

I won't say that it's always been a bed of roses being a BZSE student. I mean, there were times when I doubted if this was really what I wanted. Nevertheless, the good moments outweigh those that weren't so favourable and I am so grateful for being a part of the close-knit culture that is the BZSE family. From the things in my life that has happened in these three years, I have to admit that I am a changed person. I am hardly the squirmy spoilt brat scaredycat that I used to be, but I've become more of a daring dedicated dreamer who's ready to do all that she can to make her time in this life a truly worthwhile one. Hmm.. Okaay, maybe I have not become a total changed person. I have changed. I've grown up. And I owe it to the support from the people I've met as a result of being a BZSE student. Thank you so much, for everything.

I wish to end off with a note to say that, although my journey in BZSE ends here, I hope to make all my lecturers proud of what I will do in the future. (Not sure what the future holds though, but I'm hoping whatever it is, it'll be something that would make BZSE proud of me -- P/s, I am still counting on making my social enterprise fashion boutique a dream come true someday ♡ ) I do not have as much faith in myself as many of you have in me, but it's because you guys believe in me so much that makes me want to try my best so that I don't let anyone down. It's pretty hard writing this post but I just felt like I had to leave a final note of thanks paired with some words from deep inside that would not have seen the light of day had I not put it into writing here. This shan't be the last you'll hear from me - just the last coming from this blog here.

Xx

Week 17 - LEGAL DEETS FOR SOCIAL START-UPS

Image from writtenbysumer.com

This article talks about the legal responsibility that social enterprises cannot overlook while trying to achieve their social goals. Our favourite ice cream store Ben & Jerry's began like most other social enterprises - with two bottom lines: profit and people.  They were fair to employees, easy on the environment, and kind to its cows.  But in 2000, when it got sold to Unilever that is described as “a giant [MNC] clearly focused on the financial bottom line”, it wasn’t because the founders dodged their original social mission, but rather it was because they had a legal responsibility to consider takeover bids, and that particular responsibility forced the sale.

The case of Ben & Jerry’s is said to be what continually haunts social entrepreneurs today.  Taking on the corporate form of an organisation or business entity would mean that one day, they may become the second Ben & Jerry’s.  That is why for the past decade, social entrepreneurs have been calling for new legal forms of organisation for social entrepreneurship all over the world. In the UK, it is recognised that social enterprises are ... However in the US, only certain states like Maryland recognise the B Corp Company, or Benefits Corporation, which focuses on a "triple bottom line" of People, Planet & Profit aka the concept of social entrepreneurship that they term as Non-Profits. And in Singapore, we have something similar to the US' Non-Profits, namely Charities or Institutes of Public Character (IPCs). But these are not social enterprises, and over here, social enterprises face the similar dilemma of not having governance regulations specifically catered for them. They have to follow either the one for Charities and IPCs, or the corporate legal structures. This is extremely difficult for social enterprises because they exist for reasons very different from both of the above. There needs to be a new form of legal structure for social enterprises worldwide, to make things much easier to manage - which could result in the social enterprise sector flourishing and able to do so much more for the world.

If these new forms of legal structures for social enterprises were present at the time Ben & Jerry’s got bought out, then yknow, maybe the outcome may have been different.  But as Ben & Jerry's now demonstrates through their initiatives to try to foster more social entrepreneurs, maybe the only important thing is to do good, regardless of the form of structure(?) - Well, within reason I guess... Definitely take a step back if one is at risk of being involved in some form of legal trouble!

Image from www.forbes.com

I can't help but think back on our Corporate Governance essay assignment where we argued if there should be a separate code of governance for social enterprises here in Singapore to make it easier legally. I mean, imagine having to shut down operations just because a legal requirement was not met. Or worse, imagine being thrown in jail due to a lack in proper legalities when trying to do good with the running of your social enterprise. Shuddering at the thought of that ever happening to me.

Nevertheless, this should not be a discouraging factor stopping anyone who wishes to open a social enterprise of their own someday. (yes - this is definitely directed at me too). I think for me, I'd play it safe. At this young age, let's use our inexperience and lack of knowledge to our advantage here. I'm thinking that, instead of registering our social enterprise as any of the above entities, choose to maybe do something similar to what you have always wanted, but term it as a "project" or "venture" rather than an official social enterprise that has to run by the structures of either a corporate entity or a charity/IPC (this is in reference to the Singapore context)

It may not be anytime soon that I would be setting up a social enterprise (or social "project"/ social "venture"), but if and when I do wish to do that, I am definitely making sure I re-read this all over again so that I can avoid getting into any legal complications with regards to my social enterprise set up!

References

Ip, M. (2012, August 16). Why law is so important for social enterprises. In social enterprise buzz. Retrieved on 2nd February 2013 from http://www.socialenterprisebuzz.com/2012/08/16/why-law-is-so-important-for-social-enterprises/

Week 16 - IS THIS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

Image from http://www.socialenterprisebuzz.com

Look at that - it's a boating school! How cool is that?!
(it kind of reminded me of something...)

Image from www.icollector.com

Anyway, jokes aside. While I am still in complete awe at this remarkable creation, here's some background information on it..

When Abul Hasanat Mohammed Rezwan was young, he found the monsoon floods in his Bangladeshi community very frustrating as it prevented him from travelling to school.  Due to the lack of proper transportation in riverside communities, the residents there did not have access to latest information and learning opportunities.

This problem kept on circulating in Rezwan’s mind, and in 2002 he found an innovative solution for it. Through Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, which is the Bangladeshi non-profit organisation that Mohammed Rezwan himself had established in 1998, he introduced the solar-powered floating schools in north-western Bangladesh’s flood prone region of Chalan Beel.

This simple but extremely effective solution which involved equipping boats with books and computers, and later powered with solar energy is fully furnished, and then used as a teaching space for the village students. The boat can also be used as a form of transportation for the students to and from their homes. These children are no longer deprived of an education as a result of this boating school.

Mohammed Rezwan’s initiative has impacted the lives of 70,000 children and has been recognised worldwide.  From being awarded the Citizen Based Initiative Award of Ashoka Innovator for the Public in 2002, to being noted as Social Entrepreneur of the Global Philanthropy Forum 2006 (US), Rezwan’s floating school project has been praised for its uniqueness and impact.

While Rezwan is being awarded as a social entrepreneur, does this make the boating school a social enterprise?

Image from www.sodahead.com

I believe it's a no... He did not start this boating school as a profit-making entity, therefore it is actually a social innovation. Social enterprises are in fact social innovations as well. So what we're seeing here is that social innovations form the broader category in which social entrepreneurship happens to fall under.

 

 

"Children can't go to school, so we thought the school should come to them." - Abul Hasanat Mohammed Rezwan

References

Nightingale, K. (2007, June 22). Developing world projects toast of the town. In scidev.net. Retrieved on 2 February 2013 from http://www.scidev.net/en/news/developing-world-projects-toast-of-the-town.html

Tasnim, A. (2012, November 22). If the children can't go to school, then the school should come to them. Social enterprise buzz. Retrieved on 2 February 2013 from http://www.socialenterprisebuzz.com/2012/11/22/if-the-children-cant-go-to-school-then-the-school-should-come-to-them/