Massive Open Online Course for Future Social Innovators

Massive Open Online Course for Future Social Innovators

After successfully piloted “Champions of Change” training course for facilitators of social innovation in Liverpool, UK in March 2018, partners of  “Tomorrow’s Land” project  introduce Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)  for future social innovators. 

The MOOC is based on learning approach that combines theory, inspiration, practice, self-reflection and discussion with peers. It is designed as a journey, where learner has a destination to reach: collect ideas, skills and tools to foster social innovation idea.

The course consists of 7 Modules: 2 introductory paths that help in preparing for the “journey”, understand the context and explore the Tomorrow’s Land Map, and 5 main paths dedicated to exploring a specific aspects and competences that social innovators need to have in a backpack:

Module 1 | Welcome to Tomorrow´s Land – to understand the concept of social innovation in Tomorrow’s Land, Define personal view on social innovation and goals for participating in this training activity.

Module 2 | The Explorer Guide Intro – to consult the Tomorrow’s Land Map, refine own social innovation idea, that relates to any of 8 important “regions” of Tomorrow’s Land, define and select skills to improve, thinking about 5 profiles of social innovator: “Creative thinker”, “Connector”, “Implementer”, Catalyst for Change” and “Techie” >>>

Module 3 | Creative Thinker Path
Module 4 | Implementer Path
Module 5 | Connector Path
Module 6 | Catalyst for Change Path
Module 7 | Techie Path

Activities of the course aren’t scheduled, so one can take a time to explore, search for more and get inspired by specific themes. The resources can be used for individual learning, as well as for organising training activities within a group. All materials are now available in English, but soon other languages will be added for more people being engaged and facilitate from the course.  It is completely free of charge and at the end of the course Certificate of Accomplishment is available for the whole course or only one or few specific modules of interest. Certificate will be released to anyone who has successfully completed the course by correctly answering at least 60% of the questions of the quiz.

The goal of Tomorrow’s Land project is to develop the next generation of social innovators fully capable of influencing and contributing to the development of a better, more inclusive and innovative society. In order to do so, Tomorrow’s Land will deliver a high quality MOOC to support the development of key knowledge and competences required for the future social innovators to succeed.

To know more, take a look on:

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)  REGISTER NOW!

(Pilot version of the online course is available until 2nd of June. Afterwards some improvements and more language options are planned to be implemented)

Video

Project information

Strategic Foresight of Tomorrow’s Land

Source: http://socialinnovation.lv/en/experience-tomorrows-land-for-gaining-awareness-and-learning-path/

This German social enterprise wants to hire your grandma to bake cakes

This German social enterprise wants to hire your grandma to bake cakes

If you find yourself in Munich with a hankering for your nan’s baked goods, a trip to Kuchentratsch(German for cake chat or gossip) should be high on the to-do list. Your grandma might not be there, but someone else’s will!

Founded by Katharina Mayer in 2015, the German bakery brands itself as a start-up helping retired pensioners stay active by providing them with part-time employment. The bakery is currently staffed by 35 opas and omas (grandpas and grandmas) over the age of 65, who craft old-fashioned cakes and other baked goods with love.

Continue to the original post.

“Building Social Business” – Muhammad Yunus
| | |

“Building Social Business” – Muhammad Yunus

What is social business? And how is it different from Social Enterprise?

The term “social business” in European literature has no distinction between social enterprise and social business – they use the term interchangeably. For our purposes we have chosen to make a distinction between social enterprise and social business: the business model that Muhammad Yunus has actively promoted and exemplified in his social entrepreneurial career.

This business model when observed at first glance may seem either extremely altruistic or a pipe-dream for the capitalist minded individual. That may be true, but when you look at the empire, yes empire, the Grameen Group (Muhammed Yunus’ companies born from his original company Grameen Bank based on micro-finance) now counts an impressive 21 social business ventures to its family.

It is true that the social business model is designed with poorer countries in mind, where profit seeking initiatives only create barriers for goods and services that could otherwise be accessible (with some ingenuity) to these populations. Even so, there are poor segments in otherwise rich countries, and this business model if applied with the intent it was created for, can progressively function as a tool to eradicate poverty.

As for the definition, the best source is the original source. Below are the key concepts as described in “Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism that Serves Humanity’s Most Pressing Needs” by Muhammad Yunus

Glossary of terms

Non-loss: A distinction from non-profit organizations: The aim for a social business is to have no loss, but can still make a profit.

Non-dividend: shareholders at no time receive a return on investment. What the investor put into the business will be returned at no extra increase of inflation or interest. 20.000 ISK today will be the same in 10 years’ time.

Investor owned: the social business must have individuals or organizations that take on the role of investor with purely social good as their motive (as above they do not receive any return over and above their original investment). The reason here is aligned more so with investors in a profit seeking business (which is investor owned), as opposed to an NGO (which is board controlled).

Definitions

Social business: a non-loss, non-dividend, investor owned organization, where 100% of it‘s resources are for social good. All surplus (profit) is reinvested into the business, eg, 100% is for profit social. There are two distinct types of social businesses.

Type 1: non-loss, non-dividend, investor owned. It solves a social problem & is owned by investors who reinvest their profits in expanding & improving the business. The investors do not earn a profit or dividend and can take out the original investment over time, but dollar for dollar.

Type 2: A profit-making company owned by poor people, either directly or through a trust that is dedicated to a predefined social cause. Profits go to alleviating poverty.

The Principles of social businesses:

1)      The business objective is to overcome poverty, or one or more problems (such as education, health, technology access, and environment) that threaten people and society- not to maximize profit.

2)      The company will attain financial & economic sustainability

3)      Investors get back only their investment amount. No dividend is given beyond the return of the original investment.

4)      When the investment amount is paid back, profit stays with the company for expansion and improvement.

5)      The company will be environmentally conscious

6)      The workforce gets market wage with better-than-standard working conditions

7)      Do it with joy!!!

#StartingGood Social Enterprise Virtual Summit
| | |

#StartingGood Social Enterprise Virtual Summit

Do you need some skills and knowledge to help turn your ideas into reality to take action to create a better word?

The #StartingGood Social Enterprise Virtual Summit is a free to access online summit running from 19 -31 March 2018, featuring inspiring changemakers and doers in social innovation who will be sharing their journey, as well as practical actionable sessions, such as ‘ Sales Masterclass: The Sales Mindset You Need for Social Enterprise Success’.

The summit material includes:

(1) Personal stories, major learnings, and inspiring visions from world renowned social innovators.
(2) Tailored, actionable tips and ideas to grow your impact and leave with the tools you need to create real, meaningful change.

There will be 2-3 video sessions each day with a mix of interviews, presentations and masterclasses.

All videos will be accessible to registered attendees until April 7, so you can catch up on the sessions you miss!

Signup now

Business Model in Iceland: geoSilica
|

Business Model in Iceland: geoSilica

GeoSilica’s mission is to utilise waste from geothermal production to create a sustainable environment.

The company geoSilica Iceland ehf. was founded by Burkni Pálsson, Fida Abu Libdeh, and Agnir ehf., pursuant to their final theses done as a part of their B.Sc. studies in Energy and Environmental Engineering at Keilir Institute of Technology. In the fall of 2012 they received a grant from Tækniþróunarsjóður (The Icelandic Technology Fund) which will secure financing for the company for the next three years. The company also had the special honor of being among the top ten finalists in Gulleggið 2013, which is the largest entrepreneurship and innovation competition in Iceland.

The main objective of the company is to develop high quality silica healthcare products utilizing wastewater from the geothermal power plants in Iceland which today is largely an unused natural resource. The silica in geothermal fluids can cause severe scaling problems and because of that the fluid is usually re-injected into the geothermal reservoir which is very costly, or pumped out to sea if possible.

“geoSilica has developed a two-step production process. In the first step, the silica concentration in the separated geothermal water is increased many tenfold without changing the chemical composition of the water. In the second step, the geothermal water is gradually replaced by clean ground water from the area while keeping the silica concentration constant. The end product is highly pure silica in the form of extremely small silica particles in clean ground water. Absolutely no chemicals of any kind are used in the production.

geoSilica’s first product was released late 2014, a liquid silica supplement made from 100% natural silica. As of now, geoSilica has already started developing a new product in order to increase its product range.”[1]

Research have increasingly shown that silicon is an extremely necessary trace mineral for the human body. Silicon is necessary for the correct and efficient formation of collagen which is the main component of connective tissue. Furthermore, it seems play a key role in the formation and growth of bones and directs the body where to deposit minerals as well as helps with depositing them. Silicon is also necessary for a good health of skin, teeth, hair, and nails. Also, research has shown that extra doses of silica can be preventive for osteoporosis in women. Finally, silicon can help the body rid itself of accumulated aluminium which can cause symptoms similar to that of Alzheimer disease and dementia.

They are based in the old US navy base in Keflavik. This area has low employment opportunities. GeoSilica would like to create jobs for the local community in Reykjanesbær as well as they make great effort in doing business and shopping for what they need in their community, rather than going elsewhere. They aim to only employee talent, where possible, from the local area.

They have worked in co-operation with Reykjavik University and the University of Iceland where students have been offered to do projects for geoSilica and receive credit instead from their school, this is something that geoSilica considers important; giving the students skills in a work and business environment.

One of the responsibilities that Fida considers to be important is the support of entrepreneurs, and especially women in technology. In her former university that is located near the company, the rate of women dropping out has been increasing and being a former student herself, Fida knows what an important issue this is. Thus, giving these women support is one of geoSilica´s aims as well as to encourage and boost up the women´s association at Reykjanes.

[1] geoSilica About Us

Get inspired with this article on the social and economic impact of social enterprise
| |

Get inspired with this article on the social and economic impact of social enterprise

Though Australia seems far far away for the Baltic and Nordic countries, why not learn from the best practice they share and see how it’s done in the  Land Of The Kangaroo?  Read this excellent article in The Guardian and explore how social enterprise is empowering communities and the impact it is having on Australia’s economy.

This publication is published in order to popularize the social entrepreneurship within the framework of the project “Social entrepreneurship development in the Baltic Sea region”, co-financed by Nordic Council of Ministers Programme, project identification number 17055.

https://www.theguardian.com/social-enterprise-australia-2015/2015/may/01/the-social-and-economic-impact-of-social-enterprise

|

Millennials Are Finding New Models For Driving Change

During the 2016 presidential election, many millennials considered voting to be the most generous way they might donate a little bit of time to move the country forward. “The attention a presidential election necessarily shines on social issues had not inspired millennials to get any more involved than they normally had been,” notes the authors of the recently released 2017 Millennial Impact Report, part of an annual series that surveys how deeply millennials engage with cause work, which is supported by Achieve, a research and marketing agency, and backed by the Case Foundation.

Then Donald Trump happened. Six months into a presidency focused on repealing the Affordable Care Act, building a border wall, banning immigrants, and tacitly condoning many forms of bigotry, over 70% of millennials felt upset or unsure about the direction the country was heading, according to a representative survey of 3,000 young people noted in the most recent report. That number has stayed not only stayed consistent as Trump’s term has progressed, but led the majority of young Americans to believe that the country is “currently off track” in its decisions and value system, according to the report’s analysis.

Continue to the original story.

Gloucester Services: Supports local communities and social enterprises
|

Gloucester Services: Supports local communities and social enterprises

Skærmbillede 2018-03-26 kl. 12.26.36

Gloucester Services is the first motorway service in England, that donates 3% of the financial turnover to local employment, job training, local communities and social initiatives. The social economic foundation Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, manages the donation.

The partnership between Westmorland Family and Gloucestershire Gateway Trust is a good example on how enterprises and non governmental organisations can create more value together than when working on their own.

Already back in 1994, the manager of Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, Mark Gale got the idea of creating a motorway service, that creates local jobs, but also a sustainable income to strengthen and support the local communities.

The local community was frustrated over the 28 million cars and 40 million people who passes Glouchestershire every year on the motorway M5, and creates noise, traffic problems and pollution. Instead Mark Gale, saw all the traffic as an oppertunity to develope the local community.

Therefore Mark developed the idea of a motorway service, that would take environmental considerations, create jobs for marginalized people and sell local goods and products.

on that time, The only english motorway service that shared Mark Gales vision about supporting local communities, was the motorway service company Westmorland Family. Mark gale and Gloucestershire Gateway Trust established a partnership with Westmorland Family and created Gloucester services, which opened in 2014.

The two partners has signed a contract for the next 20 years. It is expected that the partnership will provide a donation to Gloucestershire Gateway trust on 400.000 Pound each year. Already from 2017 the foundation has supported local community initiatives and social enterprises.

Gloucester services has become a popular destination for families in the local area and many buys the high quality local goods.

Read more about
Gloucestershire Gateway Trust: www.gloucestershiregatewaytrust.org.uk

Gloucester Services: www.gloucesterservices.com

Gloucestershire Live: www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_lEAND-Ws8[/embed]

 

Apie socialinį verslą lietuvoje
| | |

Apie socialinį verslą lietuvoje

Socialiniam verslui būdingas labai platus veiklos spektras. ES valstybėse narėse socialinis verslas dažniausiai veikia trijose srityse: integracijos į darbo rinką, asmeninių paslaugų ir socialiai atskirtų vietovių vystymo bei aplinkosaugos. Atsižvelgiant į socialinės ekonomikos raidos tendencijas ES, socialinio verslo plėtra Lietuvoje taip pat turėtų vykti šiomis kryptimis – skatinant tradicinį privatų verslą įsitraukti sprendžiant socialines problemas ir skatinant nevyriausybines organizacijas savo veikloje taikyti verslo modelius. Nors Lietuvoje socialinis verslas yra dar vystosi pamažu, trūksta geros praktikos pavyzdžių, stokojama skatinamųjų ir finansinės paramos priemonių, faktinis socialinių verslų skaičius šalyje nuolat auga. 2018 m. pabaigoje, VšĮ “Versli Lietuva” duomenimis, Lietuvoje veikė beveik 90 socialinių verslų.

2015 m. balandžio 3 dieną Ūkio ministras įsakymu patvirtino Socialinio verslo koncepciją. Iki šiol socialinis verslas nebuvo reglamentuotas, todėl nebuvo sudarytos tinkamos sąlygos jam skatinti ir valstybės pagalbai gauti. Beto Ūkio ministerija kartu su Jaunųjų profesionalų programos „Kurk Lietuvai“ ekspertų komanda parengė Socialinio verslo gidą. Šiame leidinyje pateikiama kuriant socialinį verslą reikalinga informacija. Gide apibrėžiama socialinio verslo sąvoka, išryškinami šio verslo skirtumai, lyginant su kitais socialinės ekonomikos subjektais, parodoma socialinio verslo nauda.

Naudotasi:

CoccoBello – Honey from Russian village
| | | |

CoccoBello – Honey from Russian village

Cocco Bello produces organic creamed honey in a small village in the Ural mountains (Russia), where locals cultivate bees and hand-pick wild berries. Cocco Bello has won the Social Impact Award (Russia) for the project of revival of the small village and the great advocacy for social entrepreneurship.

The project contributes to developing the community Malyi Turish that is located 1500 km away from Moscow. The project already provides employment for more than 50 villagers, has built a playground for children and started a project to build a central water supply as well as to create a tourist site in Malyi Turish. In 2017 several volunteers from Europe and Africa have participated in the social camp in Turish.

Cocco Bello’s founder, Guzel Sanzhapova, promotes her shop through friends and locals. She often tells the story of her beekeeper-father and how he has provided employment for almost the entire village. She uses social networks and crowdfunding site Boomstarter to explain the humanitarian importance of local businesses.

Cocco Bello run one of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns in Russia, it has three rounds and collects almost twice than needed. In 2015 Lipton has granted Cocco Bello as a winner of Lipton Goodstarter platform.

 

More information in English is here, in Russian – here