Movement

The stories we have highlighted are people we have met on our path, or been inspired by in our own work. They show how individuals can influence their surroundings by seeing their role in solving the social needs affecting their communities. What is perhaps even more interesting is to see these cases in a broader context. All over the world, people are working to combat issues such as climate change, population growth, lack of resources and the committing of human rights violations.

Due to an increase in transnational companies and internet communication, our world seems so much smaller these days. For some this is a negative phenomenon, however, there are many possibilities that come as a result of this trend.

What is happening is that more and more people are waking up to the fact that as humans on this planet, our lives are not isolated. Our actions and inactions affect one another. Whether it’s our trade policies or our innovative projects, everything is connected. For some it takes a shorter time than others to come to this understanding.

What is exciting is to see when people come together to create something greater than themselves in order to have a positive impact in the world. This is largely happening with the support of valuable connections created in networks and communities of practice.

The Berkana Institute, founded by the author and consultant Margaret Wheatley, is an organization working with fostering these relationships around the world. They “learn how local social innovation can be taken to scale and provide solutions to many of the world’s most intractable issues—such as community health, ecological sustainability and economic self-reliance. The Exchange connects leadership learning centres around the globe, in such places as Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Pakistan, South Africa, the United States and Zimbabwe”

Global learning networks like Berkana and Pioneers of Change are supporting entrepreneurs around the world, however, there are other channels at work that are fostering social innovation. With the use of education as a tool for creating the world we want to live in, we can have an incredible impact.

The way in which educational programs are structured influences the mindsets of the society greatly. Recent decades have seen a rise in social entrepreneurial programs, highlighting the need for people to go into the world of business with not only the goal of making a profit but also having larger visions including people and the planet.

An example of these educational programs is the KaosPilots. This is a school focusing on enabling students to act in an ever-changing world through utilizing learning in real-world projects, support of personal leadership etc.

Other programs include the Standford Graduate School of Business’ Center for Social Innovation where they aim to strengthen the capacity of individuals and organizations to develop innovative solutions to social problems, as well as the Youth Social Enterprise Initiative (YSEI); a social venture program based in Thailand for emerging young social entrepreneurs in developing countries.

As time passes and the world evolves many new efforts and initiatives confirm the thought that as individuals we can impact the world, but we can create so much more when we work together with a common vision.