Written by: Faya Augustian Ariestyarini, Social Business Trainee Intern Project Child Indonesia
Joining as part of the social business trainee team at Project Child Indonesia Batch 32 was a new and unique experience. It was a new experience because it was my first time participating in the apprenticeship program. It was also a unique experience because I joined the social business team. Project Child Indonesia as a non-profit organization means that there will be more business concepts entitled social entrepreneurship. I learned a lot about non-profit organizations, such as their definition, orientation, organizational structure, and the proper stages of designing social entrepreneurship to be implemented in Project Child Indonesia’s non-profit organizations. The business model in Project Child Indonesia is unique because it forms a social entrepreneurship scheme, which is a business idea to pursue profit and social good. The funds raised can be used to fund social programs that contribute to the environment.
Based on the results of research conducted by the British Council and USESCAP with the title Developing an Inclusive and Creative Economy: The State of Social Enterprise in Indonesia (2018), the results of the growth of social enterprises in Indonesia have continued to experience significant growth over the last few years. Even in the previous five years alone, the number of social entrepreneurs has grown five times greater than during the last five years. Based on the results of this research, of course, questions will arise related to the attractiveness of social enterprises, which seems to be a new trend in the business world today.
The popularity of the concept of social entrepreneurship in business is the uniqueness of social entrepreneurship, which presents unique stories and goals behind the establishment of the company. Social entrepreneurship, which offers noble goals, brings benefits and changes to the environment, seems to be a unique and distinct magnet for social entrepreneurship. There are several reasons why social entrepreneurship is unique and essential for the environment and the economy itself, including:
1. As a pioneer in social business that can motivate others to contribute to helping the environment and society.
Social entrepreneurship operates its business model by trying to align the goal of making a profit with its social values. At the same time can trigger other people’s motivation to be moved to help and contribute to the environment, thus bringing change to the environment and the surrounding economy.
Project Child Indonesia is a non-profit organization whose vision is that every child in Indonesia has the opportunity to learn, have a healthy life, feel supported, and are safe to live in a clean environment that is ready to face natural disasters. For several months being a part of the social business trainee team at Project Child Indonesia, I realized that the business model presented by Project Child Indonesia could motivate the community to contribute to making an impact on the environment, either through direct donations, joining the apprenticeship program, or volunteering.
2. Businesses that offer social and economic value.
Social entrepreneurship, which has a specific goal of solving social problems, can find new market opportunities under that community niche. Social entrepreneurship can be quickly and efficient in helping solve social and economic issues of the community or environment.
Based on the vision of Project Child Indonesia, the business model of this organization carries the concept of social entrepreneurship, which also explicitly directs us as social business trainees to create a business model that is in line with the values and goals of Project Child Indonesia. In one of our projects, we are preparing the business concept of the shop, based on several social goals that are following the values of Project Child Indonesia. As part of the social business trainee team, they challenged us to create a business concept that brings economic benefits in the form of profit and presents social values in the conceptualized business.
3. Having a noble purpose of having an impact on the environment.
Project Child Indonesia with the motto “Everyone can do good,” offers attractive social values in the organization. The slogan also applies in making business concepts in Project Child Indonesia. Each business unit designed must be following the importance of Project Child Indonesia, which can balance the profit and benefit of the business for the environment. Every business model created by the social business trainee team must be according to the Project Child Indonesia social values and have a mission that the existence of a business will bring benefits to the environment. It is so that social values and the invitation to social change are at the core of every operational activity from companies that carry the concept of social entrepreneurship.
Reference:
British Council. (2018). The State of Social Enterprise in Indonesia. Available at https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/the_state_of_social_enterprise_in_indonesia_british_council_web_final_0.pdf (Accessed 26 May 2021).
Cohive Space. 2017. 5 Reasons Why Social Entrepreneurship Matters. Available at https://cohive.space/blogs/5-reasons-why-social-entrepreneurship-matters/ (Accessed 26 May 2021).
Roger L. Martin & Sally Osberg. (2007). Social Enterpreneurship: The Case for Definition. Available at https://ssir.org/articles/entry/social_entrepreneurship_the_case_for_definition (Accessed 26 May 2021).
