TODAY I would like to talk you through the groundbreaking teachings of Mohammed Yunus a social entrepreneur and banker from Bangladesh. His vision was to do whatever it takes to find a solution to social challenges confronting societies. Bangladesh was wrecked by poverty and famine in the middle seventies (70’s), as greedy money lenders victimized local villagers who had the desire to start small businesses.
Given this dilemma Yunus spotted an opportunity in the market and gathered 42 people in one village who were in dire need of US$27 to break out of poverty. The belief was that if all these 42 people got US$27 they would return the money to the lenders and be free, and this is the strategy Yunus used.
The happiness that this gesture brought to these communities was beyond doubt and imagination. If one is able to touch the hearts of so many people with such a small amount of money, why not continue to do the same.
Since then Mohammed Yunus Grameen Bank has made five billion dollars in loans. This model has been duplicated all across the world. This movement is known as “micro-finance”. People are much better off today in the world by virtue of this.
This teaches us the simple insight that a small unsecured loan can really make a difference.
If we zoom the lens back to the last two decades, “micro-finance” has clearly shown us that millions and millions of people in society can participate in the economy in a normal way. This work earned Muhammed Yunus the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, and this was a clear testimony to a new kind of change agent – the “social entrepreneur”.
I do believe that Namibia needs social entrepreneurs, because we need to see opportunities where others see hopelessness. We have to start recognizing the potential in our own people, instead of tragic consequences. We have to start seeing a future which other nations cannot even begin to imagine. At this moment in our history the government alone cannot provide basic goods and services the communities need. Social entrepreneurs will be the answer to tackle some of the problems. These problems do sometimes reach beyond “micro-finance”. They are educational opportunities, health of our children, housing and clean water. The challenge is that the current businesses and government cannot solve these problems alone. This will not add up to a coherent solution on the scale we need. Social entrepreneurs are going to be profoundly needed as they will break up the concrete.
Namibians, most of us have to see to believe, but if we want to become social entrepreneurs we have to first believe, then see. Envisage the end result even before the project starts.
In Namibia we can help our young people change their lives and communities through job training and education. From where you are seated or standing right now, look at the unoccupied buildings.
At the same time we have thousands of young people standing on the corner who have nothing to do or are sometimes homeless. Why not hire these youngsters to renovate these buildings? This can create housing for these vulnerable people.
If you are a social entrepreneur you have to realize that you are part of the larger movement. Nowadays social entrepreneurs around the world have a collective identity. Namibians regardless of the challenges we face we have to push forward. The fact that social entrepreneurs move across continents shows the productivity of the field.
Lastly, I know entrepreneurs cannot do all this by themselves, they need strategic business partners and support of the government and policy makers. Namibians, within each one of us is this growing movement of hopefulness and it is high time we look at problems as if they are our own.
My hope for my country is that through these columns we develop reasons for optimism. By virtue of small pieces of success we can build bigger pieces of success. Remember: When you learn – TEACH, and when you get – GIVE!!!
•Dr Wilfred Isak April holds a PhD (Entrepreneurship) from New Zealand. He currently lectures in Entrepreneurship and Management at the University of Namibia.