Latest news with #socialgood
New York Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Andrew Kassoy, 55, Dies; Saw Capitalism as a Force for Social Good
Andrew Kassoy, who left a career in private equity to help start an international movement to reconsider capitalism as a force for social good and not merely for profit, died on June 22 at his home in Brooklyn. He was 55. His death came after two and a half years of treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, said his wife, Margot Brandenburg, a senior program officer at the Ford Foundation. Shortly before he died, Mr. Kassoy said in a videotaped conversation with Jay Coen Gilbert and Bart Houlahan, two business partners and longtime friends from their fraternity days at Stanford University: 'I think one of the things that makes capitalism not work as a system is, it was built on the idea of carelessness. Like, literally, the entire purpose of it was that people should build wealth for themselves and that other people didn't matter, you couldn't care about them.' His contradictory philosophy, Mr. Kassoy continued, was that 'you're here to care, to care for your workers, your community, the planet, the other people that you do business with in your supply chain.' In 2006, Mr. Kassoy, Mr. Coen Gilbert and Mr. Houlahan left the corporate world and jointly founded B Lab, a nonprofit network whose lofty mission is 'transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
News24
27-06-2025
- Business
- News24
Rallying South Africa towards the Common Good
The Social Employment Fund (SEF), managed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), is a transformative initiative aimed at combating unemployment in South Africa by supporting work that serves the 'common good.' It partners with civil society organisations like NGOs, community kitchens, ECD centres and faith-based groups to provide meaningful work and promote social cohesion. Since its inception in 2023, over 150,000 people have participated in the programme. Many have never worked before – but have been able to use the skills, capabilities, self-esteem and confidence gained to take the next steps on their pathways out of poverty – into better jobs – or into livelihood and micro-enterprise activity. Building agency at community level SEF-funded projects have led to significant skills transfer in areas such as: Health and Care: Home-based care, maternal health support, psycho-social services. Agriculture: Organic farming, composting, food garden management. Education: ECD facilitation, after-school tutoring, sports programmes. GBV Support: Community-based paralegals, counselling, awareness raising campaigns. Greening and Cleaning: Waste management, Beneficiation of biomass, invasive species removal. Community and public art: Presentation skills, social media usage, Arts and Crafts showcasing and performance Digital Inclusion: Computer & research skills, data gathering and survey process These programmes not only provide income, but also foster community agency and resilience, reinforcing a sense of purpose among participants. Case studies of impact 1. Johannesburg Inner City Partnership (JICP) In partnership with the City of Johannesburg, JICP addresses urban regeneration by employing 1,600 participants through NGOs like Urban Space Management and Clean City SA. Participants clean public spaces, plant gardens and help reduce crime through placemaking. Youth-focused programmes such as Sport for Social Change combine recreation with life skills training, promoting safety and community pride. 2. Hlanganisa Institute: Sisterhood Advocates Operating in provinces like Free State and Limpopo, Hlanganisa has trained over 2,600 'Pinkies'—female paralegals who support survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). With SEF support, their reach expanded from 391 to 6,000 GBV cases handled monthly, highlighting how social employment can significantly scale up effective community initiatives. 3. Food Security: Seriti Institute and Solidaridad Network Addressing hunger, Seriti developed an agri-node in Deelpan, North West, offering fresh produce and reducing clinic visits due to improved health. Solidaridad empowered 1,650 smallholder farmers with technology and market access in Gauteng, Eastern Cape and North West, contributing to long-term household food security. The Social Employment Fund is part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus, in support of the social economy strategy of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. The Industrial Development Corporation is the fund manager.
Khaleej Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Free office space, workshops in Abu Dhabi for startups
Abu Dhabi is now home to a year-round hub for startups and organisations delivering social good, following the launch of Athar+, a permanent platform by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an. Unveiled at M39 this week, a vibrant co-working space in the capital, Athar+ represents a major expansion of Ma'an's earlier social incubator model, which was limited to just two cohorts annually. This new initiative is designed to be more inclusive and continuous, offering free office space, access to workshops, networking opportunities, and both financial and logistical support to startups, NGOs, and social enterprises making an impact in the emirate. 'Today, we are no longer only covering the traditional model of business incubation,' said Salem Al Shamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at Ma'an. 'We're covering ideation, social venture acceleration, and providing a social incubator that runs permanently throughout the year. Not every enterprise is at the same level of growth, Athar+ is designed to meet these different stages with tailored support.' Al Shamsi added that what makes Athar+ unique is its focus on outcomes: 'We always start with impact. Since launching Ma'an in 2019, we've built everything with that word in mind. Athar+ is the next step — the 'plus' is the continuous improvement and future focus.' The platform now accepts applications on a rolling basis, without limiting participation to a specific number or sector. 'Any enterprise addressing Abu Dhabi's social priorities and offering measurable social value can apply,' he said. New chapter for MS Group For Ahmad Al Shawa, General Coordinator of MS Group in Al Ain, the launch of Athar+ marks a much needed turning point. His organisation, which raises awareness and provides support to people with Multiple Sclerosis, was selected after a series of interviews with Ma'an. 'Just by being here, it's already an opportunity,' said Al Shawa at the launch. 'This is more than just office space. You're surrounded by incubators, startups, NGOs, and investors — it's a platform that brings the whole third sector together.' MS Group, which was first launched in 2009, has faced ups and downs over the years. With Athar+, Al Shawa hopes to rebuild the organisation's legacy and expand its reach through new partnerships and exposure. 'It fills a lot of gaps — especially in making connections, sharing experiences, and possibly finding sponsors or investors.' The group's recent inclusion in the Arab Union for MS was a key milestone. 'That partnership has helped us exchange experiences with MS groups across the Arab world,' he explained. 'Personally, as someone living with MS, I see the differences in treatment, awareness, and systems across countries. Learning from others makes a big difference.' AI to detect speech delay Hamdan Al Ali, a PhD student in natural language processing at MBZUAI, is another entrepreneur set to benefit from Athar+. His startup, Chatty Check, is an AI-powered game that helps diagnose speech delay in children — a condition affecting an estimated 14% of children worldwide. 'Instead of having a therapist sit with a child for 60 minutes, the child plays a game that incorporates the same diagnostic methods — like reading a story or talking, while the AI analyses the interaction,' said Al Ali. The tool is still in its pilot phase, currently being tested in nurseries in the UAE and Portugal, in both English and Emirati Arabic versions. Al Ali first joined Ma'an's original incubator, where he received guidance on scaling his idea. Now, with Athar+, he has access to the tools he needs to grow. 'I can pitch to investors, use the facilities, host presentations, and work out of a professional space — all of which are essential to taking the product to the next level.'
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Social Entrepreneurship Ideas to Fuel Your Civic Passion
Young colleagues in greenhouse with solar panel. getty The term 'social entrepreneurship' has grown in popularity recently, but what exactly does it mean? What are the key values of social entrepreneurship? And how can you turn your civic passion into a social entrepreneurship career? Let's break it down. Social entrepreneurship occurs when a person (or 'social entrepreneur') uses entrepreneurial principles to create a business that impacts a key societal or environmental challenge. These people are driven by a passion to do social good and make a difference in their community. Social entrepreneurship isn't limited to charities and not-for-profits, though. These organizations typically exist to make a profit and positively impact their chosen issue simultaneously. For example, the issue could relate to climate change, pollution, human rights, education, activism, accessibility for marginalized groups, physical or mental health, citizenship, or governance. Whatever the mission, social entrepreneurs have a dual purpose: to create a viable business and reinvest profits back into the business while influencing social change. If you're exploring the idea of a social entrepreneurship career, it's essential to understand some core values you'd need to adhere to. See if they line up with your own values. Out-of-the-box, creative thinking is essential to running a successful social entrepreneurship business. You have to find unique and different ways of solving problems that traditional companies have been unable to solve. Where others have failed, you innovate and progress boldly. A few risks are involved in becoming a social entrepreneur; you must accept them and become resilient if they arise. Risks may be financial, with the potential to lose your initial investment and your business not becoming financially viable. Risks may be economic - how susceptible is your business to economic fluctuations in your chosen market? Risks may be reputational - social entrepreneurs are held to a higher standard than traditional entrepreneurs. At the heart of every social entrepreneur is a driving purpose and passion for their chosen cause. If you have a strong passion and desire to improve the lives of others, you're well on your way to becoming a successful social entrepreneur. founded by Ned Tozun, provides affordable and accessible solar-powered lighting products to low-income and/or off-grid people all around the world, with a goal to transform 1 billion lives. By focusing on improving people's lives and utilizing clean energy, they're a great example of people, planet, and profit. While Lush is a for-profit global beauty retailer, it's focused on the ethical and Fair Trade sourcing of ingredients, sustainable packaging, zero-waste initiatives, and cruelty-free practices with no animal testing at any point of the production line. Lush shows that you can create a profitable social entrepreneurship business without compromising on product quality, leaving the world 'lusher than we found it'. While there are certainly challenges to starting and running a profitable social entrepreneurship business, there are many successful ones all around the world. In fact, research found that there are around 10 million social enterprises globally, generating $2 trillion in annual revenue and creating 200 million jobs. Here's what you need to start a career in this field: If you're an aspiring social entrepreneur, here are a few ideas to get you thinking: While there are many factors to consider before starting a social entrepreneurship career, making a difference in a community can be highly fulfilling and rewarding. If you have a civic passion that you can't stop thinking about, why not explore the possibility of creating a business? Surround yourself with doers, changemakers, and those with entrepreneurial mindsets, and you, too, can turn your passion into a successful and profitable social enterprise.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
One-third of Canadian non-profit employees are burned out, food insecure: study
New data shows one-third of non-profit sector employees are burned out and food insecure, a higher proportion than the general workforce. The inaugural Changemaker Wellbeing Index, released by Future of Good, highlights pressures impacting non-profit workers. The index is the first to highlight wellness in Canada's non-profit sector, said a news release. It offers insights for employers to help their teams while turnover continues to be a challenge for non-profits. 'The numbers are concerning, and by tracking them, we can amplify solutions and find new strategies so non-profits can focus their efforts on social good,' said Anouk Bertner, executive director of Future of Good. Environics Research collaborated with GreenShield, ATB Financial, Ontario Trillium Foundation, WES Mariam Assefa Fund, Definity Insurance Foundation and United Way Centraide Canada to survey 1,100 Canadian non-profit workers. Their survey found: 36 per cent of non-profit workers say they 'often or always' feel burned out or exhausted. 31 per cent of non-profit workers report experiencing food insecurity; for frontline staff, that rises to 48 per cent. one-in-three non-profit workers are ready to quit community non-profits report lower overall wellbeing (39 per cent) compared to government non-profits (32 per cent). It's worse in arts and cultural groups. low wages, worker ages are driving factors. (Half of entry-level workers say they're struggling.) Bertner said the index draws overdue attention to the health and wellbeing of those working the sector, especially those on the front lines. Future of Good is a media, learning and research organization. More to come…
