social enterprise

Here, I just wanted to say a few words about my second week, which was packed by events such as the Co-op and Social Enterprise Summer School, as well as other regional functions.

I attended the Co-op Social Enterprise Summer School on 29 and 30 June, 2010. We had a seminar which was delivered by Dr. Rory Ridely-Duff, a senior lecturer at Sheffield Business School, whose research area focused on the social enterprise. From his lecture, I must say that this seminar was a useful platform for those who have already stepped into the field to acquire further knowledge on its sector. The seminar was conducted in a form of tutorial group with 6 to 7 persons, where you can have free talks on debateable issues and you are free to raise your concerns or share your experiences on the relevant issues.

Frankly, before my intern at SEYH, I knew little about social, which was known as the “third sector”. My initial thought on social enterprises were that they merely some small firms launched by some non-profit/government organizations to help the minorities to be employed. When I started my work in SEYH, I noticed that the establishment of social enterprises and the development of the civil society have been built upon much greater than my expectations. I have had many chances to get along with different social enterprises and their networks during my work in SEYH. However, sometimes I really do feel sorry that I understand the so little of this sector, even though I am working in a regional network developing organization. In most occasions, people from social enterprises not only discuss about whether or not setting a social enterprise is a good option for a successful business, but they are also anxious in how to operate the social business in a sustainable manner. Loads of information has come across to my mind through hearing them talk, and as a result has sometimes confused me to an extent.

I really hope that eventually I will have a better chance to get a more systematic idea of the third sector operation and its governance. Thanks to the co-op and social enterprise summer school, it helps me to understand relevant issues and inspires me for the further self-learning.

On the first day of the Co-op and social enterprise summer school, Rory introduced the idea of mutuality and theorised the third sector. We had an inspiring discussion on the topics, like the nature of civil society, changes in the third sector organizations, and the contexts of the third sector. In a documentary which he showed called “the Corporate”, triggered some sparks in my thoughts. This documentary presents the existence of corporate and the influence that they have brought to modern human’s living. Sometimes, corporations do frustrate people, especially in those developing countries, by exploiting their work forces at an extraordinary low labour cost. The documentary gives me a vivid picture of the shortcomings of the corporation world. It is probably the high time for social enterprises to step in for a sustainable community.

On the second day, our discussion focused on the challenges in governing the social enterprises. Rory showed us several models of governances and charities, and we further discussed the democracy in social firms. The discussion has totally changed my understanding on social enterprise operations. Social enterprises need not to be run under several fixed rules or ways. Operating a sustainable social business requires a clear multi-stakeholders targeting, where you can choose to cater for some specific groups of minorities or concern the mass within a region. Rule setting within the organization is another key issue. It could be flexible as long as it is clear and fits for the purposes of your organization.

Through my experience here thus far, I really hope that my university could offer a similar course on this particular subject. We students from Hong Kong have been educated with the fineness of the private economy since secondary school. I cannot deny that I was not enough experienced at that age to criticize what we have learnt from class. This knowledge constitutes a part of our faith, belief, and ideology unwillingly. Thanks to the summer school and SEYH, it opens a door for me to think about the other ways of the business; beyond the private sectors of the economy. Businesses need not to be privatized, and profits are not necessarily the ultimate goal of people. I really hope those who are interested can take the information I have learned and share your ideas with me.

Lily