They are changing the world...

"Soocial entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish, or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry."- Bill Drayton

Yet another post on social entrepreurship/inclusive capitalists/social capitalists(they all mean the same). I cant help it. It is so close to my heart. I have been fascinated for quite some time with this new breed of social entrepreneurs. The greatest learning I have had is the realization that wealth is not an end in itself but it is the means and a powerful enabler to achieve higher purposes in life. I have been influenced and have been writing a few posts on them for some time.

http://ravikumarwrites.blogspot.com/2007/10/these-are-called-social-entrepreneurs.html

While I have spoken about what is a social entrepreneurs, let me share the why part of it.

Why "Social" Entrepreneur?

Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business, social entrepreneurs change society, seize opportunities that other miss and improve systems, invent systems to bring a positive change to the society. While business entrepreneur create new industries, social entrepreneur comes up with new solutions to social problems and scale it up.

Historical Examples of Leading Social Entrepreneurs:

* Susan B. Anthony (U.S.): Fought for Women's Rights in the United States, including the right to control property and helped spearhead adoption of the 19th amendment.
* Vinoba Bhave (India): Founder and leader of the Land Gift Movement, he caused the redistribution of more than 7,000,000 acres of land to aid India's untouchables and landless.
* Dr. Maria Montessori (Italy): Developed the Montessori approach to early childhood education.
* Florence Nightingale (U.K.): Founder of modern nursing, she established the first school for nurses and fought to improve hospital conditions.
* Margaret Sanger (U.S.): Founder of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, she led the movement for family planning efforts around the world.
* John Muir (U.S.): Naturalist and conservationist, he established the National Park System and helped found The Sierra Club.
* Jean Monnet (France): Responsible for the reconstruction of the French economy following World War II, including the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The ECSC and the European Common Market were direct precursors of the European Union.


Somne of the modern examples that come to my mind are people involved in microfinancing, wikipedia revolution, BABAJOB.COM, CRAIGLIST etc.


And as I research about them, as a tribute to their efforts I would be profiling them in my upcoming posts to spread the word about these uncommon heroes striving for a common good.