#1. Youths and Social Enterprises

Hellowello everyone!!

I took my article, titled "Social Innovation and Social Enterprise: Report" off TheOnlineCitizen.

Does that count as an article?? It does right!

Do click and have a read, it's quite interesting. Not too long too!

Okay~ 

So to summarise the article briefly, here are 5 points it touched on:

1. Factors hindering youth in Singapore to explore social innovation

2. Existing challenges faced by social innovators/ entrepreneurs

3. The future of growing & nurturing social innovators. 

Relevant right!!!

So ya'll should click on the link;)

For the first point- roadblocks to social innovation. The writer (Ng Yi Shu) mentioned a big and relevant point: FEAR.

To quote exactly "In answering the question about the issues that were stopping youth from social innovation, the panel concluded that a culture of fear and introspection caused by competition has led to a growing belief that financial security is paramount to a secure future. This culture has led to youths not taking risks towards solving social issues, and hence has stopped them from doing social innovation." (Ng, 2012, para. 6)

I believe that this resonates with many of us who have big hopes and dreams in becoming social innovators/entrepreneurs. It has been ingrained that a good future first consist of having a good and stable job that generates an income that is sufficient to support not only yourself but your parents as well. With the prices of, well, almost everything on the rise, how can we discount the importance of financial security?

I am thankful that my parents have always been supportive of whatever i endeavour in, sustainable, profitable, practical or otherwise. But yet, this fear still remains real. Would I still be a responsible daughter if I am halfway across the globe, rendering aid to countries which have been hit by disasters? Or helping in developmental programmes which honestly, doesn't pay very much. More importantly, besides money, who will be there to accompany them, to look after them, to make sure that they are healthy? This may seem a little off-point what i was mentioning, but even in starting my own enterprise,  would I have the hours and energy to spend with them?

Mr Tong Yee said "... that he hoped youths of today would have ‘the courage to take (social) responsibility for more things.’ In having more responsibility, youths would have the ability to socially innovate new solutions to social issues, he added." (Ng, 2012, para. 9)

Which leads me to point 2-CHALLENGES. 

I guess courage sounds a whole lot easier in theory than in practice. Taking the road less traveled would in itself ensue a lot more challenges that many might not have faced. It would be more convenient to get into a university, graduate with a degree. And find a boring ol' job.

But I know I won't be satisfied. There will always be this restlessness in me to do something more.

Mr Damien mentioned that this world beginning to take on a consumerism mentality, whereby people focus more on their needs and to buy,buy,buy. 

I don't want to be part of that, I am sure many of us now equipped with some knowledge of the community needs out there, can't just close our eyes and spend recklessly without feeling a stab on our conscious. I am sure that we are not the first of our generation that seeks to be part of social change. 

The article yet again mentions on teachers and parents, to quote "Competencies with regards to the character of a person can be built in education, but the culture of competition and survival must first be changed among parents and teachers." (Ng, 2012, para. 12)

I feel that this is only partially true. Yes parents and teachers play an essential role, but to be more effective, the different environmental elements must work together. 

What I would suggest is making awareness more evident across all levels of education and not just isolated to just the BZSE or humanities courses. My opinion is that very little is done to show how much a youth can do to make changes, for example in secondary school, our community service activities are merely picking rubbish at the beach or conducting performances at old folks home. They aren't bad activities, and I am sure schools have their limitations, but I feel that stopping at this first level leaves the impression that that's all students can do. Anything more than that has to be left to more "trained and educated professionals". 

It is such a waste to see the passion extinguished before it has been fully harnessed. Imagine all the innovative ideas that could have made ground breaking changes if only a little more time and guidance had been given to these motivated youths. 

And that's touching on the last point! Nurturing future social creators and not consumers. 

    "The beliefs that pragmatism is the way to go has been increasingly been shattered by a greater number of driven youths who count themselves as responsible citizens advocating and creating change – and this trend is something society cannot ignore." (Ng, 2012, 16) 

Youths will in time come on board this bandwagon that is creating social changes, but how long would that take? How many generations will pass before greater changes in society will be seen? 

The time is now!!! Do not let all these seeds of compassion and awareness wither and dry out, lets all do the most we can into sowing them and growing them, so that it can bloom pretty flowers of positive change in time to come.  ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾

-end-

Reference:

Ng, Y.S. (2012). Social Innovation and Social Enterprise:Report. Theonlinecitizen. Retrieved from http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/09/social-innovation-and-social-enterprise-report/