Social enterprises have reinvented the way of doing businesses. By addressing social, cultural and environmental challenges, these social enterprises not only support the entrepreneur but the community as well. A new endeavor in the Ateneo de Manila University will further push this agenda.
On November 21, 2018, the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt) of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) and Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement that seeks to collaborate on activities that will drive growth and development of social entrepreneurship in the Philippines through training and development initiatives. SEDPI is making these collaborative efforts possible through a deed of donation to ACSEnt. The resources generated through this partnership will enable ACSEnt to undertake training and development activities not just in Manila but other places in the country as well.
“Social enterprise is one of the main thrust of JGSOM; the other two are sustainability and family business. We are now focusing on the resources to promote these areas. We very much welcome opportunities for partnership such as this,” said Ms. Pilar Tolentino, JGSOM’s Officer in Charge, chairperson of Leadership and Strategy Department, and Assistant Director of Ateneo Family Business Development Center.
Ms. Ana Tan, ACSEnt Director, also expressed her gratitude: “Resource mobilization is important for social enterprise. It will only work if your build the right partnership and networks.”
SEDPI co-founder Vince Rapisura (B.S. Management ’00) said the partnership will play a vital role in fostering social transformation in the country.
“Ateneo and SEDPI can contribute to poverty alleviation and make social entrepreneurship the standard of doing business in the Philippines.”
SEDPI is a private organization established on July 30, 2004. It is composed of young and dynamic social entrepreneurs. SEDPI works in the areas of microfinance, social entrepreneurship and financial education. It has reached approximately 3,000 development organizations that have a combined outreach of approximately 6 million households in 22 countries worldwide. SEDPI is a finalist of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012.
(Source: Ateneo, SEDPI to push for social entrepreneurship)
