Unique Programs: Why Social Entrepreneur Corps?

Overview
The Social Entrepreneur Corps Advantage
Desired Outcomes for Social Entrepreneur Corps Participants


Overview

Social Entrepreneur Corps is unique for many reasons. We have enumerated (The Social Entrepreneur Corps Advantage) these further down on this page. However, of utmost importance is the fact that our programs are designed by and run by seasoned development professionals who are creating innovative and sustainable solutions for rural villagers every day. We are not a student volunteering organization that “looks for” things for participants to do so that we can have a successful company. Rather, the key to our success and to that of the participants  is that the first question we ask ourselves when  designing our programs is always “How can we engage participants in a way that facilitates a  greater level of community impact?”. And what we have found is that participants, working with us for one week or several months, can help  us to serve our rural clients much more effectively and efficiently. We are confident that it is because our programs are laser focused on “achieving” rather than “doing” that everyone involved reaps tremendous benefits. Our approach has proven successful. Read below about what development professionals, university administrators/academicians and recent participants have to say about Social Entrepreneur Corps. 

What are development professionals saying about the Social Entrepreneur Corps team?

“Social Entrepreneur Corps leadership approaches its work with professionalism, broad-spectrum skill sets and a tenacious work ethic. Their grassroots knowledge coupled with their deep business background and willingness "to get their hands dirty" is hard to come by."

Neil Blumenthal,
Former Director of Programs,
Vision Spring

 

 


“During our recent medical mission to the Ixil triangle, the Social Entrepreneur Corps team provided us with some first rate volunteers whose help was invaluable. Their team leaders stepped up to the challenge of finding ways to translate medical terminology they have probably never heard before and provided the vital link between the patient and doctor or nurse, and the Social Entrepreneur Corps volunteers directed patients throughout the day with the efficiency and politeness of professionals. We were truly impressed with the caliber of these young people. Thank you guys. You helped us tremendously. We hope to work with you again in the future.”

Barbara Marymiak
www.projectshands.org

 


"The team is comprised of hard-working, intelligent individuals who are successfully mixing their social goals with a very strong sense of hard work and dedication."

Ricardo Frohmader,
Former Project Manager,
Chemonics International Inc

 

 

 

“Tourism services in Nebaj have dramatically increased in quality because of the leadership’s business innovations. Because of their  assistance, Nebaj small businesses understand that they need to compete on the quality of the service they offer to tourists."

Brian Rudert,
United States Agency for International Development


What are university administrators/academicians saying about Social Entrepreneur Corps?

“There are some business ideas that are so straightforward and that make so much sense, you wonder, "Why didn't I think of that?" This is definitely the case with the Community Enterprise Solutions model. When our students heard Greg Van Kirk (President and co-founder of Social Entrepreneur Corps) present the MicroConsignment Model (MCM), it made perfect sense to them - an idea that in itself was entrepreneurial and that encouraged entrepreneurial activity in rural communities. They are providing more than a quick fix or a charitable contribution. This model provides the training and tools for microentrepreneurs to sustain their businesses, as well as purchasing power, which can then be used to spur economic development in their own communities. Our students kept mentioning this model  not because it's the only social entrepreneurial model they know - for we've studied many - but because it's a model that is straightforward and just makes sense.”

Melissa A. Paulsen,
Social/MicroVenturing Programs Manager,
Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies,
Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame

“The level of organization and structure behind this program is extensive. This program allows students to take what they have learned inside the classroom and apply and adapt it to this extremely unique, entrepreneurial experience. I truly believe that unlike many of the more “traditional” internship opportunities, it has the power to help students explore their passions, find out more about who they really are, and use their experiences in the program to design the path they choose to take next.”

Emily Grey, Former Assistant Director,
Undergraduate Career Development,
Center for Career Education, Columbia University

What do recent participants have to say about their Social Entrepreneur Corps experience? (click here to read what additional participants have to say about their experience)

“The Social Entrepreneur Corps experience provides the rare opportunity to be purposefully submerged into the multi-layered complexity of Guatemala.  Positioned at an intersection where the challenge of international development meets the analytical framework of the business-world, Social Entrepreneur Corps effectively blends a passion for social impact with thoughtful and context-specific business models.  Anyone seeking an adventurous, hands-on experience is sure to benefit from and to make meaningful contributions along the sharp learning curve that the Social Entrepreneur Corps team has established.” 

Erik H.,SE Corps Participant,
M.S., University of Illinois

“I was hoping to go to Guatemala to improve my Spanish, meet Guatemalans, and really experience the country in a non-touristy sort of way.  Social Entrepreneur Corps provided exactly that, allowing me the opportunity to live with and learn from many Guatemalans, as well as travel around the country with a dedicated, dynamic and welcoming development organization.  The folks at Social Entrepreneur Corps are deeply respectful and understanding of the cultural diversity inherent in their work, and thus work extremely hard to build relationships and communities of mutual understanding and enlightenment.  The sights were beautiful, the Guatemalan families were wonderful, and the friends I made along the way aren't that bad either.  Without a doubt, there are few better ways to have a holistic, educational and exciting international experience in just one month."

Matt C., SE Corps Participant
Student, UNC Chapel Hill

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The Social Entrepreneur Corps Advantage

There are many reasons why Social Entrepreneur Corps has a profoundly positive effect on both participants and the rural developing country constituents that we serve. Below we have outlined some of the highlighted advantages of the Social Entrepreneur Corps programs:

  • Proven community Impact – Social Entrepreneur Corps leadership is focused on working with Participants to achieve impact. Participants work with social enterprises that leadership has created from scratch. These social enterprises have to date created millions of dollars of economic benefit for tens of thousands of rural families.

This community impact is best demonstrated through the success of our signature MicroConsignment Model. As of September 2009, through the combined support of Social Entrepreneur Corps and its sister non profit, Community Enterprise Solutions, we have worked with local Guatemalan and Ecuadoran leadership to train, equip and support over  200  localentrepreneurs who have executed approximately 1,850 village campaigns and sold over 35,000 products. All told this work has benefitted over 50,000 low-income villagers.

The MicroConsignment Model entrepreneurial product offering includes wood burning stoves, reading/near vision glasses, UV protection glasses, eye drops, water purification buckets, vegetable seeds, energy efficient lightbulbs and solar lamps. The entrepreneurs we identify, train and support are the only people offering these solutions in rural areas. They all have a positive economic, health and/or environmental benefit.

 In addition, please visit the "Field Impact" page l to learn more about how Social Entrepreneur Corps Participants are making a difference in communities.

  • You can do it - The Social Entrepreneur Corps approach and methodology has been proven to enable Participants from diverse backgrounds, with limited to no international experience and with only basic Spanish language proficiency to be suParticipantessful. We will prepare you, train you, teach you and support you continuously throughout your program.  This “can do it” is best expressed by some of our past Participants. Please read their testimonials below.
  • The opportunities and benefits don’t end after your initial Social Entrepreneur Corps experience - Vist our "Alumni Programs & Benefits" page to learn more about how your Social Entrepreneur Corps experience can continue long after your participation in the training program.

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Desired Outcomes for Social Entrepreneur Corps Participants

Through classes, case studies, discussions, analysis, living with the local population, as well as through visits and active participation with local NGO’s and social entrepreneurs, interns will make a profound community impact whilst gaining an in-depth knowledge of rural economic development. The desired outcomes for the program are that Participants:

Social Entrepreneurship                                                                                       

  • Will have gained an understanding of the key differences, advantages and disadvantages of varied international relief and economic development models
  • Will feel knowledgeable with regards to the challenges and opportunities inherent in the creation of successful social entrepreneurship models, implementation strategies and tactics.
  • Will have learned and practiced effective strategies for training, mentoring and supporting local social entrepreneurs
  • Will have contributed to the identification and design of new social entrepreneurship opportunities for local constituents

Culture

  • Will have gained an understanding of the challenges confronting the rural population specifically
  • Will feel comfortable interacting with the local population on a general, family and individual level
  • Will have gained an understanding of the cultural and professional "do's" and "don'ts" of living and working in a rural development environment such as Guatemala and Ecuador
  • Will understand how the rural population lives and works as well as what they aspire to achieve

Spanish Language

  • Will have significantly improved their conversational Spanish capabilities
  • Will have gained an understanding of the nuances of language in developing country environments

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Social Entrepreneur Corps is a initiative of New Development Experience LLC. Email: [email protected]