Social entrepreneurship has gained considerable attention internationally over the past ten years, and provides promising solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in our society. In Norway, both the awareness of social entrepreneurship and the number of social entrepreneurs are growing rapidly.
Social entrepreneurship cannot be categorized according to the chosen form of organization or funding. Some social entrepreneurs rely on donations and grants, while others have their own earnings to finance operations. They can be organized as foundations, associations, nonprofit organizations, or as regular businesses. The following common features are still left in the description of the social entrepreneurship:
- Social focus: The primary objective is to solve social challenges or problems in the community
- Entrepreneurship: It usually involves the creation of new businesses or activities, and create lasting structures
- Innovation: Methods and solutions represents something new compared to what has been done before
- Market orientation and focus on its earnings and sales to achieve financial sustainability
- High degree of involvement of target groups: Social entrepreneurs are often very responsive to target group needs
- Change agents: They are the frontrunners for social change in society
Although the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship is not new, the great attention to this is relatively new. There is a large increase in the number of social entrepreneurs and their organizations, and they have become more visible. The sector is characterized by increasing professionalization and globalization. In addition to the social entrepreneurs themselves, there is a large number of other groups working for social change by means of professionalism, competence and competitiveness. An example is the venture philanthropic tropics, which combines financial support with expertise in supply strategy, project management and organizational development. Internationally, the development of the field of social entrepreneurship has largely been driven by large organizations whose primary purpose is to support social entrepreneurs, create awareness and promote knowledge about social entrepreneurship. Examples of such organizations are Ashoka, the Schwab Foundation and The Skoll Foundation.
There are an increasing number of social entrepreneurs in Norway, and we will follow those closely in the coming year. Some of these social entrepreneurs are:
FJORD IT: An innovative green data center providing datapower that is cleanly produced to the European market. The challenge is that data center industry are polluting more than the global air traffic.
MYGOODACT: A great social media and project financing place where people can support each others projects and also start up own fundraising campaigns to help NGO`s.
PØBELPROSJEKTET: aims to get young people who for one reason or another are outside the established school system and working life - into work or further education.
KJØR FOR LIVET: offers unique leisure and activities for children and young people.
GLADIATOR: has developed Aball1, a ball set that combines fun physical activity with the cooperation and inspiring learning.
TRIVSELSLEDER: increased satisfaction in the schoolyard, more activity and less bullying .
FORANDRINGSFABRIKKEN: Empower young people, by letting them talk directly with decision makers.
UNICUS: are hiring individuals with autism, and take assignments for client companies in the employee discipline in areas where the positive characteristics of autism provide a comparative advantage.
ASFALT: is a street magazine sold in Rogaland of people who are disadvantaged.
FORSKER FABRIKKEN: Gives children and young people the opportunity to specialize in science and technology in their own communities.
NORWEGIAN MICROFINANCE INITIATIVE, NMI: is a unique association of public and private actors who shares a common vision to strengthen the poor people`s situation by creating jobs and sustainability in developing countries.
KREM
MIKROFINANS NORGE
GATEKUNST
MOTHER COURAGE
HEARTLIFT
SWEETCHILLISTORIES
