Social entrepreneurs are making a difference in the lives of Africa’s most needy individuals and disadvantaged communities.

Throughout the African continent, social entrepreneurs are helping to enact change in the communities they serve by finding innovative solutions to many challenges which exist in the developing world. By building practical and sustainable organizations, social enterprise can bring together community stakeholders, groundbreaking technologies and new approaches to solving debilitating social problems.

In Africa, social entrepreneurs are helping to drive innovation and transformation in education, public health, environmental sustainability and business development. Many of these social enterprises are established as not-for-profit organizations or for-profit social enterprises.

African Social Entrepreneurs

Here is a small sampling of social entrepreneurs who are changing Africa for the better.

God’s Love Centre

Website: http://www.godslovecenter.co.za/

Neo Motantsi started God’s love Centre when her brother and his wife passed away leaving four children orphaned. Based in Lesotho, the south African orphanage currently provides a home to 57 children without families to care for them. The children range in age from one year to 20, and all attend either the local primary or secondary schools in the area.

God’s Love Centre is a 2017-2018 Program Partner with rise. Read more about the initiative and how we’re supporting God’s Love Centre in our programs section.

Future Vision Acrobat

Website: Official Facebook Page

Future Vision Acrobat is a team of professional circus artists based in Gisenyi, Rwanda who train children aged 8 – 28 from vulnerable backgrounds to then perform nationally and internationally as a Circus group.

In 2005, Elisée Niyonsenga was an orphan living on the streets of Gisenyi, Rwanda. As he passed by a restaurant he saw a “Cirque du Soleil” performance on the TV and became fascinated with learning acrobatics. He learned to use artistic expression as a tool for positive change and a better future. He began training himself with the help of his friend and one year later decided to form an organization at the young age of 17.

The scope of Future Vision Acrobat is to help other children who just as Elisée live in difficult conditions, many of whom are orphans, refugees or street children, by giving them space to grow and a future to look forward to. Hence, the name: Future Vision Acrobat.

Youth for Technology Foundation

Website: http://www.youthfortechnology.org/

Youth for Technology Foundation was founded by Njideka Harry in 2001 in Nigeria. Youth for Technology works in regions significantly impacted by poverty and chronic unemployment, and in particular with youth and women. The Foundation’s Academy offers practical life and work skills needed to secure meaningful employment with the local companies that are members of the Foundations partner network.

Anza

Website: http://anza.co.com/

Anza, a business incubator founded by Krupa Patel in Tanzania. The organization offers a variety of services to help launch, support and grow social enterprise businesses in Tanzania. Anza has offered support to over 100 entrepreneurs through mentorship and financing, in addition to supporting several in-house social businesses as spin-offs of Anza.

ONGOZA

Website: http://ongozayouth.org/

Ongoza teaches youth groups in Africa how to grow their businesses at the grassroots level, leveraging economic empowerment and community leadership as a path towards lasting peace. As recently as 2016, their organization has continued to support over 30 youth groups with plans to expand to 15 other countries.

rise Supports Social Entrepreneurs

While they may operate in different countries and different sectors, these social entrepreneurs all share a common approach – a passionate and steadfast belief that through innovative business approaches, change can be successful and sustainable on the African continent.

Social entrepreneurs are finding solutions through involvement with local communities and a global business network. Here at rise, we’re inspired and proud to be a part of this revolutionary movement that is making the world a better place!

Relationships Inspiring Social Enterprise (rise) believes in the importance of a world where sustainable social business, created by local social entrepreneurs residing in low-income countries, are provided with the resources, knowledge, and the professional community needed to be successful and transformational in their communities.

At rise, there are many ways individuals, organizations, and businesses can get involved with our mission of bringing social enterprise education and training to sub-Saharan Africa. Please visit our Volunteer with rise page to learn more.

Social entrepreneurship is a technique utilized by new businesses, entrepreneurs and startups to develop and launch solutions that address specific environmental, cultural, or social concerns. Examples of social business initiatives include poverty alleviation, economic or educational development within a community, or specific health and wellness targets.

Social entrepreneurship strategies can be used to create a variety organizations of varying sizes, goals, and beliefs.

Social entrepreneurs frequently establish a not-for-profit organization or, in the United States, a hybrid business such as a B Corporation (B Corp or Benefit Corporation) that has a business goal of generating positive benefits to society or the community they serve. While there are many different not-for-profit and for-profit models to choose from, those interested in launching a social enterprise should connect with their state’s or city’s department of economic and community development to learn which models are available for official registration.

Social entrepreneurship can also involve traditional, profit-making businesses that establish or underwrite a not-for-profit organization with comparable social or environmental goals. For example, a commercial bakery may collaborate with a non-profit youth job training program to offer financial stability and skills development while showing a commitment to the local community.

Groups focused on social entrepreneurship may call themselves by different names depending on their focus and mission: social business, socially responsible enterprises and socio-economic enterprises are a few. Regardless of the label put on the organization, businesses in this model will focus on creating sustainable initiatives that result in gains for the community or population being served.

Support for Social Entrepreneurs

There are many support organizations that empower social entrepreneurs – like rise. Often called “accelerators,” these enterprises help to connect entrepreneurs with mentors, provide access to necessary technical skills and business knowledge, access to business development funding.

Receiving this level of support enables social entrepreneurs to achieve their business and development goals despite limited capital or designated facilities. For example, social enterprise accelerators in the food and beverage industry my focus on providing access to commercial kitchen equipment, culinary tools and support with product packaging and distribution. This level of assistance can help a small, independent business or nonprofit establish themselves in a community and help to contribute to the local economic development and the creation of jobs.

How rise Supports Social Enterprises

Here at rise, we believe building a world where sustainable social business, created by social entrepreneurs in low-income countries, are provided with the resources, knowledge, and the professional community needed to be successful and transformational in their communities.

Through our professional network in the design and architecture industry, rise links aspiring social entrepreneurs to essential resources they may not have access to in their local community such as start-up funding, business skills, and mentorship. By working directly with individuals and their communities in a holistic manner, we aim to develop training and solutions that can address local needs and contribute to economic development.

rise is the social responsibility program of BOND Events. BOND Events hosts 1-to-1 meetings and forums for the world’s leading Principal Architects, Interior Designers and Specifiers. BOND underwrites rise’s operational costs so that 100% of donations are attributed directly to its social business and community development programs.