by Pam Snyman, founder of REDZetc

In order to address the challenges in our specific countries in a true and authentic way, it is imperative that we recognize the essence of social entrepreneurship and take advantage of the opportunities that it offers in real life.

Just starting a new business that is based on the model of existing businesses operating in the same environment does not make you an entrepreneur. So what is the difference between generic entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship

The word entrepreneurship implies a special ability to sense and act on opportunity, combining out-of-the-box thinking with determination to bring about something new to the world.
It is about being a visionary with the passion to achieve financial goals.

Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship implies the imperative to drive social change, and it is that potential transformational benefit to society, that sets them apart.
It is about recognising a social problem and introducing an innovative solution.

It is also imperative that we recognize and distinguish between these two concepts and realize that being a social entrepreneur does not necessarily always imply working solely for charity and the community. A social entrepreneur recognizes the needs of society and with forethought and deep understanding thereof utilizes what she has recognized in order to create a viable enterprise that implements solutions and answers to her society’s needs. It must also be recognized that profit is essential to any venture’s success and sustainablility.

Our South African Constitution, with its particular focus on freedom, human dignity and equality paves the way for social entrepreneurs in our country as the challenges of poverty and unemployment in particular, provide us with those stimuli to service our communities. And we can improve unemployment and build a good business at the same time! Basing a business model on societal needs provides purpose from the very word go and your business model will authentically add meaning in terms of your society’s particular needs.

Africa’s history that relates to home-ownership…or rather the lack thereof in some communities is an extremely powerful and inspiring platform to ignite entrepreneurship. And what is more, this all fits into the bigger picture of global goals for sustainable development throughout the world.

We are not alone.

These 17 global goals that need to be addressed for sustainable global development until 2030 were set by 44 world leaders in 2015:

Poverty
Hunger and Food Security
Health
Education
Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
Water and Sanitation
Energy
Economic Growth
Infrastructure, Industrialization
Inequality
Cities
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Climate Change
Oceans
Biodiversity, Forests, Desertification
Peace and Justice
Partnerships

We need to understand wherever we are in Africa, we should grasp the opportunity, make a difference and change our world. Our goals as social entrepreneurs should be embedded in igniting opportunities in order to develop skills, stimulate new venture creation, empower people, create jobs and promote home-ownership through education, what is yours?

Pam Snyman (MPhil., CPRE, Cert. Dir)
Pam Snyman has been actively involved in South African real estate for more than 34 years. She owns an innovative real estate company, REDZetc and has been involved in training and education in the property sector since1986. Pam has a Masters’ Degree in Higher Education, a Diploma in Advanced Property Practice, a Diploma in Property Investment and Valuation and is a qualified workplace assessor and moderator. She has also achieved the highest possible status in real estate in South Africa: that of Chartered Practitioner in Real Estate (CPRE) – a professional real estate designation that has been awarded to only eleven doyennes of Real Estate in South Africa jointly by the Estate Agency Affairs Board and the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA). Pam is also a member of the Institute of Directors of SA and is a designated Certified Director.
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