Tazkia IIBS Invited Students to Learn More about Social Entrepreneurship with Practitioner

Tazkia International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) held virtual Entrepreneur Talk under the theme How to be A Social Entrepreneur as part of learning process. The founder of Pelangi Nusantara Community (Pelanusa), Endahing Noor Suryanti, was invited to the talk as the key speaker. Attended by female students of Enterpreneur major of senior high school of Tazkia IIBS, they were  introduced to social enterpreneurship activity more through Pelanusa community.

Endah explained that social entrepreneurship is focused on solving social problem through entrepreneurial approach. The main problem encountered by Pelanusa is low education level of women in the vicinity of their homes leading to considerable number of early marriage. This condition has made them having low self esteem and helplessness because they have no skill at all.

Seeing this condition, Endah, who at that time had a sewing business, tried to give them free sewing classes.  Gradually, their enthusiasm for learning and self-confidence began to grow. Endah, then, decided to form a team and build the Pelanusa Community in 2012, concerning on empowering women in Pangentan Village to make products from patchwork.

“They (the women of Pengentan Village) are inspired that women should receive education. Little by little there is a shift in the mindset, "she said.Through her experience, Endah emphasised that social problems can be found anywhere.  One could know if she

actively involves in communal activities in residence to develop empathy and sympathy therefore identifying problems occured in the community should be easier. These problems can be education, sanitation, clean water issue, and even ineffective waste management.

   

After finding a social problem, the proper business model to encounter the issue should be determined. Besides legal identity, it has to have valuable goals such as empowerment, change of mindset, and so on. Furthermore, the business should adhere to the principle of fairtrade, including, not using addictive materials, members who have bargain power, and others.  One of the characteristics of social entrepreneurship business model is that there is a story told through the products.

"Business in social entrepreneurship should be based on passion thus we can do it voluntarily and enthusiastically. Thus, the shared value can be more meaningful and reach wider community," she said.

Finding partners with a vision is crucial to run social entrepreneurship. She admitted that it takes some times to find solid team with the same vision. Social entrepreneurship is not only about the business itself, however it has a purpose to be reached and support productivity of its member.

"One needs not be afraid not to be rich while doing business on the basis of social entrepreneurship. In fact, every member in the business will get rich together,” she concluded.

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