This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

In our “This Week in Social Entrepreneurship” series, each Friday we will feature the top stories in Social Entrepreneurship for the week that we find to be noteworthy, novel, and thought-provoking. What are your favorite stories this week in Social Entrepreneurship? Let’s start a discussion!

The Transformative Action Institute promotes university curriculums that teach key skills that make social entrepreneurs successful. Comprehensive studies show that the most successful social entrepreneurs possess seven competencies: leadership, optimism, grit, resilience, creativity and innovation, empathy, and emotional and social intelligence. Each and every one of these traits can be developed with practice—you don’t have to be born with creativity, you can learn and develop it. The Transformative Action Institute has been teaching a course on the key skills of successful entrepreneurs since 2005. It piloted the program at UCLA and now has reached over 30 universities worldwide. To learn more about the program, check out this Stanford Social Innovation Review article, which highlights the mission and goals of the Transformative Action Institute.
The Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC) is taking applications through November 9. This is a leading international social business plan competition. University student teams from around the world are encouraged to pitch their creative business solutions to poverty in the developing world. Prizes come in the form of funding and professional support. Are you a university students with an innovative market-based approach to solving poverty in the developing world? Consider applying today!
On October 31, our world population reached 7 billion. As one can imagine, this growing population presents a slew of new challenges for us as social change agents. On its blog, Echoing Green quantifies some of these challenges for us. Some of the statistics that stand out the most—By 2050, we expect a world population of 9 billion and will need to increase our current food production by 70 percent. Thirty-seven out of one hundred people in this world have jobs. Only 20 out of 100 people reside in housing that is considered livable. Some of the biggest challenges we face are the shift of the majority of the population into cities and climate change. Now more than ever, we need innovative approaches to take on these emerging challenges.
Have you been yearning to chat with other social entrepreneurs? Want to get involved with the social entrepreneurship community on Twitter? You should consider joining Ashoka Changemakers for its frequent #socenchats, usually held on Wednesdays from 3 to 5 PM EST. Next week’s chat (Nov 9th) will discuss citizen media. This is a chance for all you online activists to chat with Changemakers, Google, and the finalists in Google’s citizen-media competition. Participate by following the hashtag #socentchat on Wednesday, November 9th from 3 to 5 PM EST. Don’t forget to use #socentchat in all your tweets that are part of the discussion!

Last but not least, our featured SocEnt news story this week:

Imagine if study abroad were a vehicle to end poverty. Would you GO?

Calling all students who want to explore new thinking on international development and social entrepreneurship. Join the 2012 Innovation Institute powered by ThinkImpact—Apply now!

ThinkImpact provides applicants the chance to join the Innovation Institute—the premier social entrepreneurship education program for undergraduate and graduate students in rural Africa. Innovation Institute scholars learn about a new culture while exploring entrepreneurship in emerging economies. The 2012 Institute runs from June 20 to August 12. Experience the Institute in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda or South Africa. Want to learn more? Watch this video about the Innovation Institute!

Innovation Institute Scholars will:

Explore market-based solutions to poverty in emerging economies
Earn college credits while learning about a new culture
Live in a rural village with a host family, creating lifelong friendships
Explore the scenic beauty of Africa on Safari
Be part of a diverse and innovative team
Launch ideas in the real world

Read about a day in the life of a scholar at the Innovation Institute. Are you interested in becoming a Scholar at the 2012 Innovation Institute? Sign up here to receive the latest updates from the ThinkImpact Team. Think you might be qualified to be an Advisor and want to join the ThinkImpact staff next summer? Check out the eligibility requirements and apply today!

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Social entrepreneurs, has all this great SocEnt news inspired you to start your own good? Do you have a social enterprise, a non-profit, or an amazing idea that needs some momentum to take off? Visit our site to find out how to start your own campaign today. Still have questions? We have answers—check out our FAQ section.