Using Hong Kong as an exemplar, the BBC looks at the challenges and opportunities for social entrepreneurship in China if they get their relation with the central government right – thus providing a delicate and hopefully well-received return to the socialist aspect of the Chinese intention. Deng once promised that the mountains and rivers of socialist China will never change colour. In a way, this presents an opportunity for the state to work with creative ideas from its own stable in bringing a green and health-conscious update to its socialist motivation, now that it can afford to. It synergizes two aspects of the Chinese mind – the updated climb for financial gain, and the collectivist memory to do good as a way to harmonise one’s actions. Marry the two and it may just be a potent force. Will it step forward with a subsidy?
With the Solar Cooker for example, one can only marvel at the energy savings and the favours it will do the environment if 700m rural folk make the switch from solid fuels. The challenge of course, for any social enterprise is long-term adaptation. Solar’s great but it is weather-dependent, but at least there’s an option. Getting that option to stick is the next hurdle.
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Social entrepreneurship takes off in China
by Juliana Lu, Hong Kong Correspondent
Source – BBC, published September 23, 2012
We realised that in order to reach all the people who have this need, we would have to scale in a big way. And the only way to do that sustainably is by generating sustainable profits” Source – Catlin Powers, One Earth, 2012
Seven years ago, Hong Kong natives Legward Wong and Jeff Ng decided to set up a small business to tackle what they believed to be a big social problem.
In traditional Chinese culture, the elderly were revered for their wisdom and contribution to their community.
After decades of raising children and working to support the family, they used to be able to look forward to their golden years of being pampered by the younger generation. Read the rest of this entry »
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