By Arnel Paciano Casanova*

Happiness perhaps lies in a sense of destiny and the knowledge that one’s existence is inextricably intertwined with something great. Or perhaps, happiness is found in the way we enjoy our life’s journey and not exactly the way we end it. While we all wish that we end on the best note we could ever imagine, the truth is, we do not know how it will be.

In the restlessness of my spirit, I found joy in sharing my life and its blessings by being a social entrepreneur. I decided to teach the subject at the Ateneo School of Government.

In addition to finance and leadership, I studied Social Entrepreneurship while trying to earn my graduate degree in Harvard under Prof. Gordon Bloom. I met people who shared my own passion. And the thought of solving social problems brought hope to my almost cynical mind.

Together with Steve Koon of China and other classmates in Harvard, we founded AvantChange, Ltd. with a vision of promoting social entrepreneurship in Asia to catalyze the formation of critical mass of social entrepreneurs in the region for training, incubation and collaboration. This critical mass of changemakers shall address the diverse and complex social problems in the region.

While we were setting up AvantChange, Dean Tony La Vina and Harvey Keh of Ateneo, two people of boundless energy and compassion, were setting up the social entrepreneurship and leadership center in Ateneo.  Destiny brought us together when Harvey sought Harvard’s help in putting up the program and Prof. Bloom referred him to AvantChange. A partnership was born.

The social entrepreneur’s business is solving social problems.  His aim is to change the world to transform it into a more humane place to live. Among others, he has courage to face the challenges of injustice, poverty, oppression, disease and lack of healthcare, environmental degradation. He looks at social problems as opportunities to do good. Muhammad Yunus is the best example of this when he revolutionized the banking industry with his Grameen Bank model.

My class is a revelation to me. I see people of all ages and diverse backgrounds come together with such positive expectations to create change. Having an activist background, I observed that people clamoring for change oftentimes do so with fiery rage that eventually consumed them.

Social entrepreneurship is different. It promotes change in an inclusive manner. Its driving force is not a dogma or political ideology. Rather, it is fueled by the hope and dreams for better life in every human being within a nurturing world. In this world we aim to bridge the divide between profit and welfare, between business and philanthropy. We strike the difference between helping as against promoting dependency. We seek to uplift human dignity and self-realization instead of incentivizing poverty. We involve all sectors, organizations and individuals to address the enormity of social ills.

We recognize that it would take everyone to make the world better. Our bedrock is ethics. Our tool is innovation. Our mantra is human dignity and compassion. Our work is towards sustainability.

It is in our culture to help others. Filipinos are known for our loving care and the warmth of our friendship. We have an abundance of generous people. Our youth are full of energy and hope while our elders are mindful of a lasting legacy that they should leave.

In my year of teaching, I found remarkable individuals, corporations and organizations all dedicating time and resources to create positive change.  To name a few, we have Dr. Alip of CARD-MRI, Harvey Keh and Solvie Nubla of Pathways to Higher Education, Rev. Javy Alpasa and Reese Fernandez of Rags 2 Riches, Mark Ruiz and Bam Aquino of Hapinoy, Dan Songco of Pinoy ME, and Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga. For corporations, we have the likes of SMART, Globe, Jollibee, and Metrobank. Even McKinsey Consulting is involved in providing solutions for corporations to reach those at the base of the pyramid (BOP). It is heartwarming to see corporations competing to serve marginalized sectors better and not solely to generate profit.

I am humbled by the innovative ideas of my remarkable students. I am presented with great possibilities such as a solution to secure justice for abused children thru DNA kits (JustDNA), a plan to prevent dengue and malaria with an insect-repellent daily wear–this project is now on its testing stage (Wear n Repel), a proposal to expand information technology (IT) education by harnessing down-time hours in internet cafes, and environmental solutions in biogas and recycling.

In Batanes, there’s Dina Abad’s Fina Fundacion, an eco-hotel reminiscent of those sanctuaries overlooking the seas. This eco-venture is now operational. There are also ideas and plans to feed less privileged children with soup (Soup A Day) out of the proceeds from the sales of high-end organic meals and soups to those who can afford. A group of SMART changemakers are also involving themselves with community mentoring to improve the reading skills of young students in partnership with KIDS Foundation and CHEERS. Notebook Reloaded is a movement that aims to provide quality and cheap notebooks to public school children out of recycled ones from more affluent schools; and Angels @ Work is helping a Gawad Kalinga community’s livelihood projects by connecting them with the market and providing organizational management.

As I move around the country promoting this new approach to changing society, the sense of hopelessness that once burdened my tired spirit has been vanquished. In its place, a new hope gushes forth and I am once again possessed with the joy of pursuing a dream–a dream of achieving a more humane capitalism which believes that there could be an economy where the efficiency of capital is a function of ethics; where labor productivity is a function of the level of human dignity that the laborers possess; and a sense of realization that earth’s resources are finite such that there is a deliberate intent to nurture the balance of nature for the common good.

*Arnel is the lead faculty of the Ateneo de Manila-School of Government Social Entrepreneurship Training Program for Professionals. The 3rd Social Entrepreneurship Training Program for Professionals starts on November 15 (until March 14, 2009), every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Ateneo Professional Schools. For more details about this program, please contact Ms. Cristyl Senajon at 4265657.