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Who might me solve unemployment issues in developing countries through public-private partnerships.

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Gulf region in need of more social entrepreneurs

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Public-private partnerships are key to tackling the issues that confront an increasingly globalised society. Businesses must look beyond simply making profits.

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Relevant Conferences/Symposiums/Trade Shows on social change

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Relevant Conferences/Symposiums/Trade Shows on social change

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How might we design a platform that updates young SE on relevant Conferences/Symposiums/Trade Shows within their localities

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All members are invited to WFTO-Europe Biennial Conference to be held from 7 to 9 June 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. This meeting will focus on the strategic and internal planning.Check it out here

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How might me design a system(s) that covers all these three in a new way that actually works for young SE to come up with means of driving entrepreneurial social change in their communities.

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How might we enable young SE learn the things they never learned in school that actually work in the real world instead of academic theories.

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Young people may be frustrated or reluctant to seek public funding because of various reasons, e.g. red tape for application, distrust in government, unwillingness to rely on others, etc.

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For less developed countries, young people will not have much access to formal education. Unlike their counterparts in developed countries, ommunicating business concepts and other knowledge via traditional education channels will be a challenge.

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Young social entrepreneurs need to build reliable network with the suppliers of their products or raw materials.

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Website, blog, facebook page, co-working space

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Intergenerational Dialogue Workshop

Henderson Social Innovation Classroom @ the Good Lab

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Good Lab - your partner in Social Innovation

Hong Kong has always been a beacon of progress and entrepreneurism in Asia. However, this progress has not always brought advancements that are equal for everyone. Hong Kong is ranked as the most unequal society in the world, and this division will threaten the harmony and wellbeing of our city in the years to come. Founded in 2012 by a group of thought leaders dedicated to improving Hong Kong for future generations, Good Lab's mission is to create solutions to tackle these inequalities. We do this by bringing together the civil society, the government and business partners to realise solutions which can start local and have the potential to impact the whole city and beyond.

Come and join our inspirational workshops

Good Lab provides a full calendar of free and paid events to inpsire you on to your steps on becoming a change maker.

At the Good Lab, we dedicate ourselves in brining individuals and organisations on a journey of social innovation to create a better Hong Kong together. Check our how we inpsire, act and collaborate with our partners to achieve our goals.

To create equitable and sustainable solutions for the future, we must first equip ourselves with the knowledge and be aware of the interventions that have and have not worked in the past. If we are to create a better world, we must make sure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and also find allies along the way to create our vision of tomorrow.
We bring in thought leaders and shapers that are challenging the status quo, and through open respectful dialogue, educate, equip and inspire action in our society.

Join our programmes

Once inspired and equipped with the knowledge, we must act.
Ideas come alive at the Good Lab. We're a community of entrepreneurs that are here to support each other in growing our businesses. We offer a comprehensive ecosystem of support for social entrepreneurs that want to make their idea a reality.

How?

We believe that the future of Hong Kong must be one where we all collaborate for the good of the city. This means working with the government, established NGOs, and businesses in creating shared value for social change.

Embarked collaborations

Address

Good Lab
L1, The Sparkle, 500 Tung Chau Street,
West Kowloon

Good Lab @ Prince
5/F, Le Prabelle Hotel, 372 Portland Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Tax-Exempt Charity Ref. No. : 91/6101
Good Lab Foundation Limited is exempt from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, or to the Government, for charitable purposes. A Charitable Donation Receipt will be issued for donations of HK$100.00 or more for tax purposes.

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Your partner in social innovation. About Us What is Good Lab? Hong Kong has always been a beacon of progress and entrepreneurism in Asia. However, this progress has not always brought advancements that are equal for everyone. Hong Kong is ranked as the most unequal society in the world, and this division will threaten the [...]

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Internship, paid part-time job, volunteers

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Master of Social Sciences in the field of Nonprofit Management | Taught Postgraduate Admissions | The University of Hong Kong

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The Master of Social Sciences in Nonprofit Management degree curriculum is designed to train leaders in civil society and particularly the nonprofit sector in Asia/Pacific countries, Greater China and throughout the world. With vibrant economic and social development in the east, there is an active civil society movement in the region with mushrooming of the non-profit sector and philanthropic foundations.

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Crowd funding, corporate responsibility funding, government funding

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Offered by University of Pennsylvania. Solve Real Business Problems. Build a foundation of core business skills in marketing, finance, ... Enroll for free.

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Government Funding & mentorship programs

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Government Funding & mentorship programs

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Mentorship is nothing new. Mentoring has been around for centuries as a way of passing on knowledge and skills - Socrates had Plato, Ray Charles had Quincy Jones, Robin had Batman. The explosion of entrepreneurship has seen a resurgence in the mentor-mentee relationship. You would be hard pressed to find a start-up program nowadays that does not offer mentoring and there are an increasing number of platforms, like Bridge for Billions, that connect experienced individuals with those who would benefit from extra support and guidance.

Why the Need for a Mentor

Finding the right mentor can be the determining success factor for social entrepreneurs, especially for those starting out. Mentoring can offer insightful advice, accountability, support and encouragement. A good mentor can help social entrepreneurs avoid common mistakes and focus on the highest priorities. In fact, in a survey of 45 CEOs, 84% reported that mentorship relationships helped them avoid expensive mistakes and develop in their career paths more quickly ( Harvard Business Review, 2015 ). Mentors can challenge you to consider different strategies and perspectives while imparting skills, tools and best-practices for tackling problems. A great mentor often has a combination of detailed sector experience and knowledge and is willing, once trust has been established, to facilitate personal introductions to their contacts. For a social entrepreneur selling a product, this may be in the form of manufacturing expertise or distribution contacts.

Mentorship is worth its weight in gold. Unfortunately entrepreneurship is often associated with notions of audaciousness and self-reliance. As a result, many first-time social entrepreneurs try to go it alone, either ignorantly believing that that they know-it-all or afraid that seeking help is a sign of weakness and diminishes their efforts. Going it alone can no doubt provide valuable learning experiences, however it increases risk exponentially and should be avoided if possible. Despite their best intentions and efforts, social entrepreneurs often lack the business acumen and experience to successfully navigate complex commercial environments to become financially sustainable. Arguably the overall failure rates of social ventures would decline if more founders obtained mentors to guide them.

Making a Good Match

Before actually looking for a mentor, you first need to identify your goals and the type of person you need. Are you after a sales sage, an impact measurement master or an operations oracle? Do you need someone to guide you in strategic planning? Maybe you need someone to challenge your thinking and play devil's advocate, or someone to simply provide moral support? Whatever your reason, finding a mentor becomes less difficult once you have decided what you and your social enterprise need.

It is important to strike a balance between consultation and action. Just like too many cooks spoil the broth, too many advisors can undo an enterprise. While a social entrepreneur should always be open to feedback and suggestions, having only a few trusted, vision and value-aligned mentors in your corner is better than 30 people ringside shouting instructions. It is also important to remember that no matter how experienced and accomplished a mentor is, if they are unable to give you the time and commitment you need, then the potential benefits of the mentoring experience will never fully be realised.

How to Go about Finding a Mentor

Like so many things in life, you can get started by using the Internet to search for your ideal mentor. Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are great tools to find those with a proven track record. Once you have compiled a list of suitable individuals, use your existing networks to get an introduction. If you do not have a common connection, try to personally contact them yourself. Whether you do this online or face-to-face always be tactful, patient and professional. As with any relationship, building trust and rapport takes more than a phone call, a coffee, an e-mail, a tweet, or a handful of text messages. Having any experienced, talented and busy individual agree to mentor you will take time - often weeks and months, not days.

To increase your chances of success, consider what you could offer that would be of value. Share their content, create an infographic just for them, ask for an interview for your blog, thoughtfully respond to their questions on social media, or simply propose to help them with logistics and transportation if they are coming to your city. Express your passion and vision but be respectful and allow rapport to develop naturally and over time. Remember, perseverance is key - you only need to persuade one or two people on your list that you are a hardworking, committed social entrepreneur worth their time.

For many social entrepreneurs, establishing a successful business with a social or environmental purpose is the ultimate dream. But it is a grind with numerous trials and tribulations. Luckily, social entrepreneurs do not have to struggle in isolation.
If you are a social entrepreneur looking for a mentor, Social Change Central can help you find the right one. Sign up as a Gold Member and Social Change Central will connect you with motivated and compatible mentors who can provide the critical skills, knowledge and motivation you need to supercharge your social impact.

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Why Every Social Entrepreneur Needs a Mentor & How to Find One

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Mentorship is nothing new. Mentoring has been around for centuries as a way of passing on knowledge and skills - Socrates had Plato, Ray Charles had Quincy Jones, Robin had Batman. The explosion of entrepreneurship has seen a resurgence in the mentor-mentee relationship.

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Give women more opportunities & choices rather than just having a family with lots of kids which makes them stay home all the time to look after children & housework