Ideas & Opportunities

Social entrepreneurship is gaining traction in country through awareness and businesses that find innovative ways to make profit and assist in social change. To help this cause, the Ateneo de Manila University recently hosted a gathering for its Entrepreneurship on Sustainable Development initiative with Temasek Foundation, National University of Singapore (NUS), and Gawad Kalinga (GK)  at their Loyola Heights campus. The Temasek Foundation has been supporting this partnership for the last two years. 

The initiative has two dimensions. First, the curriculum development program and second, the trainer-trainers program. Twelve faculty and professionals from the Ateneo and GK also gathered for a curriculum development workshop which was part of this initiative. This has resulted in a module used to train over 70 GK stakeholders; 50 more stakeholders will be trained by 2013. Two of the trainees, have been recognized for their proposals.

 Angel Supetran, Jr. head of GK-Center for Social Innovation in Iloilo has received a grant for a Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) project in Concepcion, Iloilo. Kevin Dela Cruz of the University of the Philippines (UP) Circle of Industrial Engineering Majors has also received a grant for his project to put up enterprises for the urban poor in UP’s campus.      

Dr. Sum also said that GK leaders are now tasked to train other entrepreneurs in communities across the country, as part of this endeavor. Later, the program aims to launch an electronic book which will contain 10 case studies of community based entrepreneurship in the Philippines.

A course on entrepreneurship for sustainable development is now being offered at the Ateneo beginning the first semester this school year.

Ateneo Vice President for Social Development Atty. Jaime Hofileña said in his speech that “Ateneo is privileged to be among nurturers” and that the University acts as a “change catalyst” through this initiative.

More importantly Meloto said “Ateneo has provided a platform” for social justice initiatives such as this program. He also said that “Ateneo is important in bridging the rich and the poor and bridging the gap between Singapore and the Philippines.” This he said will allow to create a “better world” in Asia.

Fr. Jose Cruz, SJ, Ateneo Vice President for University and Global Relations, said that this partnership shows that there is a “great caring team” for social entrepreneurship in the country.

Mr. Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Foundation for his part said that learning (from this partnership) is “never one way” and “through these programs we learn from each other, learn with each other and grow together.”