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Introducing International Students to the South African Social Entrepreneurship

Understanding Social Enterprise
March has been a busy month for us here at the Social Enterprise Academy, as we launched one of our most impactful programme, the International Students Programme in collaboration with the University of Cape Town (UCT). This programme is designed to introduce students from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and NHH Norwegian School of Economics to the vibrant world of social enterprises in South Africa.

Welcome to the Programme

We kicked off the program by welcoming our international students to the UCT School of Business, where they were introduced to local social enterprises that will be hosting them for internships. This immersive experience will give them a firsthand look at the innovative work being done in the social enterprise sector in South Africa.

Measuring Social Impact

To prepare our students for their internships, we organised a fun and interactive Measuring Social Impact garden picnic session. During this session, we explored the mission, vision, and theory of change of various social enterprises, using a Theory of Change worksheet to identify the activities necessary to achieve long-term impact.

Theory of Change Worksheet

Our Theory of Change worksheet is a valuable tool that helps organisations identify the intermediate changes necessary to achieve their long-term goals. By working backwards from their desired impact, organisations can identify the core activities required to get there. This process involves questioning assumptions and understanding the unique context in which they operate.

Monitoring & Evaluation Framework

We also shared a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework with our students, which provides a structured approach to measuring the success of social enterprises. This framework includes indicators, baselines, targets, data sources, and frequency of measurement, ensuring that our students have a comprehensive understanding of how to evaluate the impact of their work.

Social Enterprise Tour

As part of the programme, we took our students on a social enterprise tour, visiting three impactful organisations:

  1. U-turn: A social enterprise that provides innovative skills-based programs to help individuals overcome homelessness.
  2. I Love Coffee: A social enterprise that educates and employs Deaf youth to become baristas, chefs, and hospitality professionals.
  3. Taking Care of Business (TCB): A South African non-profit social enterprise that empowers unemployed individuals and their families to escape poverty through small business opportunities.

Programme Outline

Our program outline for the social enterprise tour included an introduction to the Social Enterprise Academy, an overview of the day, and an icebreaker activity. We also discussed the definition of social enterprise, its core principles, and characteristics. Our students received handouts on revenue models, non-profit sustainability, and the social enterprise continuum.

Key Takeaways

Some of the key takeaways from our programme include:

  • Social enterprises have a social or environmental aim at their heart
  • Social enterprises trade as a means to a social or environmental end
  • Profits are mainly reinvested into the social aim or used to further the organization's mission
  • Ethical values guide a social enterprise's activities
  • Social enterprises can take various legal forms, but it's the core characteristics that define them

Revenue Models

We explored five different revenue models that social enterprises typically use:

  1. Employment: Social enterprises that provide employment opportunities to disadvantaged individuals
  2. Fee for Service: Social enterprises that sell products or services that are socially or environmentally useful
  3. Cross-subsidization: Social enterprises that use profits from one area to subsidize social programs or donate to other charities
  4. Entrepreneur support: Social enterprises that provide support to entrepreneurs to help them service their markets
  5. Market intermediary: Social enterprises that act as a market linkage or intermediary for entrepreneurs

We're excited to see our students apply these concepts to their internships and future careers in the social enterprise sector. To relive these beautiful moments with us please click on this link and swipe through the memories: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18TZ4iS7Wp/