How to Change the World

I recently read a book on a topic almost completely foreign to me. David Bornstein's How to Change the World - Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas - fed my growing interest in finding a way to do something meaningful for society.

It was interesting to learn about a macro shift that is taking place in the way major world problems are being addressed. Since the industrial revolution began to generate huge pockets of wealth in the developed world, large scale philanthropy and government led initiatives began to tackle such issues as starvation, education and rights abuses.

Although much great work was done, all too often these programs had a domineering attitude of "we'll show you how you should live," often steamrolling into a village and trying to convert it to Western modernity overnight. Little or no consideration was given to local needs, wishes, cultures and conventions. Sometimes more harm was done than good, and the philanthropic model simply poured good money after bad without any reconciliation as to how the money was or was not producing any yield.

In recent decades the trend has moved towards local efforts that germinate in the villages, towns and nations that actually need the assistance. Some unbelievably motivated individuals - often of very little means - simply get fed up with the conditions and find creative solutions that bring real change. They can have real success, but often within a very limited circle due to their lack of means, resources and clout. That's where Western funding can step in, providing financial assistance, knowledge and other resources to help these social entrepreneurs grow their operations and impact. The results can be staggering.

There are some wonderful such stories in the book, highlighting social entrepreneurs from all around the world. From a free phone service in India called Childline that provides an incredible array of services to children suffering from all types of indignities and destitution, to transforming lives in rural Brazil by electrifying remote villages and homes, ultimately empowering them with self sufficiency and 20th century advances that were completly lacking.

Each of the initiatives highlighted in the book is inspiring to an incredible degree. Each was started by an individual that has devoted their lives to making real change. Each has received assistance from the outside world (many of them through the impressive Ashoka organization viewable at http://www.ashoka.org/), and continues to run their respective operations in one capacity or another, often decades after its founding. And each has been replicated, creating a ripple effect that expands to other cities, nations and continents. These people aren't power hungry, they simply want to see the world change for the better.

I'm intrigued, and am continuing to study and explore how and why these efforts are succeeding, and how I can somehow play a role.