Maria Lisa Polegatto January 2024
Sustainable Happiness and Entrepreneurship; Social Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs can seize opportunities to make real and positive changes in the world through innovation of new ideas. This can sometimes come from a frustration inside oneself with the status quo not just for their own benefit but rather for the benefit of the disadvantaged masses and can be a for profit or non-profit basis (O’Brien, 2016). While this can occur as a result of an opportunity, it can also occur as a result of the necessity for change especially in underprivileged parts of the world and can take a great many skills, such as networking, initiative, decisions, engaging, creating, innovating, emotional, social, logical and everyday skills (O’Brien, 2016). The spirit of an entrepreneur to set their mind to focus on the task at hand until it is achieved. That is a great work ethic to have and pass along to others.
An entrepreneurial mindset can benefit students in all areas of their lives, for instance in their personal lives. Building a better person inside helps to build a better person in community. This could mean students have better self identity, personal goals, confidence and resilience, self discipline, undertaking of self, push beyond their limits to achieve success, tolerate risk and failure, build personal values, such as ethical, social and awareness of environment (O’Brien, 2016). When these values are enriched and consistently growing, it can lead to students taking a more active role in their community to help others and benefit the community at large.
The Canadian 21st-century learning competencies proposed by C21 Canada includes both entrepreneurship and character development (O’Brien, 2016) and references sustainability, such as:
- Environmental: the impact humanity has upon the environment; Earth’s natural systems; effect of the economy on Earth’s natural resources.
- Economic: technology, media, and digital resources for production of products and services.
- Social: collaboration for social emotional learning skills that include “self-awareness, social awareness, self-regulation and relationship skills” (O’Brien, 2016).
- Cultural: the connection of all living things; strength of humanity mother tongue/multi-lingual ability; diversity of identifies and culture.
The Canadian 21st-century learning competencies incorporates social and emotional learning through well being, both mentally and physically, and the management of personal relationships in all areas of our life – school, work, personal and social life (O’Brien, 2016). It also connects with the natural environment, such as how we as humanity influence the Earth’s natural resources. Unfortunately, while humanity can make positive effects, they can also negatively affect the Earth, such as pollution.
There are many social entrepreneurial organizations that are deeply committed to solving social issues, building stronger communities, and a sustainable and equitable world for everyone (RaiseSG, 2022), including the following organizations:
- The Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/): A non-profit organization offering “exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard” empowering students of all ages (Khan Academy, n.d.).
- The Barefoot College (https://www.barefootcollege.org/): Providing openings to women and girls from globally “marginalized communities” to create solutions for safeguarding “climate, economic and social resilience for rural communities globally” by partnering with a multitude of partners such as National Geographic, and targeting 17 of the UN sustainable goals (Barefoot College, 2023).
- TakingITGlobal (https://welcome.tigweb.org/en/fostering-creativity-and-digital-skills): A non-profit global organization for youth to learn, engage and work forward to solve global challenges (O’Brien, 2016) founded in 1999 with the motto to "inform, inspire, and involve" as a "social network for social good” for the future of the planet and encourage youth to get involved, help with social issues, resources and programs for sustainability, innovation, and creativity (TakingITGlobal, n.d.).
- Me to We (https://www.metowe.com/): A global social enterprise founded in 2009 facilitating people doing good through everyday choices and providing economic openings and sustainability in WE Village communities (ME to WE, n.d.).
- Green School Bali (https://www.greenschool.org/bali/): An outdoor school in Bali where the natural surroundings encourage “innovation, creativity and learning to flourish (Green School Bali, 2024).
I would like to focus on the Green School Bali more at this time. Being in nature for me increases my creativity and relaxes my mind to let ideas flow and develop into action. For success in life, people must be able to use creativity in all areas of their life and life stages (O’Brien, 2016). To spend time in school in natural light, enjoy the breeze of natural air and learning about the world in real time with green alternatives of solar, water powered turbines, recyclable plastic rooves, bamboo cathedrals, 20 acres, river, using natural resources of volcanic rocks, livestock, gardening, organic vegetables, no gas, cultural cooking, pioneers, youth from 25 countries coming together to share their cultures, language, producing global green leaders, using design thinking skills, sounds very inviting and breathtakingly relaxing to me, a country girl now living in the city, looking forward to retiring one day and moving into a rural setting outside the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
A few hours in nature calms my mind, spirit, and soul into relaxing and letting go of the busy world to focus on the importance of life instead of the mundane of consumerism. While technology has made advances we can not deny, it has also brought us into the future with no escape from the blue light day and night. We need to focus on the earth that brings us life for future generations to survive and thrive.We need more passionate, persistent, flexible, committed people who have the courage to step forward to try new solutions to solve problems (williammarre, 2009). People who are willing to go the distance for each other, the world, and future generations to succeed. We can not succeed on a me only attitude. We need a me-too attitude where we are all committed to helping the world succeed together.
The European Commission developed “Entrepreneurship Education: A Guide for Educators” (“Guide”) in 2013 with a collaboration between teachers and experts to ensure students have a fully balanced education that includes entrepreneurial education (European Commission, 2013). Changes I would suggest in the Guide would be as follows:
Globally the world needs more entrepreneurs to innovate solutions for climate change, poverty, child labour, war, conflicts, raising food prices, homelessness, animal cruelty and the list is non exhaustive. The fostering of more entrepreneurial mindset can increase sustainable actions and outcomes, better world communication in cooperating with others, engaging and networking to collaborate and produce a happier and more stable global community.
A few hours in nature calms my mind, spirit, and soul into relaxing and letting go of the busy world to focus on the importance of life instead of the mundane of consumerism. While technology has made advances we can not deny, it has also brought us into the future with no escape from the blue light day and night. We need to focus on the earth that brings us life for future generations to survive and thrive.We need more passionate, persistent, flexible, committed people who have the courage to step forward to try new solutions to solve problems (williammarre, 2009). People who are willing to go the distance for each other, the world, and future generations to succeed. We can not succeed on a me only attitude. We need a me-too attitude where we are all committed to helping the world succeed together.
The European Commission developed “Entrepreneurship Education: A Guide for Educators” (“Guide”) in 2013 with a collaboration between teachers and experts to ensure students have a fully balanced education that includes entrepreneurial education (European Commission, 2013). Changes I would suggest in the Guide would be as follows:
- While entrepreneurial teacher educators collected student feedback systematically (European Commission, 2013), I find including students in the development of the Guide for input and suggestions would make an all-inclusive Guide that provides insight from not only teachers and experts but also students who the Guide would ultimately benefit.
- The students could as a class write to a United Nations Ambassador of their Country regarding a global issue they are passionate about solving, such as ocean pollution, coral reefs, or one of the UN sustainable goals, with their concerns for the future, suggestions they have developed through group innovation and creativity. They could each write a personal note, poem, drawing, art, or other creative form to show their connection to their subject matter and why it is important to the environment and for them for conservation. For instance, sea turtles are a passion of mine- they have existed since the dinosaur age and are now critically endangered.
- Allow the students in each class to develop a teaching plan about a global issue, present it as a class to the rest of the school and act as teacher in taking further innovate ideas from students in the audience as to innovation, creativity, and future trendsetting.
Globally the world needs more entrepreneurs to innovate solutions for climate change, poverty, child labour, war, conflicts, raising food prices, homelessness, animal cruelty and the list is non exhaustive. The fostering of more entrepreneurial mindset can increase sustainable actions and outcomes, better world communication in cooperating with others, engaging and networking to collaborate and produce a happier and more stable global community.
Further Resources
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References
Barefoot College. (2023, April 21). Barefoot College International. https://www.barefootcollege.org/
Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Unit. (2013, June). Entrepreneurship education: A guide for educators. European Commission. https://www.diariodellaformazione.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/k2_attachments_entredu-manual-fv_en.pdf?x12930
Green School Bali. (2024, January 15). Green School Bali, Indonesia: School of the future. https://www.greenschool.org/bali/
Khan Academy. (n.d.). Free online courses, lessons & practice. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/
ME to WE. (n.d.). Products & experiences that make an impact. https://www.metowe.com/
O’Brien, Catherine. (2016). Education for Sustainable Happiness and Well-Being. Routledge.
RaiseSG. (2022). Social Enterprises: The Future of Businesses. YouTube. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5vIyJ3pS5Q.
TakingITGlobal. (n.d.). TakingITGlobal - Inspire. Inform. Involve. https://welcome.tigweb.org/en
williammarre. (2009). How is Social Entrepreneurship different than Regular Entrepreneurship? YouTube. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6e4cGJwJ28.
Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Unit. (2013, June). Entrepreneurship education: A guide for educators. European Commission. https://www.diariodellaformazione.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/k2_attachments_entredu-manual-fv_en.pdf?x12930
Green School Bali. (2024, January 15). Green School Bali, Indonesia: School of the future. https://www.greenschool.org/bali/
Khan Academy. (n.d.). Free online courses, lessons & practice. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/
ME to WE. (n.d.). Products & experiences that make an impact. https://www.metowe.com/
O’Brien, Catherine. (2016). Education for Sustainable Happiness and Well-Being. Routledge.
RaiseSG. (2022). Social Enterprises: The Future of Businesses. YouTube. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5vIyJ3pS5Q.
TakingITGlobal. (n.d.). TakingITGlobal - Inspire. Inform. Involve. https://welcome.tigweb.org/en
williammarre. (2009). How is Social Entrepreneurship different than Regular Entrepreneurship? YouTube. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6e4cGJwJ28.
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