[ASES2010] Opening Ceremony in The Presence of about 300 Participants

Asian Social Entrepreneurs Gathered All Together. The Opening Ceremony of ASES2010 Took Place in The Presence of about 300 Participants.

The 2^nd Asian Social Entrepreneurs Summit 2010 (ASES2010), the biggest Social Enterprise Interchanges in Asia, raised its curtain for the 2^nd time.

 

The Work Together Foundation declared Open the Start of ASES2010 at its Opening Ceremony in GuhMoonGo Hall of the Seoul KyoYuk MunHwa HoeKwan (the TEMF Hotel) on November 29^th.

This Summit is held to help social entrepreneurs in Asia to meet, in order to establish their commonality, promote networking and gain a win-win approach in their work.

 

People deeply concerned about sustainability of their region, gathered to explore a range of possible common actions, and to share experiences of successful outcomes and solutions they had created. 

 

On the 29^th, nearly 300 people, including 60 Social Entrepreneurs from 15 different Asian countries and their counterparts in Korea, attended the ceremony and expressed their keen interest in promoting social enterprise.   

Wol-Ju Song, the Chairman of the Work Together Foundation and the Organizing Committee of ASES2010, spoke his mind at the Opening Address. He said “This important occasion is arranged for social entrepreneurs to ponder upon the poverty problem that is prevalent in Asia, but relatively underestimated compared to Africa. I hope the summit becomes a starting point of collaboration in the entire Asia Region which will deliver the development in all Regions.”

The next speaker Jae-Wan Park, the Minister of Employment and Labor of Korea, in his congratulatory speech, said “What makes or breaks social enterprise is the existence of enthusiastic social workers with fertile minds, which our society still lacks. The Korean Government will give its best to promote social enterprise so that a larger number of social entrepreneurs can be engaged in valuable purposes with their creativity.” 

 

Ho-Sang Ahn, CEO of Seoul Foundation of Arts and Culture, welcomed the participants saying “I hope many social entrepreneurs can solve the various problems that Asia has, throughout their countries.”

Antonio Meloto: “Social Entrepreneurs in Asia Should Work Together to Solve Problems of Poverty and Environment.”  
  

The Keynote speech for the summit was given by Antonio “Tony” Meloto who is the Chairman of Gawad Kalinga, the community development foundation in the Philippines.

 

Antonio Meloto is a social entrepreneur who has worked energetically to solve the poverty problems of The Philippines; and to turn the slums into a sustainable local community. He was awarded the Magsaysay Award (seen as the Nobel Prize of Asia), and is considered one of the most noteworthy entrepreneurs in The Philippines.       

Antonio Meloto said that the goals of Gawad Kalinga were basic and simple: land for the landless, homes for the homeless, and food for the hungry. They considered the interests of both the rich and poor; and always worked through methods that would connect the two.

 

He also stated that the basis of a flourishing society was not its abundant resources; but assured human values that respect human dignity and preserve the environment. He urged all the Asian nations gathered at the Conference to focus on solving the problems of poverty; and protection of environment, to lead everyone to a better life.    
 

ASES2010, scheduled for the 29th and 30^th November, will focus on its theme, “Asian Poverty & Social Entrepreneurship; a Wave of Change in Asia”, and provide related programs, such as lectures, discussions, and networking events.   

Written and Translated by the ASESian
    Edited by Tamara de Mel