Plenary Session 1-Innovative Asian Social Enterpreneurs Addressing Asian Poverty

Session Theme: Regional Report: Innovative Asian Social Entrepreneurs Addressing Asian Poverty

 

Session Time: 11:00~13:00, Nov. 29

 

“Innovative Asian Social Enterprises Addressing Asian Poverty”

Until recently, poverty in Asia has been eclipsed by Africa, which seemed relatively far worse. But some experts argue that the poverty problem within Asia is as severe as that of Africa. The poor people in India alone approximate 456 million; which is more numerous than that of the other developing counties, including Africa, combined. Today even the developed countries in Asia (including Japan) suffer increasing numbers of the working poor each year.

 

In the first session of the 2^nd Asian Social Entrepreneurs Summit that took place on Nov. 29^th, it was agreed to tackle these issues by introducing and discussing selected passionate, innovative Asian social enterprises undertaken by attendees.

 

In the 1^st Session hosted by Kwang-Taek Lee, Executive Director of The Work Together Foundation, Philip K. Hui from China, talked about the current situation in China where there is a widening gap between the cities and rural areas. The Speaker presented the case “YouChange” in which a Chinese social entrepreneur carried out new pubic-benefit movements for stamping out poverty and social inequality.

 

 

Anshu Gupta, from India, Founder/Director of GOONJ, stated that we should provide the poor with clothing and clean sanitary pads, because half the world’s population suffers from not having proper clothing and sanitary pads. He described GOONJ, where they help poverty eradication, not with costly resources or big investments, but with small pieces of cloth, rugs and materials. GOONJ started its business with 67 pieces of cloth; today they run a variety of businesses repairing used clothes from 21 states in India and giving them to the poor.

 

Masa Kogure, from Japan, Representative of Table for Two International (TFT), said that of the 7 billion on this planet, 1 billion people suffer from starvation, while another 1 billion suffer from obesity-related diseases. This is a sad paradox. He described the project Table for Two International (TFT) where when people eat healthy food at schools in the advanced countries, 20 cents from each meal is donated to the poor countries. This helps prevent people from being obese while it provides food for the poor and reduces the number of children in poverty. 

Deshapriya Sam Wijetunge Warnakula Arachchiralalage, from Sri Lanka, Director General of Sri Lanka-United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO), introduced the case where SUNFO provides training programs for female prison inmates. This enables them to handcraft products and earn a living, and helps decrease re-crime rates (recidivism). This program teaches them skills and techniques to be independent economically, with personal and social benefits. This also helps ensure they become law-abiding community members.

David Pollock, Senior Advisor of ASHOKA Foundation, the last speaker described the idea of ASHOKA Foundation, which helps people realize their pioneering dreams to change the world. ASHOKA foundation currently runs in 62 countries; it provides initial capital, professional services and global networks to over 2,700 innovative social entrepreneurs they handpicked.