Unreasonable institute 非常理學院

英國大文豪蕭伯納有一句名言:「The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress is the result of the unreasonable man.」

年紀輕輕的葉但尼(Daniel Epstein)，在27歲那年，便已在美國創辦了一所”非常理”學院 – Unreasonable Institute，還在東非及墨西哥設有分校。入讀這間非常學院的學生必須是社企創辦人，有計劃在三年內擴大果效十倍，並至少讓100萬人受惠。課程為期五周，入讀的學生必須全時間住在美國科羅拉多州博爾德巿(Boulder)的校舍。期間有50多經驗豐富的社會企業家導師將連同100位天使投資者及創投基金負責人等領導參加者進行密集式活動，包括學習、交流、業務模式反思再做、輔導及融資等。計劃推行四年間，已有82家社企參加，來自37個不同國家，其中74%在計劃中得到融資，共達3000多萬美元。

參考:謝家駒<不講理的人改變世界>，仁人學社主編(2013)，《社創群英：以社會創新改變世界的人》，香港：雲起文化。

民間社會創新集思會Brainstorming for Social Good (暨協作領袖服務隊第一次會議)

這是公開的集思活動，歡迎各界人士出席。本會致力推動協作社會企業，希望透過集思活動組織為社會創新努力之團隊，以協作精神共同建設可持續發展之公民社會。

主題：社會創新協作項目 - 「老友記故事集」工作會議

內容：民間記者招募、網誌制作、crowdfunding 等

日期：2014年9月6日(星期六)

時間：下午8:00-9:00 (7:00-8:00 公開課)

地點：城大AC2 Canteen

             九龍塘 城巿大學 學術樓(二)3樓

             [ 請沿泳池前往學術樓(二) ]

聯絡：Desmond Chan 9033 4604 (請留言)

報名：請到facebook 活動專頁登記

協作領袖服務隊

哈佛公開課 ：正義 – 一場思辨之旅(第七講)

日期：2014年9月6日(星期六)

時間：下午7:00-8:00 (8:00-9:00 集思會)

地點：城大AC2 Canteen

 (九龍塘 城巿大學 學術樓(二)3樓)

聯絡：Desmond Chan 9033 4604 (請留言)

報名：請到facebook 專頁登記

本課主題：The Case For Equality

這是哈佛大學政治學教授Michael Sandel的公開課，全課程共12講。(本課主要探討羅爾斯(John Rawls) 的理論。 (參加者請於出席前從Youtube觀看有關錄影片段，或閱讀《正義》第6章。)

參考：http://www.justiceharvard.org/

不分種族、年齡、學歷，費用全免。All are welcome and it’s FREE!!!

什麼是公開課(Open Course)？

公開課或慕課(Massive Open Online Course, MOOC)都是基於資源共享原則，利用互聯網公開演講及相關課程資料，供大眾免費下載。外國很多著名大學包括耶魯、哈佛及麻省理工等都已提供課堂實錄的公開課。其中較出眾的公開課平台包括有edX, Udacity 及 Coursera等。

參考: OpenCourseWare (Wikipedia) | MOOC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenCourseWare

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course

為什麼舉辦公開課？

我們認為免費的公開課活動有助巿民增進知識。 透過協作學習及協作領導，我們希望參加者能提升自我反省能力並改善人際關係。在這一片細小的天空，我們將體驗平等相處和分享的自由，學習彼此尊重，認識身邊不同的人、嘗試了解彼此帶著不同的經驗和角度看世界，在跌跌碰碰中一同求進。

自主及終身學習

透過自主學習，我們或許可以突破功利的框框。追求學問，因此可以不完全等於職業培訓或追求社會認同的手段。自主學習的學習課題、內容及步伐可因應自己的需要調整，可跨學科及支援終身學習。

非規範學習

有別於一般的正規教育及職業培訓，非規範學習(informal and non-formal learning)强調配合個人多元發展的自主學習。本會認為公開課活動能鼓勵巿民參與非規範學習，有助個人多方面潛能的培育及發揮。

協作學習

透過資源共享，志同道合的朋友可以在共同有興趣的課題，一起合作、交流和分享，發揮協同效應，提升學習的果效。此外，共學者亦可透過組織協作學習小組，彼此分擔購買學習資源的成本，亦可透過網誌等與其他志趣相投的朋友聯繫，分享學習經驗及資源。

扶貧及社區教育

透過免費的公開課，本會期望義工組可在本港各社區，以至海外偏遠及貧困地區開設資源共享中心，讓世界上每一個人均可免費獲取知識，收窄貧富之間的資訊落差(digital divide)。 (註: 本會將計劃開辦香港公開學院，歡迎有志之士透過本會的協作領袖服務隊，共同參與策劃與落實計劃。)

英國的社企

社會企業自20世紀70至80年代起開始發展，最早從英國倡導並逐漸擴展至世界各個角落，至今社企的發展亦最為蓬勃，其貿易及工業部於1972年曾為社企立下定義：＂社會企業的主要追求是社會目的。其營利主要用以投資企業本身或社會，而非為股東或企業持有人謀取最大利益。＂

在2007年，全英國共有55,000家社會企業，佔全部企業的5%，偏員共有775.000人，當中三分之二為全職，此外尚有300.000為義工；全年總營業額為2,700萬英鎊，營業額的中位數為285,000英鎊，當中84%來自貿易。

在英國，由於社企可以註冊為”社區公益公司”(CommunityInterest Company, CIC)*，在概念上，可以分辨一般的社企與法定的社企公司。按英國政府貿易及工業署的定義，社企是”以履行社會目標為主的機構，該等機構的盈利基本上會根據此目標再投放於其業務或社區上，而非為了股東或擁有人賺取最大利潤。”

社企的社會目標，大致如下:

1. 創造就業、培訓或提供本地社區服務；
2. 支持及發展本土生產力
3. 對社會、環境及經濟的影響負上責任。

企業多數秉承”社會擁有權”(socialownership)的觀念，自主營運，但受託管人的監管。企業的盈餘會回饋於企業才身或用於社區的需要上。按英國在2005年的一項社企調查，有如下統計資料:

• 51% 社企設於弱勢社區之內；
• 51% 社企針對環保問題；
• 33% 社企僱用殘疾人士；
• 23% 社企為失業人士提供職位；
• 87% 社企向本地社區提供貨品及服務；

英國是社企發展的先驅，國際間著名的社企有:

• 鄉村銀行(Grameen Bank)，由Muhammad Yunus 在孟加拉創立；
• The Big Issue, 由John Bird創立；
• CafeDirect
• Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen

參考資料: 李正儀、陸人龍主編，(2010)，《社會創新-香港社企發展研究》，香港：商務印書館。(內容有所更改、撮錄及整合)

註: “Community Interest Company” 及”social ownership” 等中文譯名稍作更改。

Education for Good 仁人學社

仁人學社的目的，是要藉著創新以及具規模的社企教育與培訓項目，推廣香港社會創業發展與社會創新。 它由香港社會創業論壇副主席謝家駒博士以及香港女工商及專業人員聯會副主席蔡美碧女士創辦。

Education For Good Community Interest Company Limited(EFG) is to spearhead innovative, scalable educational and training programs contributing to the development of social entrepreneurship and social innovation. It is founded and chaired by Dr. KK Tse, Vice Chairman of HKSEF and Mrs. Rebecca Yung, Vice-President of Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association.

使命與願景Vision and Mission

激發每一個人成爲社會創革者

To Inspire Everyone to Become a Changemaker

促成每一家企業成爲社會企業

To Enable Every Business to Become a Social Business

網頁 | 課程/活動 | Youtube

Social Good Summit 2014

The Social Good Summit is a two-day conference examining the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives around the world. Held during UN Week from September 21-22, the Social Good Summit unites a dynamic community of global leaders and grassroots activists to discuss solutions for the greatest challenges of our time. Our theme, #2030NOW, asks the question, “What type of world do I want to live in by the year 2030?” During the Social Good Summit, global citizens around the world unite to unlock the potential of technology to make the world a better place.

Speakers:

Further information: Mashable website

Social Good Summit 2013 Highlights:

RYOT - Every Story Lets You Take Action
youtube | About RYOT

Linkin Park
youtube | Recharge – New Facebook Social Game | Music for Relieve | Power the World 

10 Powerful Lessons from the 2013 Social Good Summit

1. You can see an end to AIDS in your lifetime.

An end to AIDS, an epidemic that has killed 35 million, is logistically possible within our lifetime, experts explained at the Summit. Activists and researchers are working especially hard in Sub-Saharan Africa, home to 69% of the world's AIDS patients, where they've brought treatment and education to the people.

2. Many of our electronics contain "conflict minerals" mined from violent conflicts in Africa.

British photographer Marcus Bleasdale, who has been photographing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1999, discussed conflict minerals, such as gold and diamonds, that are responsible for some of the region's worst conflicts. Three other conflict minerals — tantalum, tungsten and tin — are used to make electronics, such as laptops and cameras.

3. Commercial space travel could come in 2014.

Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire entrepreneur behind space traveling pioneer Virgin Galactic, said commercial space travel could be available as early as next year. At $250,000, the first tickets aren't cheap, but they provide an important initial step toward more commonplace above-Earth travel.

4. Taliban victim Malala Yousafzai continues to rally for education, less than a year after she was attacked.

In October 2012, The Taliban targeted schoolgirl and blogger Malala Yousafzai because she was outspoken about girls' rights. Less than a year after being shot, she rallied for education at the Summit, explaining that every child has a right to education.

5. A teenage cancer researcher wants science to be more accessible.

When he was 15 years old, Jack Andraka developed a new, smarter test to detect pancreaticcancer. Now, he wants to help other budding researchers by advocating for more accessible scientific articles and research. Fees make knowledge become a privilege for the elite, he said.

6. As big data grows, extra steps need to be taken to ensure individuals' rights.

Big data is a powerful tool governments and organizations can use for social good, but some datasets are so large, they may create challenges to privacy. To protect individuals' rights and strike a balance between big data and Internet freedom, protection principals must be adopted, explained Robert Kirkpatrick, the director of the U.N.'s Global Pulse data initiative.

7. The ocean and space are battling it out for the title of the final frontier.

Space and the ocean, both ripe for exploration, are duking it out for the right to be called the real final frontier. At the Summit, Dr. Paul Bunje, senior director of prize development and ocean health at the XPRIZE Foundation, and Alexandra Hall, senior director of Google Lunar XPRIZE, debated which research opportunity deserves more attention.

8. Social media can help end violence against women.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of U.N. Women, explained that both men and women can use social media to bring an end to violence against women. Discussing the topic shines a light on the issue and helps educate people through technology, she said.

9. An app that lets users find events and share ways to get involved is making social good cool.

The U.N. Foundation's mPowering Action app is making social good accessible to smartphone owners. With a target demographic of people under the age of 25, the app allows users to search a database of non-profit organizations and share ways they're making a difference.

10. Mobile phones can help the world beat malaria.

Malaria No More, an organization working to end the disease, is seeking solutions through an unexpected medium: cell phones. The group collects $1 text message donations and uses them to fund life-saving malaria tests and treatments for African children.

The Development Book Club

Welcome to The Development Book Club! We read one international development book a month then discuss its themes and relations to our work/studies. Each book will have a discussion questions page where we use the comment section to discuss the book. Anyone interested in development is encouraged to participate. Whether you are a young professional, student (you have time for this?), or established in the field, you are welcome to read and share your experiences.

go to: blog page 

Books: The End of Poverty | White Man's Burden