Photo courtesy of Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt)
The Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI) joined the Social Entrepreneurship 101 course, a two-day learning event held on November 25 to26, 2024, at the Ateneo de Manila University. Organized by the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt) and the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), the course focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge and strategies to build enterprises that balance social impact and business sustainability.
On the first day, ISEA President Dr. Marie Lisa Dacanay delivered a lecture on social entrepreneurship, drawing from experiences of social enterprises across Asia. The session, moderated by ACSEnt Director Ana Marina Tan, set the stage for insightful panel discussions. Social entrepreneurs Mark Ruiz of Hapinoy, Raymund Aaron of Villa Socorro Farm, and Reese Fernandez-Ruiz of Rags2Riches shared their approaches to managing multiple bottom lines as social entrepreneurs.
In the afternoon, Ms. Josie Cardona, FSSI Assistant Auditor, NATCCO’s representative to FSSI and Chief Executive Officer of the Most Holy Rosary Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Rodriguez, Rizal, discussed the cooperative model of social enterprises and its role in addressing social and economic challenges. Similarly, Mr. Panya Boonsirithum of Citihub Dormitory in Sta. Mesa, Manila shared his experience in building a social enterprise that addresses housing issues while maintaining business viability.
On the second day, Representative Jose Manuel “Joeman” Alba, a champion of the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Bill, that aims to recognize social entrepreneurship as a powerful pathway to address poverty and inequality in the Philippines, engaged participants in a discussion on poverty reduction. FSSI representatives, including members of the Project Development and Monitoring Unit (PDMU) and Partnership Unit (PU), participated in interactive sessions, sharing insights on the foundation’s financial and development services, as well as its commitment to advancing social enterprises.
The discussions highlighted the importance of leveraging shared knowledge and collaboration to address social and environmental challenges effectively. FSSI expressed its gratitude to ACSEnt and ISEA for organizing the event and providing a platform to share FSSI’s financial and capacity building services and contribute to the development of social enterprises in the country.
