Social Entrepreneurs: Youth as Partners for Positive Change

A recent report from News Group International analyzed trends in social media around the Arab Spring, specifically looking at the footprint and characteristics of online discussions immediately before and during the political uprising in Egypt. It highlighted a trend in the online discussions that demonstrated the inter-connected nature of economic frustration and political upheaval, even highlighting a tipping point in January 2011 when the demands of political defiance overtook the discussion of economic frustration. This implies that unresolved economic frustrations eventually unravel to manifest themselves in political unrest and is amplified among young men and women when the absence of jobs quickly devolves into a loss of hope for the future. With unemployment rates averaging 20-30 percent across the MENA region[1], this represents an overwhelming concern for regional governments. Economic opportunities feature highly in the priorities for the region.

With that in mind, through its Masool initiative, IREX advocates for a new concept of youth-centered economic development and entrepreneurship as a tool not only to create jobs but to create opportunities with the broader intent to enhance stability and promote leadership as an alternative to unrest.  Our programs aspire to facilitate entrepreneurial and community initiatives as a method of creating professional growth, understanding its impact not only on economic development but also on anti-corruption and conflict mitigation. We subscribe to principles of social responsibility as a way of understanding economic development not only as a commercial prospect but a benefit to community development and civil society.

In Lebanon, for instance, we assisted Taha Naji to achieve his personal goal of mobilizing the Youth in Tripoli to the broader social benefit of the community. Taha’s social initiative grew into a sustainable NGO called We Love Tripoli (WLT). Supported by the Municipality, WLT promotes youth tourism in Tripoli and organizes local youth volunteer initiatives that use an “e-Volunteering” system available on the net. Expanding on the impact of one driven individual, Taha presented his social project, WLT, to 34 youth civic activists from Tunisia during a retreat organized by IREX. Following the retreat, three participating Tunisian youth established similar initiative in their cities in Tunisia: We Love Sousse, We Love Kairouan, and We Love Ariana.

The ability of these Tunisian youth to seize the idea of volunteerism and entrepreneurial community action demonstrates that youth activists during this unique transitional period in the Mideast are willing to invest themselves personally when they see opportunities to do something constructive for their community.

Initiatives such as Masool expose youth to the idea that entrepreneurship is tied closely to social responsibility and political leadership. Through these initiatives, IREX strives to promote constructive examples that demonstrate the potential for economic growth and peace building through youth entrepreneurship.

This blog was also contributed to by my colleague Robert Cronin, IREX's Vice President for Civil Society.

[1] International Labour Organization School-to-Work Survey, (Alissa 2007.)