Social impact might be defined as the positive change addressing a social challenge created as result of a thoughtful set of actions implemented with this purpose. Sometimes social impact is identified also with social change, social innovation, social entrepreneurship or social entrepreneur because all of these concepts are identified as multiples paths towards a desired outcome. Their interpretation depends indeed on the context. Evidencing social impact and how to measure it might be one of the major challenges related to this field of intervention. Identifying methods, strategies and methodologies to impact actions, projects or programmes aimed at boosting social impact, has been a clear priority in the latest years. Doing well, might help charities, social organisations, entrepreneurs, and any other agent motivated by social change to improve his/her action, compare its achievements with other organisations and communicate evidence to attract further investment. Some reflections to take into consideration about social impact evidence might be sustainability, who benefits?, how many people benefit? and how do they benefit?
According to the UNHCR, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reached 59.5 million at the end of 2014, the highest level since World War II with a 40% increase taking place since 2011. More than a million forcibly displaced people, migrants and refugees, crossed into Europe in 2015, sparking a crisis as countries struggled to cope with the influx, and creating division in the EU over how best to deal with resettling people. Ensuring their integration and full participation in the economic, social, and political life of the society in which they live is a right that needs to be ensured if we wish to guarantee their social inclusion and the observance of their human rights.
In several contexts, arts and culture, more specifically traditional artisanship have been used as vehicle for displaced people social inclusion as making things by hand using centuries-old techniques and traditional knowhow might firstly, promote their empowerment and integration through employment opportunities and self-confidence increase; secondly, contribute to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage in need of safeguarding because of forced migrations and conflicts.
The main goal of the cycle Global Exchange of Crafts Makers is to promote exchanges and dialogue between different crafts makers around the world with the aim, in one hand, of identifying the challenges and opportunities of this promising creative sector in future economies, in the other hand, promoting a dialogue and transmission of know-how between traditional and innovative artisans, between senior and young generations.
The session will take place next 25 May from 15h to 17h London time.
With this project we aim at stregthening youth entrepreneurs capacities, developing networking opportunities, promoting global exchanges, identifying good practices, addressing the needs of social entrepreneurs and developing a global community on social entrepreneurship around Dialogue Cafe Network.
Source: The Inspiring Entreprise
How the cycle will be implemented?
Activities will be organised each month (with exception of holidays periods) and will alternate, conferences, debates, exchanges and meetings. The topics proposed are:
In the framework of the cycle “Youth Human Rights Activism: beyond social media“, Dialogue Cafe Association is organising a second session focused on social media tools for activism and social change.
“Creative industries are those industries that have their origin in individual creativity, skill, and talent, and have potential for job creation through the generation and exploitation of ideas or imagination. Using this broad definition, creative industries range from advertising and social media to the likes of agribusiness, design, and handicrafts. Creative industries provide a platform to support the sustained empowerment of women. In communities across the world, rich cultural value and traditional designs have been protected and nurtured by women through creative industries.”[1]
The rise of the creative industries presents significant opportunities for transforming women´s energy into new ideas, organisation and a future vision for societies. The sessions will address some of the critical policy approaches that are required to promote creative entrepreneurship among women and young women.
[2] “Building a Digital Economy: The importance of saving jobs in the EU’s creative industries”, TERA Consultants, March 2010.
[3] Commission Recommendation on the digitalization and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation, C(2011) 7579 final, 27.10.2011
Following the two amazing first sessions of the Cycle on “Creative Hubs and entrepreneurship as vehicle for social change”, the first one introducing the existing potential link between creative and social entrepreneurship, and the second one analysing hub managers and entrepreneurs competences and challenges; we are organising a third session which will take place next Tuesday 10 November from 15h00 to 16h30 (London time), on fundraising and partnerships.
This session will allow us to discuss about opportunities and innovative methods to fundraise our projects on social entrepreneurship. In this framework, can be cooperation, barter, exchanges of services, partnerships, a source for fundraising our ideas? and if yes, how best?
Among many other participants, special speakers will include:
Dialogue Cafe is facilitating dialogue between people from all walks of life, across the world, to address social issues ranging from youth literacy to urban development.
Hi Ashique,
Thank you for your interest!
Our cycle is finalised but more sessions on crafts will take place at Dialogue Cafe. For instance you can visit our profil in vimeo and attend online some sessions recorded. https://vimeo.com/dcafe
Otherwise we plan to publish a book with the recommendations and findings of our discussions on crafts. Keep posted!
Thanks again for your interest
DC team daliasendra on 2019.07.29
