So what’s the problem?

Every entrepreneurship adventure starts with a problem or a need, and this is all the more true for social ventures. In fact, usually the problem smacks you in the face, it’s just that no one has stepped up to the plate to tackle it. Large institutions, government, influential people in politics, business, media – I don’t think so; instead it falls into the hands of people like you and me, wondering why someone hasn’t done something about this before then rising up to meet the challenge.

The problem… we learn about it one day, then it starts gnawing at us, popping into our minds when we least expect it. What are people doing about this? It’s like a nasty crick in your neck, a bug bite you keep scratching at throughout the night. It keeps popping up all around you, waking you up at 4 AM, until you decide you are not going to ignore it anymore. Now that’s a good problem to solve.

What problem are we struggling with?

There’s plenty of problems to go around in Turkey, and we could fill a blog talking about them and complaining about them, but my dreams are in social entrepreneurship and I believe that any discussion of social entrepreneurship must first begin with volunteerism and giving.

Social entrepreneurs are generally dependent on the goodwill of their communities to translate their business models into widespread systematic change, through a large group of people volunteering their spare time, resources, money to bring those dreams to reality. These social enterprise business models require an innovative approach to cost structures, given revenue stream restrictions, of which volunteers and donations serve as the backbone. Without motivated volunteers, without consistent charitable giving (even small amounts) embedded into the culture, the road to sustainability becomes that much more difficult.

According to the 2011 World Giving Index by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF):

• Turkey ranks 136 out of 153 countries in terms of charitable giving (money, time, helping others)
• Only 14% of the population provides monetary donations to charities
• Only 7% of the population volunteer their time

What are the roots of this problem?

Well… that’s what we need to figure out. Stay tuned.