Did you know that the world now has two up and running social stock exchanges, or stock exchanges where private donors contribute to philanthropic causes? Sao Paulo, Brazil is home to the first one, and since 2003, its donors have contributed $5.5 million to 71 philanthropic endeavors! South Africa is home to the second social stock exchange, and England and Germany plan to open up their own altruistic exchanges later this year. India, New Zealand, Thailand, and Portugal are also planning their own (click here for a full article on this awesome topic). This idea sounds so radical, but its founder, Celso Grecco, realized that profit, economic markets, and social progress can go hand-in-hand. Imagine if he had given up on his idea, imagine how many philanthropic endeavors would go unfunded, and how much potential for future philanthropic endeavors would be lost.
Our world today is full of examples like the Sao Paulo stock exchange, full of beautiful institutions that started with one idea that was pushed to fruition. From Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, to Bunker Roy and Barefoot College, to Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish and Sekem, social entrepreneurs are crossing the globe, readjusting and fixing previously harmful structures. Watch this video (click here for full the full webpage) with Muhammad Yunus for some inspirational insight:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJsWSwf43Ps]
The most beautiful words from the interview are the following:
And Muhammad Yunus is right. You can create your own world, you can make your dream world our real world. All of the most amazing and altruistic endeavors that you can think of started with one idea. If you read the book The Power of Unreasonable People, a book that is filled with inspiring information about people like Muhammad Yunus, you will see how so much of our world is changed by those who simply refuse to abandon their dreams, simply refuse to forget that they can make a huge difference in the world. So let your ideas free, and pursue them with passion and commitment. Service and service trips are the perfect opportunity to see what moves you most, to see what you would most like to change. Travel to Tulum with Enchanting Challenge, or to any of the places offered by organizations such as Break Away, and you too will begin your quest to help the world…And you too can eventually become one of your very own heroes. Together we will be the Volunteers of America.
Website of the day: Barefoot College
