After three years of crisis and still in a climate of extreme economic volatility, the challenge of unemployment – particularly youth unemployment – continues to be one of the most pressing concerns. Governments and society have recognised that here will just not be enough employment for all. More and more people have to create their own jobs. Social entrepreneurship leads the way!

First, younger people having grown up with the internet and a true awareness of social problems are much more ready to embrace a career not just for financial gains but where they know they can contribute directly to address problems such as poverty, pollution, education – just to mention a few.

Second, governments pursuing austerity policies recognize that economic development needs not only money but entrepreneurial engagement to achieve social progress. Thus, the time has come to merge entrepreneurship with social responsibility – the time of social entrepreneurship.

Hilde Schwab
Chairperson and Co-Founder
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship