South Africa Workshop for Social Entrepreneurship - 2008/Reflections/List of Observations

Interrelationships and sense of community


 * Relationships forged with other institutions
 * People so prepared to help other selflessly even with a lack of resources
 * Willingness of ordinary people to volunteer their services
 * Community ownership
 * We are affirmed in our partnerships
 * The visit exposed me to the community in an action program
 * Community partnerships with the volunteers serving on the project

Learning experience – university /student/community triad


 * Teacher student interaction
 * Discussion around student-university engagement
 * Exchange program of foreign students
 * Experiential learning
 * Community/school relationship with university

Leadership 


 * Principals’ energy and enthusiasm
 * Commitment of the team leader and her team
 * Demoralized principal – unimaginative projects
 * The social entrepreneur is the common thread
 * Committed principal
 * Principal is charismatic, innovative leader
 * Spirit and attitude of the headmaster
 * Leader – an inspirational angel
 * Headmistress’s humility in handling some interrogative questions and comments

Underlying values 


 * They do not abandon hope
 * The holistic approach to the work they are doing
 * Incentivised social entrepreneur
 * Passion and commitment
 * Perserverance of people involved
 * Sympathy
 * Positiveness and Faith

Pride and sense of purpose 


 * The progress and achievement in their work to date
 * People doing great things regardless of circumstances
 * Pride in own achievement
 * We have to make this work
 * The focus group for disabled people
 * The way the program was described– very important in the community
 * The work and activities - being second in the nutrition awards

Resources 


 * Specialised computers
 * A dedicated and paid project facilitator/coordinator
 * The number projects undertaken
 * How communities can do so much with little or no facilities and funding