Sixteen people who are working to address social problems in the community in new and innovative ways will be recognised tonight at an inaugural social entrepreneurs awards ceremony.
The initiative is being led by a new organisation, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, a charitable foundation whose aim is to encourage people to develop new ways of solving social problems, in the same way that the commercial sector provides support to business entrepreneurs.
Among the award winners will be people who are working to tackle educational disadvantage, spreading awareness of other cultures, addressing people's mental health needs and helping in community development.
The concept of social entrepreneurship has been established around the world, particularly in the US where a number of initiatives have been launched to recognise the contribution of citizens in addressing social issues.
The award winners include Tara Cunningham, who is chief executive of a company which provides speech and language therapy at a relatively low cost by focusing on teaching parents the skills they need to work with their children.
Brendan Dowling, another award winner, is a street trader on Dublin's Grafton Street who volunteers in community development in the south inner-city.
Senator Richard W Riely, a former US secretary of education who has helped support the development of social entrepreneurship movement in America, will be among the guests at the awards ceremony to be held at Dublin City University tonight.
Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, he said the need to recognise the contribution of people in addressing social issues was even more important at times of economic prosperity.
The founders of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland say a new generation of social entrepreneurs are struggling to develop their ideas in the absence of adequate public and private support.
To help overcome these obstacles, the organisation is seeking to create a support system to encourage innovation and social entrepreneurship, reflecting support already in place for entrepreneurs in the commercial sector.
The director of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Seán Coughlan, said the organisation was urging the business community in particular to help build a framework of support for risk-takers in the social sector.
He also called on third-level institutions to support such work by including social entrepreneurship modules in their business programmes.
Tonight's awards ceremony will be attended by Mary Davis, who was chief executive of the Special Olympics and vice-president of employers' group, Ibec.
