Social enterprise practitioners and impact investors cringe at the idea of using a charity model to solve persistent social and environmental challenges. Instead, they apply conventional business strategies to their work.
But in cases of emergency where communities are left with nothing and immediate relief is needed, a charity approach that doesn’t depend on the beneficiaries’ ability to acquire for their survival would theoretically be more effective at saving lives.
An emergency struck the Philippines on November 7 when for a several hours, the 600km-wide Typhoon Haiyan carrying winds of up to 315 km/h blanketed the country – it could not be seen from satellite images. In comparison, Typhoon Haiyan was large enough to cover the whole Atlantic coast from the Canadian border all the way down to Florida. Reports out of the Philippines show that the strongest hit area is in the city of Tacloban, home to more than 200,000 people and now 90 percent destroyed.
Help is trickling in as major aid groups and charities like the Philippine Red Cross and Oxfam are accepting donations. Even so, skepticism about the trustworthiness of charity organizations and their ability to provide effective relief solutions is evident, prompting Charity Navigator to release a tip sheet about making donations alongside a list of established charities.
From the area of social entrepreneurship, Gawad Kalinga, a Philippine-based poverty-alleviating organization whose founder is an awardee of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, has set up relief operations. The organization and its volunteers have been distributing three types of “relief packs”: Family Packs containing rice, milk, kids’ vitamins, canned food, and blankets; Rehab Packs containing galvanized corrugated metal roofing and wire, nails, a hammer, and saw; and Kitchen Packs containing a casserole dish, frying pan, utensils, plastic pitcher, and cups. They have just begun accepting donations as well.
Meanwhile, Give2Asia, a US-based catalyst for impact investment in Asia, is collecting funds online for Typhoon Haiyan victims. According to its website, Give2Asia is working with its field team to coordinate short-term relief efforts and identify needs for long-term recovery.
Previously, it was estimated that as many as 10,000 people have died as a result of Typhoon Haiyan. So far, 1,774 people are confirmed dead with over 2,487 people hurt.
Do you know an organization from the social enterprise sector helping with Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts? Share with us in the comments below.