AFTER two decades, non-governmental Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc. (FSSI) still sees building businesses with a conscience as the best strategy for sustainable economic growth.
“For the past 20 years, FSSI demonstrated that development must come from the poor and this we do by maximizing their capacities to participate in economic activities, resulting to jobs, income and protection of natural resources from which the poor communities get their livelihood,” FSSI Executive Director Jay Lacsamana was quoted in a statement as saying.
Citing its experience, FSSI said it has helped more than 200 social enterprises or organizations of farmers, fishermen, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, women and other marginalized sectors in areas of organic agriculture, crafts, industrial raw- input production, aquatic production, microfinance and cooperative development.
FSSI defines social enterprises as “social mission-driven organizations that engage the poor as owners, workers, or suppliers in economic activities whose main goal is to reduce poverty in their living environments.”
“A social enterprise aims to achieve social and environmental bottom lines and not only financial returns.”
FSSI cited as example the Malaya Development Cooperative, a social enterprise producing dairy products, like fresh milk and yogurt, sold to walk-in customers, small groceries and schools in Isabela and nearby provinces.