Finalists Announced for "Social Entrepreneur 2008" in Mexico - Leading Social Entrepreneurs are Among the Participants at the World Economic Forum on Latin America Meeting

Cancun, 15 April 2008 – 19 leading social entrepreneurs from all over Latin America, from Germany, India and the USA are active participants in the discussions at the World Economic Forum on Latin America Meeting taking place in Cancun. Their primary focus in not profit-maximization, but maximizing the benefit for society and the environment. They develop innovative pro-poor business models in various fields such as microfinance, waste management, health, education and rural development.

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, an affiliate organization of the World Economic Forum, is running the search and selection for the “Social Entrepreneur of the Year” in 25 countries around the world. For the “Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2008” in Mexico, the following three finalists will be announced tomorrow at the closing plenary of the Cancun meeting in the presence of President Calderon. The three finalists are:

Margarita Barney Almeida
Group to Promote Education and Sustainable Development (GRUPEDSAC)
In Mexico, out of a rural population of 24 million, 56% live below the poverty line. GRUPEDSAC disseminates technologies that help address the lack of water, food insecurity, rural migration and inadequate housing. All technologies are adapted to the respective environment and make sustainable use of the existing natural resources. In addition, GRUPEDSAC revives cultural traditions and resources that have been neglected and underutilized. The group provides environmental training for all sectors of society to raise awareness on the issues that are currently facing the country. Its microfinance programme offers loans for the development of small businesses and housing improvements. Through the sale of handicrafts made from solid wastes and processed food, the organization helps families improve their economic situation.
http://www.grupedsac.org/

Alicia Leal Puerta
Alternativas Pacíficas
When Alicia Leal started Alternativas Pacíficas (Peaceful Alternatives) in 1996, domestic violence was not considered to be a crime in Mexico. Violence has affected 16% of Mexican women. The effects of domestic crime lead to significant health issues and have an economic impact. Children growing up with violence at home often perpetrate the violence and pose a threat to public security. Alternativas Pacíficas offers direct services to the affected women, such as medical treatment, legal aid, counselling and a shelter for women and their children providing necessary protection. On average, 5,000 people take advantage of the services per year.

Beyond the direct services, Alternativas Pacíficas designs and implements a campaign at the local, regional and national levels to sensitize the public on the topic of domestic violence, its root causes, consequences and alternative solutions. Alicia Leal sought alliances with similar organizations and founded the National Network of Women Shelters (RENARC), as well as achieved significant legislative changes that led to a network of services for concerned women across the country.
http://www.alternativaspacificas.org

Cecilio Solís Librado
Native Tourism Network (RITA)
For the last few decades, indigenous people have been seen as only gathering for demonstrations, road blocks or to demand services from the government. While these demonstrations are understandable manifestations of the highly impoverished state of indigenous peoples, Cecilio Solís Librado observed that these actions had not led to an improvement in their condition. He founded RITA in 2002 as an indigenous tourism company with fellow indigenous people from 17 different nations and 15 states in Mexico, ranging from Michoacán to the Yucatan Peninsula. Currently, 5,000 members are part of the network.

RITA focuses on designing tour packages, creating the right infrastructure and hotels for tourists, and capacity building for its members. The main anchor is the traditional indigenous culture. RITA is opening its own tour operators in three states to sell its packages to tourists with an interest in experiencing indigenous Mexico.
http://www.rita.com.mx/

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The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship was started by Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum, and his wife, Hilde. Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation has been searching for the world’s leading social entrepreneurs, who implement innovative and pragmatic solutions to social problems by tackling the root causes and creating a social transformation. The current network of the Foundation spans 140 social entrepreneurs and their organizations from more than 40 countries. A recent evaluation study showed that the budgets and the number of beneficiaries reached of the selected social entrepreneurs grew three times faster while part of the network. In one year alone, the Schwab social entrepreneurs raised close to USD 80 million as a direct result of the contacts and opportunities offered by the Foundation.

Further information on the social entrepreneurs can be found at http://www.schwabfound.org.

Photos of the finalists can be downloaded free of charge from the following site: http://www.pbase.com/forumweb/socialentrepreneurs