A Brazilian Celebration

The Brazilian Social Entrepreneur of the Year celebration has been much famed, but it was the first time that I could take a trip to São Paulo to experience this special night in person. The celebration is the culmination of an almost year-long process that is meticulously run by our partner, Folha de São Paulo, Brazil’s largest daily newspaper.

Brazil typically has the highest number of candidates of any Social Entrepreneur of the Year selection process around the world – this year reaching 266. This is a testament to Folha’s tremendous outreach capacity,involving partners such as Ashoka and GIFE, and a sign of Brazil’s vibrant social innovation sector. In fact, Folha decided to introduce a second prize category last year, the “Social Entrepreneur of the Future”, to highlight young social entrepreneurs whose organizations are typically 2-3 years old and poised to create a significant impact in the near future.

The evening started with a reception around an exhibition of the work of the finalists in São Paulo’s MASP (Museum of Modern Art). More than 350 participants had confirmed their attendance. Even if heavy rains left some of them stuck in traffic, the auditorium was packed as the celebration started with the performance of a disabled dance, singing and theatre group.

Then, the four finalists of the “Empreendedor Social de Futuro” category were presented in a film. This year’s winner is Wagner Gomes, 28 years old, who was the first in his family to receive a university degree and returned to his impoverished home state of Ceará to promote local opportunities for farmers’ families.

 

The suspense rose as the six finalists for the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Brazil 2010 were presented one by one in films:

 

1.    Axel Grael, Projeto Grael – using sailing as a method to teach low-income children about the environment and life skills
2.    Carlos Eduardo Zuma, Instituto Noos – addressing domestic violence in workshops with victims and aggressors
3.    José Junior, AfroReggae – more than 1,300 children from Rio’s favelas engaging in cultural activities and a famous band
4.    Marcia Rolon, Moinho Cultural – “music without borders” in the frontier region with Bolivia
5.    Sueli De Lima, Casa da Arte – integrating local customs and culture into the school and scientific curricula in Rio’s favelas
6.    Roberto Kikawa, CIES – Bringing medical high technology to underserved communities in one of the most advanced medical vans in the world

After a two-hour show with never a dull moment, the winner was revealed by projecting the cover of the 24-page special supplement Folha prints on the awards. And the winner is …

Roberto Kikawa!

                                                 Photograph by Eduardo Anizelli/Folhapress

The winners from last year, Suzanna and Claudio Padua, presented the trophy to Kikawa as the audience cheered and jumped up from their seats. I was particularly impressed with the other finalists as they were the first to congratulate him. In a very moving address, Kikawa dedicated the distinction to his father who, as he was dying of cancer, asked him to become “a real doctor, one with a heart and caring for the patient”.

Light, music, spectacular filming and artistic photos of the finalists, suspense and emotions – a celebration that really touched all senses as you would imagine happening in Brazil.

Mirjam Schöning
Head and Senior Director
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship