Here’s a sneak peek at SEA Change Nation’s LEARN-LAUNCH-SHARE submission that will be included in the final report for the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s National Call for Social Finance Concepts.
“A number of social enterprise ideas were submitted to the Call for Concepts, including SEA Change Nation’s LEARN-LAUNCH-SHARE proposal to create employment opportunities for youth whose learning styles are not compatible with the education system and for youth who face barriers to the mainstream labour market. This concept seeks to provide vulnerable youth with paid work experience within a social enterprise (LEARN), to support the launch of social enterprise ideas they conceive with volunteer coaching and access to startup loans (LAUNCH), and after launch to provide operations support from professionals in the areas of finance, marketing, legal, and human resources to increase odds of business success (SHARE).
Notes the submission, “SEA Change will bridge the gap between public and private sectors and serve as an exit strategy for vulnerable youth from a dependence on social services, [and prepare them] to meet their basic needs.” The main flow of funds would come from SEA Change’s social enterprise, a teen clothing consignment store; social finance partnerships would permit SEA Change to scale their operations in order to employ more youth.
Success of this program could be measured in the number of youths who have successfully transitioned from a life of vulnerability to one of stability, and the resulting improved outcomes. Discrete elements of the SEA Change approach (employment support programs for at-risk individuals and Momentum Calgary’s accelerator programs) are proven; the proposed social enterprise would expand and enhance these elements with an integrated model and focus on youth.”
