Volunteerism and Working with Volunteers
Volunteerism and Social Entrepreneurship
Hülya DenizalpSocial entrepreneurship has been a part of humanity throughout history and is often intertwined with volunteerism. Social entrepreneurs are volunteers who identify and find solutions to a need. They do not act in their own interests – instead, they act voluntarily because they want to be a part of the solution to an issue which they believe to be important. In the most general sense, social entrepreneurship means working on the basis of entrepreneurship to meet a need and/or solve a problem in nature or in a community rather than for personal benefit. The volunteers accompanying the entrepreneur have an important role in the success of the social entrepreneur, and the volunteers’ contributions are indispensable for realizing this success. Social entrepreneurship aims for change and provides opportunities for both individual and social change. In addition to the networks and organizations established around social entrepreneurship, the number of publications on this subject is continually increasing. Social entrepreneurship is a concept distinct from social enterprise or social business. This chapter discusses the differences between social entrepreneurs and social enterprises, the characteristics of social entrepreneurship, the importance social entrepreneurs have in terms of sustainable life, and social entrepreneurship’s position in individual and social change in relation to volunteering.