The “Innovate for Social Impact” event, held on June 27th, 2024, at the Campus of Social Sciences at Saint Joseph University (USJ), was a significant milestone in fostering social entrepreneurship in Lebanon. Organized as part of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building project “Social Entrepreneurship in Time of Crises” (SE.TC), the event aimed to address the pressing need for innovative solutions in the face of ongoing crises, particularly in Lebanon’s northern and southern regions.

Opening Insights

Prof. Fouad Zmokhol, Dean of the Business School at USJ, set an inspiring tone for the event with his opening speech, highlighting the critical role of social entrepreneurship in today’s challenging times. Prof. Aref Al Soufi, President of the Lebanese Association for Inter-University Cooperation and National Coordinator of the Erasmus+ Programme in Lebanon, followed by emphasizing the importance of the SE.TC project and its potential to positively impact the lives of young Lebanese people.

A key feature of the event was a roundtable discussion moderated by Mrs. Lynda Achkouty, the project’s External Evaluator. The discussion brought together a diverse group of experts in social entrepreneurship – from Lebanon and abroad – that outlined interesting dynamics and aspects related to the project topic:

• Shift in Attitude: there was a call to move from a charity-based approach to one of local empowerment, emphasizing the need for sustainable and impactful social entrepreneurship.
• Structural Support: participants stressed the necessity of legislative reforms and financial sustainability to support social entrepreneurs. This includes creating an enabling environment through policy changes and improved access to funding.

The diversity of the panelists’ experiences provided a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities in fostering social entrepreneurship in crisis situations.

Conclusion

The insights gathered from the event are poised to significantly influence the development of the SE.TC project. By addressing these essential aspects, the initiative aims to create a robust framework that supports social entrepreneurship in Lebanon, even amidst crisis. The event underscored the power of collaboration and innovation in driving social change and highlighted the vital role of young Lebanese entrepreneurs in shaping a resilient future for the country.