Youth are the key to discovering the solutions to the complex societal challenges we currently face. We have therefore reached a point in history where we can no longer afford to leave their naturally inherent compassion and creativity untapped.

 

 

To do our part we are launching The Social Entrepreneurship Academy for Change (SEA Change Ltd.)

The Social Entrepreneurship Academy for Change Ltd. (SEA Change) is using an innovative business model to transform youth experiencing homelessness into Social Entrepreneurs.  We are empowering them with the skills they need to avoid a future with the adult homeless shelter system.

By investing in youth who often face insurmountable barriers to finding employment in the mainstream job market, we believe we can organically grow a youth-driven job market that will serve as an attractive alternative to theft, gangs, drug dealing, prostitution, and panhandling.

Our experience shows that street-entrenched youth would choose an opportunity to become a legitimate entrepreneur over street life or the mainstream.

The youth we work with are natural entrepreneurs. They desire freedom, independence and self-reliance.  They are risk-seeking, innovative and resourceful.  By leveraging these facts we can help them become leaders of our business community and put an end to their homelessness permanently.

SEA Change is launching a Social Enterprise Incubator for YOUTH in Calgary, Alberta, Canada working hard to transition away from street life and out of homelessness.  As part of the holistically designed incubation program, youth will be paid a Living Wage to attend Business School so that they can achieve stability in their lives and obtain technical business skills prior to admittance into the incubator.

To accomplish this goal and to achieve long-term financial sustainability we are working on two business plans.  (1) SEA Change Recyclers; Calgary’s convenient and caring alternative for recycling bottles and cans.  (2) SEA Change Services; Providing superior offsite office services to save you money.

“Our business model says we’re spending $134,000 per year for every person who’s homeless.” Tim Richter, Calgary Homeless Foundation CEO, CalgaryInc, December Issue 2008, Volume 6, Number 10

In other words, helping 150 youth experiencing homelessness enter the job market instead of the adult shelter system translates into a ~$20 million/year savings for Calgary. (150 x $134,000=$20 million/year)

More importantly, by educating our street youth to become entrepreneurs we are contributing to the future economic growth and stability of our great city.

Learn more at http://seachangeacademy.com

sea change – n. a profound or notable transformation. –The Oxford Pocket Dictionary

social entrepreneur – n. someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change. –Wikipedia

A GRASSROOTS YOUTH MOVEMENT HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!

Kahlil Gibran ~ On Children

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.