In order to fully address current socio-economic problems such as poverty and environment, the world’s richer economies are constantly being pressed for their 0.7 commitment.

The term “0.7” refers to as the “constant commitment of the world’s governments to devote 0.7% of rich-countries’ gross national product (GNP) to Official Development Assistance (ODA)” or what is commonly called as international or foreign aid. Since the 1970 UN General Assembly Resolution, this pledge to help the least developed countries was made and has been affirmed in many international agreements.

Regions frequently hit by natural calamities and other forms of tragedies have remained incapacitated and poor. The least developed nations are also usually crippled by corrupt systems of governance and hit by economic slowdowns.

In addition, the lack of education or training, poor leadership and governance, weak infrastructure and many other limiting factors have placed these poor nations in a seemingly bleak situation where exodus is impossible.

However, times are changing and the world is now witnessing a twist of fate. Several problems in different parts of the world are emerging. The misconception that developed nations are resilient to the problems experienced by the least developed nations are now being proven wrong. Many believe that with aid from the world’s richer countries for least developed nations, the cyclic poverty trap will be curbed and poorer nations will be able to climb. Sadly, it is not enough to propel a fully operational comprehensive development program that can truly address the needs of the people in the less affluent economies.

MEET EFREN

Efren Peñaflorida from Cavite established an organization of young Filipinos called The Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) in 1997. Its aim is to actively make a difference in the lives of children in depressed areas by teaching and helping them stay away from trouble and vice. According to Efren, the root of the problem lies in the slum areas where kids as young as seven years old are groomed to become future gang members or leaders. These kids who join gang activities are at a disadvantage since they are exposed to an environment where delinquent behaviors are common.

In order to help the kids stay away from joining gangs, Efren uses an innovative approach to use education as a tool to address the problem of poverty and unhealthy social environment, two contributing factors to illiteracy and juvenile delinquency. He goes to their communities and bring along a pushcart-turned-mobile-library full of educational materials. He brings these materials to the children, tells stories and teach them basic learning in the slums, dumpsites and even in cemeteries.

Efren, who is born to a tricycle driver Efren Sr. and housewife Lucila, spent his childhood near a dumpsite playing and swimming in the pond of garbage. His childhood experienced inspired him commit himself to help improve the public secondary education standard by giving free tutorials to students who cannot afford to pay for review classes.

Since Efren’s work with the DTC, he and his team were able to help many young people through their project. One example is Michael Advincula who used to be part of an Akyat Bahay gang. After constant mentoring, Michael was able learn a lot of things from the DTC and is now currently a full-time volunteer himself.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS AS AGENTS OF CHANGE

Given the DTC team’s hard efforts, the group won the Gawad Geny Lopez Bayaning Pilipino Award in 2007 and their founder has also recently been nominated in the CNN Heroes international search. He is the first Filipino nominee in the award-giving body.

Efren is considered an outstanding social entrepreneur. He is someone with an innovative idea transformed into a noble way to help our country, a person with the sincerest desire and commitment to contribute to positive social change and someone with an exceptional drive to achieve to serve others.

Many young people today like Efren are taking initiative in order to fill the gaps of the government and some civil society groups who are working for the country’s development. We cannot just always rely on the aid of a few – positive action is needed. This should start from the youth who are creative, inspired, motivated, passionate and others-centered. Their abilities and qualities can come up with a transformative action to provide solutions to the world’s greatest needs. They have the capabilities to conceive ideas that can help others and inspire their fellow youth to do the same.

Many groups and organizations like the Ashoka (a non-profit organization founded by Bill Drayton that supports social entrepreneurs) and its associate program, Youth Venture as well as other individuals are illustrating the point that the youth are indeed agents of positive change. Through social entrepreneurship, the youth can have an alternative career option to come up with their own social enterprises in the form of a social business or non-profit organization, while at the same time help others by addressing the current socio-economic problems.

This alternative is showing a tremendous impact in the lives of many poor communities that have been affected by the socio-economic ills. As such it is necessary to support the efforts of many young people like Efren who are pro-active and have the vision, passion and commitment to become agents of change.