4 inspiring social innovation videos on YouTube

‘Social innovation has enjoyed growing recognition all over the world. But many of us are unsure how it happens or why we need it’ (SIG Canada, n.d.). That is why we have made a quick overview of what social innovation is, and we also found some inspiring video examples of it on YouTube.

Why social innovation videos? When it comes to presenting inspiring examples of social innovation to the audience, video is one of the most effective mediums you can use. Some of the social innovators know how to grab attention, effectively deliver content and differentiate from the others.

What is social innovation and why is it important?

Social innovation is the result of the intentional work of people trying to make positive change by addresing complex problems (poverty, homelessness, pollutin, addictions, unemployment, discrimination,…) at their very roots. ‘Social innovation is a process, product, or program that profoundly changes the way that at given system operates’ (SiG Canada, n.d.).

Click HERE: What is Social Innovation? to watch this simple yet useful intriductory video.

Which are 4 inspiring examples of social innovation?

These examples are selected from the YouTube channel. The examples selected meet the following criteria (SIMRA, 2017, p. 5):

1. Active involvement of civil society or grassroots organisations;

2. Novelty or reconfiguration taking place in new geographical settings or in relation to previously disengaged social groups;

3. Improves societal wellbeing through social, environmental or economic aims.

First example: What is social innovation in health?

Over 1 billion people still don’t have access to healthcare delivery. But community-based social innovators in health are bridging the gap. They are going above and beyond traditional approaches. Social innovation doesn’t only improve healthcare, it creates jobs, empoveres people and provides hope.

Click HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncu8NEzKVQU to watch the video.

Second example: How can we solve poverty through social innovation?

31 Bits is a business using fashion and design to empower women to rise above poverty. They believe that business is one of the most powerful and sustainable approaches to turning scarcity into abundance, and eventually, alleviating poverty completely. Business has started after five college friends spent their early twenties visited Ugandan streets on the back of motorbikes with bags full of recycled paper, which would often get soaked in a downpour, trying to set up a mission-driven business.

Click HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SidRssbBRms to watch the video.

Third example: How can we solve environmental issues through social innovation?

‘In 2003, the local government in Kamikatsu (Japan) decided to require that all residents comply with a new, rigorous recycling program. Since then, the town composts, recycles, or reuses 80% of its garbage. It may not technically be 100% zero waste, as the remaining 20% goes into the landfill, but it’s a remarkable achievement for an entire community, in such a short amount of time. The impacts have been positive – cutting costs for the community drastically, as well as improving the conditions of the lush and beautiful environment that surrounds the town in Southeast Japan’ (Stories, n.d.).

Click HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eym10GGidQU to watch the video.

Fourth example: How can we solve homelessness through social innovation?

‘The Center for Social Innovation promotes best practices that improve the lives of marginalized and vulnerable people. At the heart of their work is their commitment to ending homelessness and ensuring safe, stable, affordable housing for all. They focus on complex public health problems such as homelessness, trauma, and mental health and substance use disorders. Using state-of-the-art research, training, and technology, they help individuals, agencies, and communities deepen the impact of their work’ (Center for Social Innovation n.d.).

Click HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSZhj1cwCJk to watch the video.

Do you want to know more or do you want to become a social innovator yourself?

Click HERE to join us!

Who are we and why should you join us? 

Social Innovation Academy will be the first European, fully online management training programme focusing exclusively on social innovation.

Social Innovation has been increasingly perceived as the answer to the rising number of European societal challenges. While the European authorities, leading academics, policy experts, business people and activists agree that social innovation is the key to better future for Europe and the world, it is extremely difficult for professionals to obtain high quality training on what social innovation actually offers and, more importantly, how it can be done in practice. Social Innovation Academy will aim to change this situation in Europe and beyond. If you are interested in keeping up with this project, you can subscribe to our newsletter, become one of our Friends, apply to join our Global Advisory Board or follow us on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook). We welcome all requests for collaboration here. 

Maja Novak

NGO We4You

References:

* SiG Canada. (n.d.). Home (YouTube Channel). Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i7L6nOkQFo

* Social Innovation in Health Initiative. (n.d.). Home (YouTube Channel). Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncu8NEzKVQU

* 31 Bits. (n.d.). Home (YouTube Channel). Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SidRssbBRms

* Stories. (n.d.). Home (YouTube Channel). Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eym10GGidQU

* Center for Social Innovation. (n.d.). Home (YouTube Channel). Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSZhj1cwCJk

* SIMRA. Social Innovation in Marginalized Rural Areas. Collection of examples of social innovation, 2017.

* Thirty One Bits. (n.d.) Here’s our story… Retrived from: https://31bits.com/pages/our-story