It’s been a year since the SIF’s Young Social Entrepreneurs (YSE) 2010 programme ended, and many of the groups who participated have gone on to develop their social enterprises. We take a look at SIF’s social innovators and how they are helping to build a better world.

GeeBee

This group of four University students from Jakarta, Indonesia, could not officially participate in YSE as participants had to be either living or studying in Singapore.  However, they impressed with the quality of their proposal, their initiative, and passion, and thus were invited to be guest participants on their own expense.

GeeBee’s business proposal was a recycling bank that utilises dry garbage as a form of currency. They have formulated an innovative recycling system, otherwise known as a “garbage bank", which functions like a savings bank. The enterprise is targeted at the students studying at their university. Combining this system with a recycling network, GeeBee serves as a profit-making garbage distributor which will be connected to a network of recycling operators/companies in and around Jakarta. Profits will benefit under-privileged students in the university.

“YSE provided us with the knowledge of starting a social enterprise and the difficulties we might face. We also got the opportunity to hear from social entrepreneurs,” explains Suryantinah of GeeBee.

Using this knowledge, GeeBee refined their business proposal and officially launched their enterprise in Jakarta on 15 January 2011. Their enterprise operates from the university they study at, but has attracted the attention of students from neighbouring universities.

“We think that zeal and determination are the key to be successful in your business. We are sure that when you do good, good things will happen to you. The ability to stand up after failure is the key to social entrepreneurship,” continued Suryantinah, on GeeBee’s motivation behind their enterprise.

* Click here to find out more about the SIF's Young Social Entrepreneurs programme.