To be a Social Innovator I believe as many do that one must listen to the people and respect their culture and way of life, and only then will the trickle-down complications to solutions of problems be understood.
We must understand the problem right down to the nitty details; too often a problem is discovered and the solution races to mind.
Sometimes the problem isn't the problem, it's someone's solution to fix a problem. Read that twice.
A classic example is sending lovely equipment only to have it torn apart by the locals to make something they can use or leave to rot. The equipment didn't solve a problem, it became one because it didn't resolve the initial intention. Yes one would argue that at least the locals gained something they could use but it's about the intention to solve a problem which failed.
We need to learn from our mistakes and share our failures, identify and learn the lessons from efforts gone right and wrong so when someone wants to send equipment to solve a problem they first learn from another's experience and add theirs to the collective.
That's the difference a site like this can make for when we are connected, we are one voice of many causes for the goodness in life for all.
I intend to learn many ways to be a social innovator and before I know it, I will be one.
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