Social Entrepreneur: Interview with Ms. Buarin Seneewong (30/1/2018)
Social Entrepreneur: Interview with Ms. Buarin Seneewong (30/1/2018)
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Buarin Seneewong is one of the founders of the Zero Baht Shop, an organisation that exchanges trash and recyclables for food to low income communities in Bangkok.
Buarin Seneewong is one of the founders of the Zero Baht Shop, an organisation that exchanges trash and recyclables for food to low income communities in Bangkok.
She is resilient. She wanted to rise out from poverty, and the untapped potential on endless waste to make life better not only for herself but her local community. Buarin is a social entrepreneur based in Bangkok, Thailand. Fiercely competitive, confident and innovative, and personally driven by a sense of desperation and poverty, Buarin had a personal vision.
She is resilient. She wanted to rise out from poverty, and the untapped potential on endless waste to make life better not only for herself but her local community. Buarin is a social entrepreneur based in Bangkok, Thailand. Fiercely competitive, confident and innovative, and personally driven by a sense of desperation and poverty, Buarin had a personal vision.
"Social enterprise is not a fixed address" but rather a destination that continually changes (Westley, Zimmerman and Patton, 2007, p. 28). A dynamic, unpredictable and callous adventure that has increasingly become an essential mindset for the 21st century. A critical component in resolving our global crisis.
I found 'Getting to Maybe - How to Change the World' by Westley, Patton & Zimmerman, B. (2008) an inspirational read, that provided many insights into social innovation - how unpredictable, complex and rewarding it is. Check out my 'wordart - https://wordart.com/hi5q37cgwqyj/word-art%202) for my favorite quotes! What was most meaningful, was the 'unlikely heroes' - the people who simply take a risk and do what they feel is right.
Buarin Seneewong is one of those heroes.
Buarin Seneewong is one of those heroes.
"Time For Action on Garbage Prices" (2017) reports that Thailand uses an estimated 70 billion plastic bags a year, and yet has no formal recycling program, no imposed taxes or banning of plastic, and few incentives for consumers to separate waste for recycling.
One of Thailand's greatest challenges is how to not only reduce our waste, but dispose of it safely.
Finding new ways to solve complex social problems
Finding new ways to solve complex social problems
Buarin used to live on the streets in Bangkok, barely able to fulfil her basic needs. She was part of a very vital but informal waste picker community, who sorted through trash to exchange recycled goods for cash.
Buarin desired great things, and had a strong, self belief that she and others could do more. She also recognised that as a single family she was vulnerable. In 2001, Buarin and a group of other families put their creative minds together to form a cooperative. They saw the value of working together to not only earn money, but to try and solve the complex, social problem of the massive waste disposal crisis in Bangkok.
Image of 'Zero Baht Shop' sourced from http://tastythailand.com/recycling-waste-in-bangkok-thailand-at-the-zero-baht-shop/
Buarin initially focused on her and her families own financial wellbeing, but she found that the 'Zero Baht Shop' cooperative had many benefits:
- Social:
- Empowers the whole community from young to old: 'Even children collect trash to exchange as snacks'
- Develops networks and support such as government agencies that help provide health care, education and funding.
- Develops shared, public spaces, social skills and well-being: They have a community centre, daycare and garden.
- Legitimatises an often stigmatised profession.
- Economic:
- Helps low income families to save money.
- Anyone can exchange recyclable waste for food, goods or shares in the cooperative.
- It is cost effective and convenient.
- Environmental:
- Provides a more formal, sustainable waste management system.
Overcome challenges
Overcome challenges
There are many challenges and set backs when rethinking how to do something. This enterprise took more than eight years to develop, and many families are not able to be part of it due to extensive poverty. Buarin finds this emotionally difficult both personally and professionally, but what really helped keep her going was the collective action: 'Even if a family can only contribute a little money, if we can find 100 families, then it is a lot of money'. We can all be part of the solution.
Chance opportunities - collective action
Chance opportunities - collective action
Buarin acknowledged that this social enterprise was also fueled by a chance meeting with the 3RFoundation and Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE) that later provided funding, and support to develop this enterprise into what it is today. A very sustainable solution to a massive local and global waste management crisis. A concept that can be applied anywhere. It has already expanded to 15 other regions in Bangkok, and they hope to take it national wide.
Buarin and the 'Zero Baht Shop' has been an inspiration not only to me, but my Grade 5 students.
Buarin and the 'Zero Baht Shop' has been an inspiration not only to me, but my Grade 5 students.
They helped me complete my pre-interview research and questions, and interviewed her in her native Thai language. We then spent time translating her interview.
They helped me complete my pre-interview research and questions, and interviewed her in her native Thai language. We then spent time translating her interview.
How do we foster more creativity, innovation or entrepreneurship in schools and our community?
How do we foster more creativity, innovation or entrepreneurship in schools and our community?
We loved her and her community's ability to think outside the box, and create what to some, may seem like a crazy idea - create a business by exchanging trash for food.
The mindset of an entrepreneur is no longer limited to the realm of business. It is a way of thinking that we must embrace all day, every day. We must foster a strong sense of self belief in ourselves, by not only exposing students to local innovations, but connecting them to these very inspirational, visionaries like Buarin.
Every small action matters, and if we put them together, we can change the world :)
Citation:
Citation:
[3rfoundation]. (2017, Aug 15). The zero baht shop Bangkok Post multimedia 2 [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IakpVSm6Ewg
Muttamara, S. “Solid Waste Recycling And Reuse In Bangkok.” Waste Management & Research, vol. 12, no. 2, 1994, pp. 151–163., doi:10.1006/wmre.1994.1005.
OECD. (2016). Urban green growth in dynamic Asia. Paris, France: OECD.
Say No to Plastic Bags. (2017, March 20). Bangkok Post. Retrieved from https://www.pressreader.com/thailand/bangkok-post/20170320/282041916947833
Seneewong, B. (2018, January 30). Personal interview.
Time For Action on Garbage Prices. (2017, February 12). Bangkok Post. Retrieved from https://www.pressreader.com/thailand/bangkok-post/20170212/281840053416206
Time to get tough with plastic users. (2017, July 23) (Editorial). Bangkok Post. Retrieved from https://www.bangkokpost.com/archive/time-to-get-tough-with-plastic-users/1292295
Westley, F., Patton, M. Q., & Zimmerman, B. (2008). Getting to Maybe - How to Change the World. Toronto: CNIB.
Zero Baht Shop (ca. 2017). In Facebook [Group page]. Retrieved Jan 28, 2018, from https://www.facebook.com/pg/Zero-Baht-Shop-280573995472199/community/?ref=page_internal
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