NZCSI Social Entrepreneurs School

Opening March 2012

“Social entrepreneurs act as the change agents for communities and society, developing ideas and new approaches, creating and implementing solutions to social problems that change society for the better.”

ATTENTION: Closing Date Extended! Applications closing 1 February 2012.

Vision

For all New Zealand communities, particularly those experiencing significant disadvantage, to have the capacity to find and grow solutions to their own social and economic challenges.

Mission

To support early-stage social entrepreneurs to build sustainable new social enterprises, social businesses and non-profit ventures.

People Powered

At its core is the belief is that social change is people-powered, and that the most valuable assets and resources we have are human ones.

Introducing the Action Learning Programme
The New Zealand Centre for Social Innovation has established a Social Entrepreneurs School to support those bold New Zealanders who see unmet social needs in their communities and use their vision, creativity and determination to build initiatives to address them.

The School is seeking to identify 15 social entrepreneurs to become the first cohort of the 10 month Action Learning Programme (ALP), from March to November 2012, which is designed to accelerate and enhance their respective impact on their communities.

The Social Entrepreneur School
Key elements of the programme include:

- Shared study sessions with experienced social entrepreneurs and subject matter experts
- Project visits – going and seeing live social ventures in action first hand
- Group and individual business coaching and tutorials
- External mentoring addressing each individual’s specific action learning needs
- Action Learning Sets (Group problem solving activities)

The School Entrepreneurs School will open in March 2012 at the Ko Awatea Centre (at Middlemore Hospital), Otahuhu, Auckland. There is excellent public transport (train and bus) access to this site as well as free local parking (outside the hospital grounds). For detailed directions please visit the following webpage: http://koawatea.co.nz/home/facility/directions.html

Most of the participating students will be supported for the majority of the cost of the programme  by scholarships however even those on scholarships will be required to pay $1,500 of the cost of the course themselves before the programme begins. Years of research and experience has shown that participants, who have a personal commitment and a stake in the programme, are far more likely to succeed and complete it.  Some students will be funded by their organisations or will fund themselves. The total cost of the course without a scholarship is $15,000 per participant.

All applications must be received in full (Application Form and a minimum of two Community Support/Referee Nomination Forms) on or before Wednesday the 18th of January 2012. ATTENTION: Closing Date Extended! Applications closing 1 February 2012.

All applicants will then be contacted and advised of the status of their application. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to attend interviews in late January and the final decisions and places will be offered by 10th of February 2012 for an 8th March 2012 Programme start.

Frequently Asked Questions
Application Form
Community Support Nomination Form
This initiative has been made possible through the generous and inspired support of our Foundation Partners.