Pakistan for Acumen (PfA) did something different…the leaders of this newly-formed volunteer Chapter sought out an inspiring venue, T2F – The Second Floor in Karachi, PK – to host its event earlier this month. As a result, a group of curious and energetic students and professionals came together to learn about how PfA can spur conversation and debate about social entrepreneurship.

PfA arranged this event with the intentions of:

• Furthering dialogue/debate around social entrepreneurship by asking the questions: What does it mean? What does it mean from Acumen’s lens? What is the role of sustainability, social impact and scale? How can we find balance for the greatest success?
• Creating an opportunity to energize young professionals, students and entrepreneurs about social entrepreneurship as a career choice, and discussing the value this creates for the development of Pakistan.
• Getting more young professionals involved with PfA Chapter activities.

The event kicked off with a screening of Jacqueline’s video as featured on PSB NewsHour. The short clip provided good fodder for discussions about Acumen Fund’s work. Following the video, PfA shared a powerful presentation highlighting issues like ‘who are our social change agents?’ and ‘social business that serves the poor’. These topics resonated with me because they clearly articulate Acumen’s values of acknowledging entrepreneurs who, despite a variety of challenges, are still striving to create businesses/markets to serve the poor. The interconnectedness perceived by the participants was evident in the discussions that followed the session.

Sarah Dimson, an Acumen Fellow working with AMC in Pakistan, deliberated on how affordable housing has proved the potential for scaling the social enterprise sector. She talked about her personal experience of working with AMC, an emerging housing company that not only builds houses, but also communities! Her enthusiasm and the commitment with which she has accepted the challenge to work in the sector and this country strengthen the need for the chapter to come forward and start taking action.

“In my presentation, I highlighted how microinsurance as social enterprise is assisting low income families to get out of a poverty trap and augmenting the microfinance sector to expand and develop a new market. I shared my excitement that the enormous exposure to forums and opportunities, networking with the world’s top-most leaders, and invaluable source of knowledge about the sector, has helped me broaden my thinking. Excited about sharing my vision of creating future leaders for Pakistan, I concluded the presentation with an invitation to act by saying ‘Do you have any dream or plan to be, yourself, a change agent or be a part of the change? If not, join the Acumen Community; you will have one very soon!’”

I was extremely touched by the interest and quality questions after the presentations. The curiosity to have a metric for measuring social impact and the suggestion of a lab investment gave me comfort that the event had a leap-forward impact on the participants’ understanding of the sector. Questions like ‘how to measure the social impact,’ strengthen Acumen Fund’s efforts of developing the right metrics and tools to do so. The group itself was challenged, had the chance to unearth these kinds of queries, and is willing to contribute in developing such tools.

I had the opportunity to meet a few exciting folks from the business and technology sectors who want to do their part. Farhan Zaidi, an IBA graduate, invited me and Acumen Fund to hold such gatherings at his campus. Another group of gentlemen expressed their deep interest in the Fellows Program and Summer Internships as an opportunity to learn more about the space. I was amazed to see another passionate woman, Iqra Shaukat from the Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (AIESEC), striving to bridge the divide between the developed world and Pakistan by offering an exchange program for youngsters across the globe. AIESEC is currently seeking networking opportunities, so their groups would exhibit greater diversity.

I hope this event will go a long way in advancing the discussion and bringing more people on board with Pakistan for Acumen, and the sector at large.

Zahoor Muhammad is an Acumen Fellow in the Class of 2010, working with FMiA in Pakistan.