Going Deep: A Different Take on Scale for Social Entrepreneurs

This blog is filled with stories of organizations striving to expand innovative solutions across the world. The ambition to scale up is close to the heart of social entrepreneurs, and the goal to end -- rather than just alleviate -- global problems. But for some groups, bringing an idea to scale is less important than having an ever-deeper relationship with the communities they serve.

Project Focus is one of those groups. For the last five years, this dynamic group of (mostly) Chicago-based volunteers has been building relationships in southwestern Uganda, with incredible results.

PF originally connected with community groups in Lyantonde, Uganda after a summer spent volunteering, researching and generally learning inside the country in 2006. Compelled to act, but wary of creating commitments they couldn't sustain, the volunteers decided to focus on storytelling as a way to connect communities in Chicago with their new Ugandan friends and partners. In Chicago, they shared photos and writing created by young people in Lyantonde, and used the exhibits as a way to inspire connection and action back home. With proceeds from donations at the exhibits, they deepened their partnership in Uganda with additional collaborative arts programs.

In order to strengthen their partnership with the citizens of Lyantonde, Project Focus began sending long-term volunteers. For them, this was only partially about having more time to do specific projects. It was also about connecting on a more profound level, and cementing bonds that went beyond even great collaborative development programs.

As time went on, PF and the community began hatching an idea for how to broaden the community's access to the world -- with the goal of allowing them not only to receive information, but also to share their own stories. A plan to build an internet cafe began to percolate, and now, PF is trying to make it happen.

They've just launched a campaign to raise $25,000 to build a solar-powered internet cafe in Lyantonde. They believe that once the initial costs are covered, the project can be fully self-sustaining for those involved. And while the drive for internet access in a rural African town may not seem new, the depth of relationships that PF has built over the years suggests a coincidence of wants and a coherence of strategy that many development programs could learn from.

To me, the lesson here isn't that social entrepreneurs should abruptly abandon their ambitions to scale up. Complex global problems require massive solutions, and when it comes to changing systems, scale is essential. What's more, the dichotomy of "breadth" vs. "depth" is a false one. The best social entrepreneurs have to understand how to balance both.

At the same time, I do think PF's story is a reminder of the value of going deep to connect with, learn from, and be an ambassador for a community. It also demonstrates that there's strength to be found in different kinds of social entrepreneurs, all working in their own way to make an incredible difference.

Learn more about Project Focus on their website and support their internet cafe here.

Photo Credit: Grant Buhr/Project Focus