HUMAN NATURE: A model for a successful, working and large-scale social enterprise
Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. (GKI) through its brand Human Nature, is the fastest-growing social enterprise in the Philippines. Founded in November 2008 by Anna Meloto-Wilk and Camille Meloto, two daughters of Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto, Human Nature is guided by the principles of being PRO-PHILIPPINES, PRO-POOR and PRO-ENVIRONMENT. It produces natural and organic personal care products which are 100% made in the Philippines and 100% free from harmful chemicals.
For the first time, budding and seasoned entrepreneurs are seeing an alternative to traditional business enterprise. Often times one would engage in traditional business to gain maximum profit and then separately be involved in a cause-oriented project, socio-civic club or non-profit organization to help a community or the environment. Many businesses give away a percentage of their profits to good causes. However, there is a new economic model emerging, that of a "social enterprise". A social enterprise works like a traditional business except that it does not try to maximize profit at the expense of the environment or people. Every major decision is made by considering the good of the country, its people (especially the poor) and its environment. The social enterprise actively tries to empower, train and uplift the poor to participate in its business model as suppliers or even co-owners.
In the Philippines today, there are many social enterprises in operation but none has reached the magnitude and ever-growing scale of impact as Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. (GKI) and its brand Human Nature. Part of its vision is to provide sustainable livelihood through high value organic crops to farming communities all over the country that would lift them out of poverty. Anna Meloto-Wilk, GKI President & co-founder, says "Human Nature products are 100% made in the Philippines and we aim to help as many poor communities as possible grow ingredients that will deliver a much higher income than traditional farming. Selling our one millionth product means that many different communities have already benefited. This milestone proves that businesses can be highly successful while actively loving our country, loving the poor and loving the environment."
Human Nature products are mostly sold through direct-selling. The decision to go into direct selling instead of retail selling was a result of Human Nature's desire to provide extra income for ordinary people. "In business, it is simpler to deal with a few big retail accounts rather than thousands of dealers. But it is very important that we provide every Filipino the opportunity to uplift their lives and through direct selling of Human Nature products, we are able to do that" says Joanna Gilladoga, GKI Marketing Director.
GKI's (British) Vice President and co-founder, Dylan Wilk adds, "Wherever I go around the world, Filipinos are among the best at direct selling! That's why there are so many big direct selling companies here -- the whole world recognizes that Filipinos are among the best at it. But the tragedy is that most Filipinos are just selling imported products that make other countries richer! Here now is a chance for Filipinos to really be proud of selling something made in the Philippines that is helping this country, that is going to make our children proud to be Filipino and is going to show the whole world that Filipinos are not a third world people but a talented, heroic, lovable people. This is not just about a business. This is a vision of a beautiful and prosperous country. This is about the Philippines restored, Filipinos becoming a world-class people, and the words "made in the Philippines" meaning something to the rest of the world" says Wilk.
With a million products sold, 14 Philippine branches, a USA office and more to come, Human Nature's growth is unstoppable. In fact, it's already being studied as a successful and working model for a social enterprise by students from Berkeley University, California and Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore. And it is right here in the Philippines.
To learn more about the products or how to be a dealer or how to put up a Human Nature Branch, visit www.humanheartnature.com or your nearest Human Nature Branch or call (02) 931-5787.
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Agroforestry - Conservation Farming with Natural Vegetative Strips (Let Nature Take Its Course)by ICRAFPhilippines1,121 views
superb!!!
sweetiekings 1 year ago