As a student at Hitotsubashi University, Daichi Konuma would have passionate conversations with his friends about changing the world for the better. After graduating he enlisted with Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers to help local farmers in Syria. He returned to Japan eager to use his new experiences to improve life at home, but was dismayed to find his friends had lost their helpful spirit after succumbing to Japanese corporate culture.
Konuma thus founded Cross Fields, an organization that connects corporate workers with volunteer projects and mentors them as they do so. Initially, corporate firms worried that the organization would cause workers to leave; but those same firms came to realize Cross Fields actually increased worker innovation in the long term. Konuma is now recognized for his social entrepreneurship.
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The World Bank’s Development Marketplace, a competitive grants program, has provided $1.4 million grants to 12 social enterprises in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram for development activities and capacity building investments.