Salvation Army Research Paper

Q.3 The Salvation Army is a Social enterprise which is active to eradicate poverty and distress from New Zealand. Based on Abu Saifan theory of Social Enterprise following are the 5 similarities of social enterprise with profit oriented one:

• INNOVATOR: Salvation Army is indeed an innovator working for the well-being of humanity. For example the idea of opening Salvation Army Family Stores has proved to be in favour of the general public. On one hand, it sells recycled products like clothing, toys, household goods at cheap rates and the profit earned from selling these goods is used to support the community work. Similarly, profit making enterprises are working innovatively with new strategies to manifold their profit.

• DEDICATED: Salvation Army is serving the community from the last 132 years with complete

dedication and sincerity. Their dedication is clearly revealed by the fact that they renounce worldly distractions such as alcohol, tobacco after joining army and marry other female officers of army only. Similarly, profit making enterprise work with complete dedication to expand its business.
• LEADER: It is indeed a leader in serving the society so selflessly because of its diverse qualities like clarity of mission, dedication, ability to innovate etc.

It is leading in spreading Christianity across the world and reforming the structure of society. Similarly, profit making enterprises are leaders in expanding business globally.

• COMMITTED: The Salvation Army is committed to God’s mission of caring the needy people, transforming their lives from poverty to plenty and reforming the society by eliminating evil and injustice.

• INITIATIVE TAKER: They are working not only to serve needy but also aims at eliminating evil of human trafficking by taking initiatives like Stop the Traffik and Prevent People Trafficking. This clearly reveals their concern for human safety.

Differences:

• MISSION LEADERS: The Salvation Army is proceeding ahead by achieving its mission. They have always stood for providing selfless service to the underserved section of the society. For example: They are involved in providing education, employment, personal care etc to needy people who cannot afford these things which makes them different from profit oriented

enterprises.
• CHANGE AGENT: Salvation Army has proved to be a social change agent as it has provided services like free housing, housing ownership, treatment against drug addictions for youth, personal and palliative care etc especially for the underserved section of society due to which it stands distinct among other enterprises.
• SOCIAL VALUE CREATOR: Salvation Army implies a holistic approach for serving the society. It creates job opportunities for people. Hence enabling them to live with respect and dignity. It provides cheap clothing, toys, housing, medical care etc to needy people which is an example of social justice by providing access to services which otherwise are inaccessible to needy people.
• OPINION LEADER: The opinion of serving the humanity has enabled Salvation Army to lead among others. The innovative ideas of donating basic items of need, recycling and repairing old items for selling at cheap prices, creating employment opportunities for youth etc has influenced other social enterprises to work on basis of same principles.
• SOCIALLY ALERT: Salvation Army is fighting against the problems faced by deprived people in New Zealand like problem of housing due to which it is demanding a law which ensures adequate housing for every children. Similarly, it is running centres to save youth from drug abuse. It is creating job opportunities for youth to make them independent e.g. Sandwich People which proves it to be a socially alert enterprise.
References:
 Abu Saifan, S. (2012). Social Entrepreneurship: Definition and Boundaries (p.27). Technology Innovation Management Review. Retrieved from http://timreview.ca/article/523
 Johnson, A. (2015). A Mountain All Can Climb (p.94). Manukau: The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. Retrieved from http://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/socialpolicy