Sharing best practices in social entrepreneurship

Our Country Exchange Program empowers our social entrepreneurs to share best practices and learn from each other. In 2024, Satheesh from Sri Lanka and Ravy from Cambodia had the chance to learn from their colleagues in Mongolia. In this blog article, they share their learnings.

Why did you apply for the Country Exchange Program?

Ravy: "I am impressed by the profitability of BOOKBRIDGE's social enterprises in Mongolia. I want to explore opportunities, partnership programs and build better relationships with Mongolian social enterprises. Furthermore, I want to experience a different culture with different people, different temperatures and a different geography."

Satheesh: "I applied for the Country Exchange Program because I wanted to explore new cultures, learn from different communities, and gain fresh perspectives on social entrepreneurship. I was also eager to share my knowledge and connect with like-minded individuals in other parts of the world. This program seemed like a perfect opportunity to grow personally and professionally."

Ravy (middle) meeting his Mongolian colleagues Buyanaa (left) and Bayanaa (right)

What did you learn during the trip? What do you do differently back home?

Ravy: "I learnt how to learning centers run in Mongolia compared to Cambodia. The social entrepreneurs in Mongolia mostly they manage and teach English by themselves. They do not have a big team like we do in Cambodia. They are managers and self-employed at the same time. Moreover, they have more opportunities to cooperate with the US Embassy for joint projects, e.g. the Access Mini Scholarship program. In addition, I learnt that there are not many similar offerings in Mongolia. I also learnt that the students in Mongolia have the ability to pay more than the students in my community. This is why their learning centers are more profitable. Mongolias learning centers charge tuition fees of $30 - $60 per month while we only charge $10 - $20 per month in Cambodia. When I am back home, I will optimize the income from my classes. In addition, I will allocate my time to lead the class and reduce costs. I will look for partnership and cooperation to run a scholarship project at my learning center."

Satheesh: "During my trip, I learned the importance of community engagement and how deeply connected people are to their local culture and traditions. It reminded me of the power of collaboration and how working together can create impactful change. When I return home, I plan to focus more on community involvement and encourage others to come together to support local initiatives. I’ll also bring back some of the innovative ideas I saw during my stay."

Satheesh from Sri Lanka (right) meeting Uuganaa, Mongolia's first social entrepreneur

Share one thing which surprised you during your trip. It can also be funny.

Ravy: "The mountain without trees surprised me. I thought the mountains had a lot of trees like in Cambodia."

Satheesh: "One thing that surprised me was how vast and peaceful the Mongolian countryside is! Riding through the mountains with locals, far from any city, gave me a new appreciation for nature and simplicity. It was funny trying to communicate with the elders using hand gestures—it led to a lot of laughs, but we always understood each other in the end!"

What did others learn from you during your trip? What skills or knowledge did you share with them?

Ravy: "The students from Una, Bayna and Buyna learnt from me about Cambodia and our cultures as well as my leadership. I shared with them about Personal Setting Goals. It was interesting to them. One more, they learnt how to cook Cambodian food called LokLak."

Satheesh: "During my trip, I had the chance to share a wide range of skills and knowledge. I introduced students and community members to digital tools like Excel and simple accounting techniques to help them manage small projects and businesses. We discussed entrepreneurship, setting goals, and using technology to streamline operations. Many were curious about how to start and grow a business, and I provided practical tips on tracking finances and improving efficiency.

I also learned about the Access Program and the summer camps, which focus on leadership, teamwork, and community building. These programs inspired me to teach the importance of these skills to create positive change. I emphasized that strong leadership and collaboration are key to driving meaningful projects and fostering community growth.

Additionally, I introduced AI tools to teachers, showing them how they could enhance their teaching methods with technology. We explored how AI can help with tasks like lesson planning, student assessment, and personalized learning. The teachers were excited to learn how AI could make their work more efficient and improve the overall learning experience for students."

What is your recommendation to the next social entrepreneur participating in the program?

Ravy: "I would recommend for the next social entrepreneur to have warm clothes because it is too cold for Cambodian people. He or she should have some snacks, pure drinking water and toilet paper when they are travelling from one province to another because it is a long distance and sometimes at the stop points there are no proper toilets or restaurants along the way."

Satheesh: "My recommendation is to be open-minded and ready to adapt. Each community is different, and you will learn the most by immersing yourself in their culture and ways of doing things. Be patient, listen actively, and embrace the experience fully. It’s not just about what you can give but also about what you can learn from them!"

BOOKBRIDGE Foundation supports each social entrepreneur with a free return flight ticket worth about $800. The social entrepreneur covers local costs for transportation, food and accommodation for a two week stay amounting $300-600 depending on the country.