How to Change the World

Inside the book it's been claimed that the idea of Social Enterpreneurship started with Fransiscan Brotherhood. Although these may be considered as examples of this type of social activities, I definitely disagree with the book that these were the start of the concept.

The concept of foundations welded to the Islamic Institutions are examples of a social support model, at least 500 years before Fransiscan Order. During first period of the Prophet, Islam Masjid built in Medina had educational center called ZuIle or Suff 'e; these were the first institutions with the characteristics of "Foundation" or the arabic original word "Vakif" but this didn't stop there. It continued in the Turkish Islamic States and Empires following the Arabic era.

Our Albanian friends are familiar with the Bektashi Vakifs which are linked to Haci Bektash who migrated from Central Asia to all the way to Anatolia to become one of the most influential religous/cultural leaders in the formation and growth of Ottoman Rule in all Balkans and elsewhere. Many vakifs were built by followers of leaders like Haci Bektash and Rumi (Mevlana) and can be seen everywhere in the region from Bosnia to Hungary, Greece and even Cyprus. These were also early examples of autonomous self sustaining acts of charity, social solidarity and humanity.

However even these may not be the source or roots of this concept; there are researchers who link the idea to Budhist Viharas and even one source, Halim Baki Kunter, claims that an ancient Hittite tablet found in Anatolia, now in the Istanbul Museum of Archeology, dated back to 1280 BC. was the oldest known "vakfiye senedi" which means the "charter of social foundation".

Final word: Don't look at "far away" for examples of Social Enterpreneurship, they're right beside us, in the lands of this "deeply rooted culture", in Balkans, in Anatolia. Our ancestors knew how to change the world and there's no need to reinvent the wheel, just re-check the blueprints, abundent in the history of Albania and Turkey.

Regards and Good luck to all in the exam,
Mehmet Zirek