Globalization in the year 2013 is more of a present thought than an afterthought, largely due to how interconnected and globally centered societies are. Being interconnected, has resulted in the smooth diffusion of ideas across lands, especially as it pertains to some social enterprises.  In the last decade or so there has been an increase in the levels of ideas shared by different social enterprises and in this recent trend much of what social entrepreneurs do locally, does have a repelling effect on an international level. Globalization has made it so that there are now networks of social enterprises uniting and collaborating in their efforts for social change.  

Even here in our own back yard, the ideas of American social entrepreneurs whether big or small finds ways to become adopted by other countries. It has been noted by the Stanford Social Innovation Review that “one of the most powerful American exports over the next decade could be successful ideas for social change demonstrated by leaders in the U.S. nonprofit sector.”[i] This is a projection made clear through Teach for All, a replication of Teach for America.

Founded in 2007, Teach for All is a global network of social entrepreneurs that are working to expand educational opportunities globally. Teach for all, social enterprises, aspire to the vision that one day, all children will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.[ii] Through Teach for All’s methods of recruiting and training their countries most talented young leaders, these social enterprises can offer students a life-changing educational experience. This life-changing educational experience also goes both ways. Many of the recruited young leaders, through this experience now have a conviction as educators to create change and combat systematic educational disadvantages in their respective countries.

Teach for All was created in partnership with Teach for America, Teach First- a replication of Teach for America in the U.K., and significant start-up support from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the Amy and Larry Robbins Foundation.[iii] The exportation of the Teach for America model and approach, which has manifested into Teach for All, is not only an example of globalization allowing for an easy transfer of ideas, it is also an example of how successful social enterprise networks can be developed and sustained based on a proven model- Teach for America.

Wendy Kopp, CEO and founder of Teach for America, explains that “while Teach for America itself remains deeply committed to its own ambitious growth plan in the United States, the creation of Teach for All will enable us to be responsive to those who are working to address educational inequalities in other countries and who deeply believe that our theory of change can have a catalytic impact in their context.[iv] Teach for All comes at a very necessary time, especially when there are countries like Argentina where only 31%[v] of children graduate from high school, and countries like Pakistan where by the time children turn 16, 65%[vi] of children cannot read a simple story in any language. It is these statistics that compels Kopp and partners, to help other countries where there is much need for changes to the education system.

Teach for All is present and active in 30 countries, including the United States, ranging in locations from Chile, Estonia, and the Philippines. All of which highlights how a social change idea created locally, in America, can be applied to different social and cultural contexts within reason. Much of the success in Teach for All’s implementation comes down to the power of globalization that has broken down the walls/barriers that once prevented the sharing of ideas and approaches.

Globalization now allows for much of social change ideas, social innovators, and social entrepreneurs to unite through various networks under a common philosophy of social change that is rapidly casting a wide net around the globe. Long gone are the days of social change being unorganized and difficult to attain. Presently the trading of social ideas are on a rise and the networks for social change are becoming more and more impactful. But the success of Teach for All has left me wondering is the streamlining of social change really a simple process or is this a case of just being one of the lucky ones? If this is a case of Teach for All being one of the lucky ones, what mechanisms can we set in place to make sure that these kinds of networks are present for all social enterprises?

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[i] Innovating the White House. Jolin, Michele. 2008. Stanford Social Innovation Review. 

[ii] About Teach for All. New Profit Inc.

[iii] Teach for America launches Teach for All to support development of its model in other countries. Teachforall.org.  

[iv] Teach for America launches Teach for All to support development of its model in other countries. Teachforall.org. 

[v] Teach for All Locations & Programs. Teachforall.org

[vi] Teach for All Locations & Programs. Teachforall.org.