Social entrepreneurship is one of the most exciting spaces to watch in the Middle East today, as several local pioneers are launching startups to solve local problems with global potential.

Following on social entrpreneurship panels at the Silatech Arab Youth & Entrepreneurship Conference this past weekend, the conversation is continuing at Social Enterprise Week, which kicks off this Sunday with a killer lineup of talks and focused panels designed to support social businesses in the Middle East region.

Those interested in starting or supporting social businesses can still purchase tickets here. We're happy to announce that WamdaCard members will receive a 20% discount.

The agenda includes:

• Building Apps for Good in the Arab World : Sunday, Feb 24^th, 8:30-10:00pm, NYUAD Downtown Campus (part of the NYUAD Hackathon for Social Good)
   
• Empowering the Social Enterprise Community (moderated by Wamda’s own Jamil Wyne): Monday, Feb 25^th, 7:00pm, The Capital Club, DIFC, Dubai 
   
• Green Enterprise: Tuesday, Feb 26^th, 7:00-9:00pm, The Change Initiative, Al Barsha
   
• Ethical Food Enterprise: Wednesday, Feb 27^th, 7:00-9:00pm, Shelter, Al Quoz
   
• From Small Steps to Big Change: Thursday, Feb 28^th, 7:00-9:00pm, Meydan IMAX Theatre, Nad Al Sheba
  
  Film: Bonsai People – The Vision of Muhammad Yunus: Thursday, Feb 28^th, 9:00-10:00pm, Meydan IMAX Theatre, Nad Al Sheba
   
• The Hult Prize Final Ceremony will award an enterprise working in Food Security, a theme chosen by former President Bill Clinton. March 2^nd, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

For more information, see the Agenda on the Social Enterprise Week site.

The event, says organizer Medea Nocentini, the Director of Corporate Development at OSN and Founder and CEO at Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3), “is about giving a stage to those entrepreneurs who are successfully applying combining business performances with a social mission. All of these entrepreneurs offers great examples that can inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs.”

The list of speakers includes several regional players in social entrepreneurship, including Heather Henyon of Balthazar Capital, Nima Abu Wardeh of Cashy.me, Omar Samra of Wild Guanabana, as well as several who have worked to build interesting food & beverage startups and green clothing companies.

Slices, a food company that provides communities with access to same-day fresh and nutritious meals, founded by Emirati Faisal Al Hammadi, or Barzh, an upcoming café and online Emirati food ordering service co-founded by Fatma al Khoori. Retail shop Bambootique, founded by Reim El Houni, works to empowering consumers to make socially conscious, informed choices.

The goal is to bring together NGOs, members of the government, the private sector, and investors to collaborate and create multistakeholder solutions, says Nocentini.

For more on the themes, read the C3 Blog, and register on the site!