Driving People out of Poverty
During lunch in middle school and high school there was always the gathering of like-minded groups: those that loved to talk about video games, those that were theater fanatics, and those that were athletes. For one who didn’t fit any of those social constructs, I floated for years hoping one day to be surrounded by people that I can relate with. It was a difficult time for me, but I learned and grew a lot. I started to notice that I had a desire to make the world a better place. Classes in high school and callings in church made me think that government leadership would be the right position for me.
After a year of studying political science at BYU, I was called as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and assigned to serve in Madagascar. I discovered how satisfying it was to teach people how to apply the gospel to overcome past mistakes and to gain a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. I saw my full-time mission as the most fulfilling and impactful thing that I had ever done. When I came back from Madagascar, I was in crisis mode. Suddenly, I could not see how I could come anywhere close to the impact and satisfaction of serving people like I did in Madagascar. I found that cold calling to ask if I could help someone felt too slow compared to face-to-face conversations as a missionary. I also learned that it was difficult to be excited about politics when debates seemed trivial compared to matters of eternal importance. A sense of apathy following a meaningful time in my life left me searching for something to revive my sense of purpose.
When I discovered the Ballard Center in Fall 2017, I finally found like-minded people who desire to change the world. Following an advisement session, I enrolled in Do Good. Better., a class that taught me the priceless problem-solving methods that fit within human centered design and the social innovation model. I also learned about various roles that I could fill to impact the world. Not long later, I found myself at ease settling into the role of a social entrepreneur when other returned Madagascar missionaries who served years before me saw that who I am and what I know from Do Good. Better. are strong assets to tackle poverty through business.
My partners and I founded a social venture called Speedy Tuk Tuk that can help diligent Malagasy people break free from a system of rental poverty. A tuk tuk, with a motorcycle engine, is a three-wheeled taxi that is emerging as a reliable method of short transportation in Madagascar and countries throughout Africa. Unfortunately, many tuk tuk drivers throughout the world are stuck living in poverty because they must pay rental fees to wealthier tuk tuk renters. Speedy Tuk Tuk, so far, has given 59 drivers the best opportunity to own their tuk tuks by giving them a rent-to-own agreement and additional support services. Due to the advice and funding given by the Social Venture Academy, a Ballard Center program that provides resources for aspiring social entrepreneurs, I was able to implement Speedy Tuk Tuk in Madagascar which will potentially quadruple the livelihoods of hardworking tuk tuk drivers. Learning about the social innovation model and roles in Do Good. Better. and receiving mentoring and funding from the Social Venture Academy revived my purpose as a changemaker. I love Speedy Tuk Tuk and that we will be helping 99 drivers by the end of May to drive their way out of poverty.