Page 173 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

5 optical workshops, and numerous ophthalmologists and related businesses, including those
involved in health supplements, came together under the project’s social business model (Gall,

2012). This coordinated ecosystem formed an independent supply chain for vision-related
services and products, closing a critical gap in care. By improving access to eyeglasses, the
initiative enhanced quality of life and boosted economic potential, particularly among the elderly,
whose improved vision often led to increased productivity. The program also benefited younger
individuals under 60 who faced similar challenges, reinforcing community wellbeing and easing
pressure on the public welfare system. However, like many nonprofit models, Optique Solidaire
faced persistent challenges in securing consistent funding and resources (Acuite, 2023). 120 .

After more than a decade of impactful service, the initiative concluded in 2023. Having achieved

its mission, Optique Solidaire donated its remaining equipment and funds to other organizations
working to support vision care for underserved populations.

5.3.4 Human Harbor Corporation (Japan)
Human Harbor Corporation (HH) was founded in 2012 in Fukuoka, Japan by Isao Soejima, a former
prison officer. His motivation stemmed from firsthand experience with the stigma surrounding
the employment of ex-offenders in Japan. The company was established as a social business with
a core mission of reintegrating former prisoners into society, restoring human capital, through

resource recycling. HH focuses on “intermediate treatment of industrial waste,” which includes
activities like clearing debris from construction sites, purchasing and processing discarded
electrical wiring and copper piping, and assisting in the treatment of wastewater from factories
(Humanharbor, n.d.). 121 . The company hires recently released prisoners, offering them not only
jobs but also housing, education, and healthcare, enabling them to rebuild their lives. Although
HH does not receive formal support from the government, it has formed partnerships with
communities and private companies through initiatives such as the Nippon Foundation’s Shikiya
Project. This program brings together businesses to provide work experience for former prisoners
and youth rehabilitation centers, aiming to prevent recidivism. Sixteen companies from Fukuoka

and Yamaguchi Prefectures, including Human Harbor, participate in this initiative. HH positions
itself as a social welfare provider, rooted in Muhammad Yunus’s vision of social business. Its
approach emphasizes the development of human potential and long-term self-sufficiency. While
this mission comes with high personnel management costs and the ongoing challenge of
overcoming public prejudice against ex-convicts, the company’s determination has paid off. By

120 From Optique Solidaire, by Actiontank, n.d., retrieved on February 14, 2025,
(https://actiontank.org/projet/optique-solidaire/)
121 From HumanHarbor Co.,Ltd, by HumanHarbor, n.d., retrieved on February 14, 2025, (https://www.human-
harbor.com/)
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