SINA (Social Innovation Academy) envisions a “freesponsible world” and is creating a regenerative and freesponsible movement by living, learning and working in the way we wish to see the world. Disadvantaged young people become changemaker-makers and social entrepreneurs turning challenges into opportunities. Everyone has the freedom to make their own choices and decisions and, at the same time, take radical responsibility for the consequences of those choices. A balance between freedom and responsibility in a responsible world is evident in all aspects of life.
“Freesponsibility“ combines freedom with responsibility and is the awareness of the positive and negative effects the execution of freedom has on others and the environment. All elements in a freesponsible world are highly interconnected for creating positive change and seeking to balance the needs of individuals with the well-being of the larger community or environment. To effectively regenerate a community or ecosystem, it is necessary to empower individuals and organizations to take responsibility for their actions and consequences. By living, working, and learning in a freesponsible way, it may be possible to create a world that works for everyone.
Personal freesponsibility means that people have the freedom to live their lives as they see fit, as long as they are not harming others. They pursue their passions and interests without interference and are accountable for their actions. For example, if someone chooses to engage in risky behaviour, they are responsible for any negative consequences that might result. At the same time, they would also be free to seek help and support if needed. People recognize that their actions have an impact on the broader community, and they strive to contribute to the common good. People provide for their needs and, at the same time, understand and consider the needs of others and the broader ecosystem (including community, society and environment). This fosters a sense of independence and interdependence while everyone is empowered to make their own decisions and shape their own lives.
Freesponsible education values individual freedom and choice and emphasizes personal responsibility and accountability. It involves creating a learning environment that is free from fear and blame and acknowledges each learner’s unique needs and feelings. In freesponsible education, learners are empowered to find their own meaning and purpose and to try different solutions to problems without fear of judgment. Freesponsible education supports the unfolding of each individual’s full potentials by combining freedom and responsibility in a way that allows for personal growth and development. The power of education lies in the hands of the learners, who create their own curricula. The more responsibility someone takes, the more freedom the person gains.
Freesponsible business is in line with Social Entrepreneurship and new work principles. The goal of the enterprise is to solve a social or environmental challenge through replicable business practices and find regenerative ways to improve. Employees have full autonomy in self-organization and present their whole selves rather than just their work personas. Everyone is a leader and a follower at the same time, and everything is structured around an evolutionary and shared purpose. Through trust and transparency, freesponsibility is lived through flexible working hours, working from anywhere, and transparent (and potentially even self-set) remuneration. In this holistic approach, “people” and “organizational” form a symbiosis and tensions improve the living organizational system. Interrelational and personal well-being become an integral part of the organization. Freesponsible investments seek to create value for all stakeholders and are impact and purpose-driven. Investment decisions are aligned with values and consider the potential impact of decisions on all stakeholders, including people and the planet.
For concrete examples of how this looks like in practice, see:
—SINA Playbook gives an example of freesponsible education
—Examples of SINA social enterprises in this case study
—Purpose Pool for an example of how we are creating freesponsible investment