The Vietnam based Center for Social Entrepreneurship Development (Spark Center) has recently become the Founder Member of the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN). The AVPN is a non-for-profit organization based in Singapore and aiming at developing a venture philanthropy movement throughout the whole Asia Pacific region. Its goal is to promote venture philanthropy and to provide learning and networking services among its members. Their concept is based on the successful model of the European Venture Philanthropy Association which already has 140 members in 20 countries.
Currently, the AVPN is supported by grant funding, sponsors and partner organisations. The organisation tries to bring together organisations and individuals from the finance, business and social sector and members include venture philanthropy organisations and associates that bring different expertise, experience and networks.
Spark’s success in applying to be the Founder Member is a turning point for Vietnam’s social entrepreneurship scene as well as Spark itself, considering the increasingly important role of AVPN in the facilitation of the venture philanthropy movement across the entire Asia Pacific region. According to Mr Le Dinh Long, the Executive Director of the organisation “Spark Center is now in the AVPN movement and wants to contribute as much as possible for the movement to be stronger and for the benefits of Spark movement in Viet Nam”.
Social Entrepreneurship in Asia 