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Phil Lilienthal Interview on the Social Edge - Interview With Patrick O'Heffernan |
Phil sees himself as a social entrepreneur – he is providing a service in a non-static way. Part of the teaching at camp is how to prevent AIDS. He is giving the children a platform where they can find answers themselves and hopes the lessons they learn in camp become part of their inner beings, especially AIDS avoidance.
This is a departure from the usual rote-learning model. He was afraid this would be a problem along with bringing talk of sex and AIDS home, where it is usually not discussed. But the parents did not object. He has heard nothing negative in the four years he has been running the camp and taught 3,000 children.
His advice to other social entrepreneurs: “When you have a skill, go with what you think is right. Don't take giant steps until you follow the basic steps and things are lining up; then move ahead. Don't get discouraged by the scale of the problem. Do what you can – I am trying to solve AIDS 137 kids at a time.”
Philip Lilienthal, Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia (1965-1967), was Attorney/Advisor for the Peace Corps General Counsel’s Office, served as Peace Corps regional director in the Philippines and Deputy Director for the Peace Corps in Thailand. He is now founder and CEO of Global Camps Africa.
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