Viti Simmons Social Entrepreneur

22/11/2024

Thought thus would interest you back in 1978 on a walkathon raising money. We have a likeness in this photo.

Todays features Viti Simmons and Linda Lonie, Dampier entrants in the 6th annual Tom Price to Paraburdoo Walkathon, 11-13 June 1976. Do you know someone who took part in this 88 km event?

Remember, you can check out our growing collection of online local history images at http://karratha.spydus.com/!

16/11/2024

Kia Ora which means Hello in New Zealand where i am currently.
I have spent the last week in Auckland at the International Indigenous Research Conference 2024. Caught up with neice Piki and family and neice Kiri joined us. Monday was spent at a Masterclass on the Auckland Waterfront venue then the following 4 days attending the Conference with presentations from across the globe at Auckland University. Fabulous and informative. First photo i caught up with Iris (nee Selwyn) from Taumarunui niw Iris Pahau. Small world indeed. Next image neice Kiri Diamond and myself attending the Conference. Treasured shared experience. We both attended in 2016. Trust this message finds you well.

10/11/2022

An ARCHITECT of the project.
I have just returned from six weeks in New Zealand which included hosting two unveiling/book launches of my recent non-fiction self-published book, 'Hikoi of Discovery'. It was a moving and emotional journey to arrive at the Matai Aranui Marae in the small community of Whirinaki, Southern Hokianga, Northland, on 28th October. In the context of Maori culture, it is referred to as bringing your Kaupapa home to the communities that the books historical content has emerged. At the core of this Whakapapa (Family Tree) is my Father's Maori Maternal Tupuna Wahines 1800s-1900s In the Hokianga, Northland.
At the conclusion, I spoke to a Whanau woman Heather Randerson from our Whakapapa and a statement she made to me at this event regarding a request that a Kaumatua (Maori elder) made during this unveiling was supporting those in the community to write down their own historical stories for future generations and how. My response to Heather as I heard that request.
Her response was, you realise, Viti that you will need to be the project architect. Heather's use of the word ARCHITECT had me thinking.
In my second self-published book, MICROFINANCE: Empowering women, families and community (2016), I ask a question in Chapter 11, Microcredit Success and Learnings Reframed, pg.92. 1. What type of organic scaffolding is needed to bring business women from the developing and developed world closer together?
Recognising and advocating for women's shared business experiences and global aspirations brings us closer. The term 'organic scaffolding' is not new: it is utilised in many fields of study. My awareness of this emerged from my honorary research across Australiasia and Nepal, interviewing women in enterprises in rural, regional, remote and provincial areas. (vignette) of a broader work that disrupts the status quo from the focus to one of I to us.
Over the last three decades, I have been architecting numerous projects in the small business and not-for-profit space. My rebranding of vitisimmons.com.au opens up opportunities to continue.

19/08/2022

My meaning of Social Entrepreneur has emerged from two Sectors. The entity of Capitalism - is driven by profit maximization. The other sector is not-for-profit based, motivated by social services. After several research studies, I desired to create an environment enabling me as a small business operator to contribute to social projects associated with Microcredit projects. I was allocating a percentage of income from Bear Fruit activities to pro bono with Hands Microfinance projects in Nepal. The formula I applied for establishing Bear Fruit (Social Business) (2008-2021). The opportunity arose in the NFP and NGO Sectors locally and internationally. From these projects emerged my definition of SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
https://www.vitisimmons.com.au ; ; -for-profit; ; ; ;

09/08/2022

Farewell Bear Fruit – Welcome to Viti Simmons Services
It took me a weekend to find your business name Bear Fruit. It was discovered within my research literature. Two words in alignment. I was smitten, sold, and quietly elated to have found you. Once formalized, one step after the other, we travelled, met, learnt, communicated, and developed a lasting commitment over fourteen years.

Defining our services started to take shape, remaining accountable to one’s professional standards and treating those we met with respect and dignity. We were often met with a blank look as this business model of Merging social with business innovation was new. During international pursuits, when technology was so crucial but often not accessible, your presence was pivotal, miles from home, feet on the ground, one's sense’s exploding, alive and full of purpose and self-belief.
As I commence this new business chapter your legacy will remain and the word Social Entrepreneur is now part of the broader landscape and reframed across sectors. By-products from research I believe is a new frontier for income generation.