“I found Vince Rapisura on Facebook and he constantly discusses being a social investor. Through him, I learned that investing can create more value than just mere profit. We can select investments that have a conscious goal of making a positive impact on society,” said a social investor in an online forum.
Impact investing are investments made to companies, organizations and funds with the intention to generate a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return. In 2019, SEDPI was able to facilitate several fora in different countries on impact investing. The fora provided alternative investments that have positive impact in the quality of life of marginalized communities in the Philippines.
Furthermore, it provided avenues on how Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) could participate in impact investing while protecting their wealth and achieve their financial dreams. Vince Rapisura, president of SEDPI, shared his investments in social enterprises and microfinance institutions and elaborated on how OFWs can participate in these investments. He also showed the financial performance, social impact and repayment history of each investment option.
SEDPI’s impact investing fora were able to reach more than 900 participants in major cities around the world including Hong Kong, Milan, Rome, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Macau, Tokyo, Singapore, Doha, Madrid, and Barcelona. It was able to gain new social investors and supporters by helping OFWs focus their attention not only in making profits but also putting social and environmental indicators when makinh financial decisions.
Vince Rapisura always reminded social investors, “Impact investing is investing with a heart.” SEDPI will further its engagements with OFWs as well as with other organizations to reach more investors for its ventures that surely has positive impact in poor communities in the Philippines and in the society, in general.