Title: Social entrepreneurship and social innovation as a tool of women social inclusion and sustainable heritage preservation: the case of the Sougha Establishment in UAE

Authors: Laurice Alexandre-Leclair

Addresses: CEDAG, Faculté de Droit, Université Paris Descartes, 10, Avenue Pierre Larousse, 92240 Malakoff, France; Département Techniques de Commercialisation, Université Paris Descartes/IUT, 143, Avenue de Versailles, 75016 Paris, France

Abstract: This article explores the social innovation within the social entrepreneurship practice in order to help preserve the cultural heritage in UAE while offering a social inclusion to the individuals engaged in the program offered by Sougha Establishment. Our research is based on a deep study of The Sougha Establishment who trains men and women to manufacture local crafts and help them sell their products in order to earn an income and simultaneously preserve their national heritage. This qualitative study is based on interviews conducted with those responsible for the Sougha Establishment and some of the women in training. The data reveal that thanks to the Sougha Establishment, trainees are fully accompanied either in the training, the technical and financial investment or to sell their products. They also consider to find a place in the society while they can earn an income. In addition, those involved in this enterprise experience feelings of usefulness and pride that they are instrumental in preserving their heritage.

Keywords: social entrepreneurship; social innovation; women; UAE; social inclusion; heritage preservation; Sougha Establishment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2017.084846

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2017 Vol.31 No.3, pp.345 - 362

Received: 16 Mar 2015
Accepted: 20 Jan 2016
Published online: 01 Jul 2017 *

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