In recent months there has been an increasing focus on the social conditions within our communities, especially with regard to the youth. There seems to be a consensus that problems such as juvenile delinquency and gang violence can be minimised by specific and sustained "grassroot'' interventions.

It is a view that I fully support but as I indicated previously there is a need for new ideas that are rooted in the legitimate aspirations of the communities themselves. It also requires a more enlightened approach to funding and corporate sponsorship and a concept of community development that extends beyond infrastructure. As French novelist Marcel Proust wrote many years ago: "the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes''. This is particularly relevant for those who are involved in providing financial assistance for programmes and projects to enhance the quality of life in our communities.

In the book Social Entrepreneurship: New Models for Sustainable Change, one writer notes that "companies worldwide are facing a combination of push and pull factors that propel them towards more robust form of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)". This shift in business strategy is attributed to "changing expectations by the public at large and key stakeholder groups such as consumers, employees and communities".

The international community is now demanding "a much more active role for companies in resolving social problems beyond their traditional role of providing goods and services". This phenomenon is also evident in Trinidad and Tobago and as the writer suggests "companies need to find a process to respond to this challenge and move their social initiatives to a higher level; CSE (Corporate Social Entrepreneurship) is that process". This theory is applicable to both private and public sectors but it is likely that much more will be expected from those agencies and corporations that are State-owned.

There are different definitions of CSE depending on the bias of the interpreter but it is primarily about "mobilising internal and external resources in order to generate social value''. The issue of social value is also open to wide interpretation but the community itself is often best placed to make this determination. While social entrepreneurs may focus primarily on expanding social capital, they can also use their projects to develop revenue streams. This is the essence of sustainable community development and there are numerous opportunities for achieving this locally, especially since economic diversification has become the latest mantra.

According to some experts, there are two key components of social entrepreneurship. The first is "a prime strategic focus on social impact'' and the second is "an innovative approach to achieving the mission". The challenge to be innovative should not deter us since creativity is an essential part of being Trinbagonian.

Just recently the Tourism Ministry embarked on a programme to improve the local tourism product in communities throughout the country. Not only can this initiative create jobs but it can also boost small business while preserving valuable cultural and historical assets. Young Angelo Bissessarsingh, a dedicated archivist, has identified a project in Penal that focuses on the famous "Banwari Man''. The project overview explains that "the Banwari Trace Archaeological Site is recognised as being the oldest known human habitation site in the West Indies, having been dated to approximately 6,000 BC. This dating makes the site significantly older than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and Stonehenge in England." Bissessarsingh insists that it "will not only garner international attention but will also provide sustainable employment for the community in which it is situated''. He is absolutely correct and this project is just one of several possibilities in this part of the country.

In nearby Siparia, the Regional Corporation is considering a proposal to establish a "Daisy Voisin Memorial'' in Siparia in honour of the late Queen of Parang. This would undoubtedly boost the annual Siparia Fete which is also a mechanism for social and economic development. Further west there is the world-famous Pitch Lake which is yet to fulfil its potential as a major tourist attraction. It continues to look like an unkempt car-park and is in urgent need of a facelift as well as some user-friendly facilities.

These projects, along with similar proposals in sport and culture, offer considerable scope for sustainable community development in southwest Trinidad. When the Point Fortin highway is completed and the water-taxi service reaches the area, any problem of accessibility will be considerably reduced..The proximity of major energy sector companies also lends itself to more meaningful collaboration between commerce and community.

In 2007, the Energy Chamber (formerly the South Trinidad Chamber of Commerce) produced a report in collaboration with the UNDP entitled "Mapping Corporate Social Responsibility in Trinidad and Tobago''. It is a valuable piece of research with some important findings, including a conclusion that there was "little evidence of strategic programme development and many programmes and projects are funded on an ad-hoc basis, resulting in a lack of sustainability and alignment with the companies' business objectives''.

Since then there have been positive changes in corporate philosophy but much more can be done. The concept of Corporate Social Entrepreneurship provides the framework for more sustainable community-development programmes and more responsible corporate citizenship.

• Richard Braithwaite is a consultant and social impact analyst