I still remember picking up that issue of National Geographic when I was younger – the one with the Afghan girl with the piercing green eyes. She literally opened my eyes to the world outside my knowledge. From that point onwards, I would try to find pictures that would correspond with both the happy and the tragic events of the day; I knew that the picture itself said much more about the event than the attached commentary ever could.

When I was told about Toronto for Acumen’s Dignity in Focus event in Toronto, I was intrigued. Suddenly, my interest in photography and passion for social movements were able to meet. I did not know what to expect. Getting to the venue, I saw pictures from all over the world. Pictures that captivated emotions for various reasons - some were joyous, others were thought provoking. The event and the pictures delivered more than an auction; it provided those in the venue to subconsciously assess the difference between first world and third world problems. A first world problem is being outbid for a picture that would look amazing in the room beside your big screen television. A third world problem is not knowing or caring that your picture is being taken in the first place because you have to wonder where your next meal is coming from.

I left the venue with conflicting feelings. I was happy that I was able to see both sides of the social problem, but sad that there was not much I could do about it. I was enlightened that I could contribute in some way, but disappointed that this was a problem in the first place. I was happy to know that there are mechanisms already in place that can help rectify the issue.

One such vehicle is impact investing. Impact investors focus on exactly that – the social impact of the investment when deciding whether to commit to a particular project. However, unlike conventional investments where the return is monetary, impact investing yields a positive human return on investment (whether it be through increased social awareness or through funding research that can produce positive environmental benefits). The twist between conventional investing and impact investing is the recognition that there is more to life than just mere financial transactions. We need positive social transactions.

We need each other to help solve the simple, yet endemic, problems that plague our society. There is a personal connection between those that can help solve these issues, and those who need the help. The Chinese have a word that best encapsulates our need to work together: guanxi. The common definition of guanxi points to “the benefits gained from social connections...from extended family, school friends, workmates and members of common clubs or organizations”.

In many ways, Dignity in Focus showcases what guanxi is all about. It is not uncommon for people to cultivate an intricate web of guanxi relationships; we do it everyday with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other networking tools. We did it at Dignity. Sometimes it helps to be reminded that there is more to life than what we immediately see; that a picture can be worth more than a thousand words, and that if we want to make social movements happen to benefit the world, we need to start with ourselves and then reach out to our networks.

Note: Toronto for Acumen has partnered with SocialFinance.ca to produce a series of posts following on from the Dignity in Focus photo fundraiser held earlier this month. This series introduces a host of new faces to social finance, placing their thoughts about Dignity in Focus in the context of impact investing.

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