WEBINAR / Fashion’s huge waste problem – and what we can do about it
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WEBINAR / Fashion’s huge waste problem – and what we can do about it

Every week at Welcome Change, Ashoka talks to the world’s social entrepreneurs about what works, and what’s next. Here they present a conversation with Ashoka Fellow Jessica Schreiber, co-founder of FABSCRAP.

The fashion industry (and what we all buy as consumers) is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. That’s far more than air travel, for example. We tap Jessica Schreiber on the problem and how the industry is responding to shore up waste, in partnership with social entrepreneurs and changemakers. With sorting locations in NY, LA, and a new one opening in Philadelphia this fall, Jessica’s FABSCRAP works with 525 companies and 6,000 volunteers to shift industry norms and customer mindsets, and reminds us: “There are so many ways to reuse, recycle, redistribute, re-create, and repair items that we shouldn’t ignore or discard anything.”

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxgZ-BYeHVw[/embedyt]

The 5 most promising non-governmental projects in Lithuania for 2021
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The 5 most promising non-governmental projects in Lithuania for 2021

The most promising projects of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Lithuania have been announced. They have become 5 initiatives aimed at solving various social or cultural problems that are important for individual regions of the country or for Lithuania as a whole. The selected projects will be further developed in a special NGO Accelerator program.

The most promising NGO projects were selected after an intensive six-month training session. At the beginning of the year, a total of 10 carefully selected teams from 7 Lithuanian municipalities – Trakai, Širvintos, Švenčionys, Kėdainiai, Ukmergė, Šalčininkai and Elektrėnai – started the NGO Accelerator.

After the NGO Accelerator Commission evaluated the presentations of the participants’ projects prepared after the training, presented at the Pitch day event, the following were recognized as the most worthwhile to continue participating in the project and developing the ideas presented:

Kėdainiai District Women’s Crisis Center, which has created the initiative “Emotional Resistance Center” aimed at crisis prevention and strengthening women’s mutual help and support.

Krakiai Community Center, which develops social business, the community café, which sells the products of local farmers, carries out social, cultural, educational and voluntary activities that foster the culture of the Krakiai region.

LASS Pietvakarių centras, which has created the project “Sense of Tourism”, is designed to get to know the world through the senses of the blind – those who see are invited to experience the environment by touch, taste, smell and hearing.

The association “Kėdainiai Samaritans”, which together with the help of a local businessman provides assistance to the long-term unemployed, prepares, trains them and integrates them into the social environment.

Lina Baublienė and her project “Gather Lithuania” („Surink Lietuvą“), which aims to encourage people not only to travel around their country, but also to get to know its history, local people and discover new forms of travel.

The most promising 5 projects of Lithuanian NGOs this year were selected by the commission of the NGO Accelerator project initiated by the Kurk Lietuvai alumni network, consisting of Arūnė Matelytė, GovTech CEO, Gediminas Almantas, Chairman of the Board of the Open Lithuania Foundation, Marius Čiuželis, Founder of Marius Čiuželis Support and Charity Foundation and Silver Line, Justina Lukaševičiūtė, Head of the NGO Development Division of the Ministry of Social Security and Labor of the Republic of Lithuania, Arvydas Plėta, Innovation Partner of Katalista Ventures, and Greta Monstavičė, Head and Co-Founder of Katalista Ventures.

Photo gallery: https://bit.ly/3ugsZDz

The communication campaign is part of the project “Courage to Act and Change” and is funded by the Lithuanian Rural Network Technical Assistance Facility under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.

Article is prepared under the provided material HERE.

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This publication has been prepared within INDIGISE project. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

WEBINAR Competition in the Baltics – what to know in 2021? Before setting your business
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WEBINAR
Competition in the Baltics – what to know in 2021? Before setting your business

WEBINAR | Competition in the Baltics – what to know in 2021? Before setting your business

Agenda:

  • Recent trends and development in: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
  • Platform markets in the Baltics
  • Limiting the trade in the Baltics: pricing
  • Trade in the Baltics: distribution and tipical risks, opportunities?

WEBINAR moderated by Triinu Järviste, senior associate / TGS Baltic, Estonia

Speakers: Triinu Järviste, senior associate / TGS Baltic, Estonia Katri Paas-Mohando, senior associate / TGS Baltic, Estonia Dr. Lauras Butkevicius, partner, Head of EU, Competition & Regulatory specialisation group / TGS Baltic, Lithuania Māra Stabulniece-Veldruma, senior associate, Co-head of Competition practice group / TGS Baltic, Latvia Vladlena Rudusāne-Simiča, associate / TGS Baltic, Latvia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTD02OAocDM

Social entrepreneurship in Estonia: focus on helping people and promoting creative recycling
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Social entrepreneurship in Estonia: focus on helping people and promoting creative recycling

Associate professor Mari Kooskora, head of EBS’s Business Ethics Centre, represented the university in the Nordplus Horizontal project “Education for smart development of social entrepreneurship.” Here is an interview with Professor Kooskora by Geri Norai of Lithuania.

Social entrepreneurship in Estonia started evolving at more or less the same time as it did in Lithuania. Similarly there’s a lack of a legal framework for this type of business and support from government or private sector. Nevertheless, associate professor in Estonian Business School Mari Kooskora notices that despite many challenges her students are eager to start this kind of business in the future. What are the similarities and differences between social businesses in Lithuania and Estonia and what are the best-known social business initiatives in the neighboring country?

Mari Kooskora works in the field of business ethics and women empowerment in business. She notes that businesses, which took a social course and were aimed at solving some kind of social problems, started more than 100 years ago in Estonia. Some initiatives close to today’s definition of social entrepreneurship also occurred during the period of soviet occupation (for example ‘An Artell of Blind People’, although not officially. Forcing people to work on collective farms or for cooperatives during the soviet occupation years resulted in a lack of trust in collaboration and collective entrepreneurship in also post-soviet Estonia. Therefore, due to these negative connotations, cooperatives do not play as important role in social entrepreneurship sector as in some other countries. In 2003 the foundation „Good deed”’ was established in Estonia and in 2005 they started spreading the word about this kind of business activities more actively.

“Some steps were taken, but a legal framework for these enterprises still did not exist– they weren’t differentiated from other types of business. Majority of social enterprises work as non-profit associations or foundations” – says M Kooskora.

Tackling problems from waste to income of small farmers

The interviewee says most social enterprises in Estonia are tackling various humanitarian problems – health (quite often – mental health), security or education. Quite often, their target audience is the young population.

She names a few of the most known social enterprises in Estonia: “From A Friend to A Friend” (“Sõbralt sõbrale” – in Estonian) seeks people who can help disabled persons with everyday errands. Another very successful business model is tackling environmental issues – the recycling social enterprise “Re-use Centre” (“Uuskasutuskeskus” – in Estonian). The organization collects various unused objects from people, and creatively upcycles them by restoring or repairing them. Later on those objects are put on sale at an affordable price. The organization restores various items – from clothes to furniture and has become extremely popular in Estonia. They also support other social initiatives such as Kiusamisvaba Kool (an anti-bullying programme at schools).

Another social enterprise “Minutes of Stillness” (“Vaikuseminutid” – in Estonian) is focused on schoolchildren’s mental health and has already helped hundreds of kids.

 “SOS Children’s Village” and “Change Makers Academy” are also widely known social initiatives in Estonia, funded by foreign partners.

Another social enterprise – “Upside down selling point” (‘TagurpidiLavka”- in Estonian), established in 2009 collects various goods from farmers and sells them directly to consumers. This allows them to sell more fresh and natural meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, etc at fair prices, helping small-scale farmers to earn their wage and support local economy. This enterprise is an old one, it has been operating for many years.

Still lacks legal framework

“There are new initiatives on the way and some funding measures have been set for them. Still I must admit that social enterprises in Estonia are not doing as well as they could. This sector is developing, but a few years ago I’d have said that it would be more widespread by today,” – says M. Kooskora.

She thinks that the social business sector still (after 15 years of performing) lacks legal framework, financial support and various other resources.

“I think that social entrepreneurs face even more challenges than traditional entrepreneurs”, – says the representative of Estonian Business school.

When comparing situations in Lithuania and Estonia M. Kooskora said that there is a similar number of social enterprises in both countries (in 2019 there were approximately 100 social businesses in Lithuania). Lithuania got close to passing a Social business development law that was discussed by the stakeholders this summer. The social business concept was already approved in 2015.

Creativity and ability to change fast: the competitive edges of the social business

While social entrepreneurs struggle to keep their business going and to ensure the money flow to carry on, M. Kooskora sees this type of enterprise as the main form of future development.

“Because we have so many social issues. And this has pandemic created even more of them…. I predict that the number of social enterprises will increase, because some people lost their jobs due to the current situation and they will search for a new meaningful activity” – M. Kooskora said.

Professor of the Estonian Business School says some young people are starting their business while still at university and many of them choose social business.

“They are not so into earning big money, but they really care for the social problems around them. When I’m surrounded by such students, I may sometimes see the world through pink glasses” – M. Kooskora laughs.

But how could these well-meaning young people compete against big corporations focused only on profit, with hundreds of employers and huge headquarters?

“They are smaller, but they can develop faster, make rapid changes if they notice something is not working right, and are also more creative. Those are their competitive edges. Moreover, social entrepreneurship is their competitive advantage”, – says M. Kooskora.

Professor was one of the partners in the project “Education for smart development of social entrepreneurship”. During this project, M. Kooskora shared her experience in business ethics and Estonian social enterprise case studies with colleagues from Lithuanian non-governmental organization “Good will” and representatives of Vilnius university, so as with Finnish Association for Social Enterprises (ARVO).

Associate professor Mari Kooskora

Sources and photos: https://ebs.ee/

Social Economy entities from Pomorskie Region will be present at the St. Dominics Fair in Gdańsk, Poland!
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Social Economy entities from Pomorskie Region will be present at the St. Dominics Fair in Gdańsk, Poland!

Social Economy Support Centre from Gdańsk (dobrarobota.org) invites you to Pomorska Street in Gdańsk during the St. Dominics Fair in Gdańsk, Poland, where you will find stands of social economy entities from all over Pomerania! Our exhibitors will sell their products from July 24 to August 15, 2021, on Szeroka Street and Ołowianka Street. Social economy entities are workplaces employing people who cannot find a job or are excluded from the labour market for some reason, e.g. due to disability or homelessness.

What is the social economy? It’s the kind of economic activity where more than just profit is essential. These activities lead to the achievement of social goals. The social economy also supports the development of the local community and enables the social integration of socially excluded people.

By purchasing products and services of social economy entities, you can support people in need, co-create jobs and contribute to local development.

The exhibitors representing the Pomeranian social economy will include:

The exhibitors’ offer will be vast and varied:

  • food products (casseroles, cookies, lemonade, bio syrups, craft beer),
  • handicraft items (jewellery, ceramics, wooden boxes and chairs, paintings, etc.),
  • zero waste products (bags, backpacks, sachets),
  • soy candles and bath products,
  • clothing and antiques,
  • and many more.

Indeed everyone will find something for themselves! Check their fan page of Pomorskie Social Economy (https://www.facebook.com/pomorska.es/), will keep you updated on new exhibitors presenting their offer. The event is part of the project “Pomeranian social entrepreneurship system: coordination of the development of the social economy in the Pomeranian Voivodeship for 2019-2022”, implemented by the Regional Center for Social Policy of the Marshal’s Office.

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This publication has been prepared within INDIGISE project. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

YOUTH SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES
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YOUTH SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES

Numerous studies show that today’s young people are highly motivated to generate positive social change (Lewis, 2016; Punadi and Rizal, 2017). Social entrepreneurship may have great potential to mobilize youth to engage in efforts to achieve major social objectives, including employment creation, poverty reduction, inclusion and integration. Dedicated to serving the common good, social enterprises established by young people can directly contribute to the achievement of a number of Sustainable Development Goals (Holt and Littlewood, 2014).

What is it that enables youth to succeed or impedes their success as social entrepreneurs? This chapter explores the many factors and circumstances than can impact young people’s involvement in social entrepreneurship and their efforts to effect social change through social enterprises. Two key questions are addressed: What activities, settings and conditions (including support structures or the lack thereof) promote or impede the success of youth social entrepreneurship? What do practitioners, researchers and policy experts suggest is most needed in this field?

It is argued in this chapter that young people have significant social assets, including first-hand knowledge of their communities, and that they are naturally disposed and uniquely positioned to provide innovative solutions to social problems. However, ageism and institutional bottlenecks limit opportunities for young people to launch and develop their own social enterprises, which means that young people’s chances of success are often linked to external factors over which they have little or no control. With evidence indicating that tailored support can increase the quantity and quality of successful social enterprises, it is suggested that policies and programmes be strengthened or put in place to support young people throughout the life cycle of a social enterprise. The chapter also examines how intergenerational approaches to social entrepreneurship (such as mentoring) and formal and informal education can help young people fill business-related knowledge gaps they may have due to their age.

Please download the full text HERE.

 

 

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This publication has been prepared within INDIGISE project. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Read the latest guidelines “How to stimulate social entrepreneurship via non-formal and informal learning methods”
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Read the latest guidelines “How to stimulate social entrepreneurship via non-formal and informal learning methods”

Although young people constitute a substantial part of citizens worldwide, they are not fully recognised in policies and strategies, as a separate group of interest. They play a crucial role in societal and economic development and are often referred to as „agents of change“. Simultaneously, the unemployment of youth is one of the greatest global challenges.

Social entrepreneurship is a way to address this problem, contributing to sustainable and inclusive job creation.

Existing forms of youth engagement in economic activities are not sufficient and often not adequate for the targeted audience. Entrepreneurship education has very formal frames and structures, and it is rarely fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and attitudes among youngsters. There is an agreement, however, on the strong impact of youth work in entrepreneurship and culture. It develops transversal skills, gives an opportunity to exercise skills in practice and increases cultural activities which influence young people’s creativity.

Youth work and non-formal, as well as informal learning, play an important role in developing young people’s creative and innovative potential, including entrepreneurial skills underlined in recent youth policy and programmes at the EU and national levels. This brings us to the question of ”How to engage young people in this process successfully?”. The youth workers play a crucial role in the educational processes by introducing different initiatives (like youth cooperative activities) to the youth and providing information and advice on how to make a decision and provide the risk assessment, be creative and understand the market’s reality. But furthermost they help to develop social skills: establishing relations, leadership skills, conflict management and others.

  1. The first chapter of the guide introduces social entrepreneurship and its importance for developing the skills and competencies of youth.
  2. The second one presents the forms of learning methods: formal, informal and non-formal, their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.
  3. The next chapter reflects on the qualitative research carried out by the project partners and presents points of view of experts invited to participate, aiming at explaining the ways in which social entrepreneurship of youth can be stimulated.
  4. The fourth, last chapter describes the situation in the partner countries, as for approaches towards social entrepreneurship and interesting initiatives that are undertaken.

The guide “How to stimulate social entrepreneurship via nonformal and informal learning methods“ is being developed to assist youth workers (teachers, youth leaders, etc.). It identifies methods, techniques, and strategies for working with youth and promotes a holistic approach to young people’s entrepreneurial attitudes.

Download the document here: Guidelines “How to stimulate social entrepreneurship via non-formal and informal learning methods”

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50 Social Entrepreneurs Changing the World
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50 Social Entrepreneurs Changing the World

Before we jump into a list of some of our favorite social entrepreneurs, it’s worth a brief mention of what social entrepreneurship is in the first place.

Social entrepreneurship, as a movement and as a term, is moving aggressively into the mainstream. And with this rise in popularity, more and more change agents are racing to the scene, as well as racing to define what social entrepreneurship is and who social entrepreneurs are.

In brief, social entrepreneurs are business people who use their business to create social value. These do-gooders are not funneled into the public sector, but in fact make up an increasing portion of the private sector. In addition to earning a profit, and equally if not more importantly, their businesses respond to social issues or social needs they see in the world around them.

When the status quo isn’t good enough, these change-makers take action and show us (and the world) that when businesses understand social value creation as central to their company’s purpose, that can lead to large scale solutions to local and global problems.

Check out our Social Entrepreneurship 101 Guide for a more comprehensive definition of social entrepreneurship where you’ll get a more in-depth look at how a few different people are defining it, where social entrepreneurship came from, and what its role in society might be now and in the future. You can also take a loot at our list of social entrepreneurs books for more resources.

More information is available HERE.

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This publication has been prepared within INDIGISE project. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

The Ultimate Guide to Social Entrepreneurship
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The Ultimate Guide to Social Entrepreneurship

1. What is Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship uses business to offer new ideas for wide-scale social and environmental impact.

Social entrepreneurship unites the passion of a social mission with an image of business-like discipline, innovation, and determination. Many social entrepreneurs launch whole new ventures applying innovative and often risk-taking approaches to create scalable solutions, which includes inventing new products and services. Others join existing social enterprises aligned with their interests and passions.

Entrepreneurs create sustainable organizations, which can be set up as nonprofit or traditional companies, with the overall goal to achieve large scale, sustainable and systematic change through new ventures.

2. Nonprofits

Nonprofit models that rely on an earned income stream generate income from their own activities to sustain the organization. While these nonprofits might also receive supplemental funding from grants and donations, they tend to be less dependent on these sources.

3. For-profit Companies

For-profit companies have a social and/or environmental mission embedded into their business model. These companies measure themselves by a double (financial and social) or triple (financial, social, and environmental) bottom line. Some go as far as to write these missions into their legal structure via emerging models like the B Corporation.More information is available here.

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This publication has been prepared within INDIGISE project. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Handbook for trainers in Social Entrepreneurship
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Handbook for trainers in Social Entrepreneurship

The Institute of Entrepreneurship Development presents the handbook created for trainers regarding the training courses in Social Economy and Entrepreneurship.

The educational material was created in the framework of the European project ERASMUS+ entitled “Open Mind – gamified platform and open online course in Social Entrepreneurship for female learners and students from diverse fields of study”.

Open Mind project focus on the lack of entrepreneurship skills, especially seeing the differences in skills between genders, attempting to boost entrepreneurship and creativity through an innovative gamified social entrepreneurship course.

The training material which developed for social entrepreneurship, concerns a lot of individuals across Europe, trying to map the skills that are needed to start a business as well as it pursues to enhance employment in this sector.

This special educational material has created with the participation of all partners of the project, however, especially iED edited the graphic design of the handbook.

You can watch the entire educational material completely free of charge HERE.

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This publication has been prepared within INDIGISE project. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.