“Szafa serc”/Wardrobe of Hearts/ Charity Shop is a new social initiative based in Tczew, Poland, which started its’ activity in June this year.
Recently we’ve visited “Szafa Serc”, as we were interested in finding out on our own how the 1st charity shop in Tczew works. We were amazed by the warm welcome, the genuine and heartwarming social idea behind the shop and the fantastic community gathered around the shop. Owners not only support women who had trouble with finding a suitable workplace when having a small child but also engage the local community and in the local community, i.e. by helping the family foster care located nearby. Read more about this great place, and do not miss your chance to stop by if you visit Tczew in Pomorskie Region, Poland, in the near future.
It is a place with a soul, where things get a second life, people get new career opportunities, and the natural environment is taken care of. The shop was founded on the initiative of 3 active women, citizens of Tczew, who represent the “Prosto z Serca” Association, in cooperation with Social Entrepreneurship Supporting Centre “Dobra Robota” and the local community who care for their weakest members and sustainable development.
The idea of the charity shop is to help others. “Szafa serc” sells new and used items donated by organizations or individuals – clothes, small interior furnishings, toys etc. It offers articles at very affordable prices and good quality, often branded companies. Therefore, it contributes to balancing the social difference in local society. The basic principle of the charity shop is to donate the entire amount of money earned (after deducting the costs of maintaining the shop) for statutory purposes.Profits from the shop will go in financial or in-kind assistance to people in need and a difficult life situation. The initiative will permanently support heating space for homeless men in Tczew, and in addition, every month, it will choose specific institutions or families to give them the support needed.
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.
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:
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.
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.
European Commission, together with the European Investment Bank and FI.Compas has prepared the latest version of the report presenting the financial landscape for social economy actors in Poland.
From the Fi.Compass website:
Financial instruments under ESF have long been supporting Social Economy Enterprises in Poland. This updated case study focuses on the National Fund for Social Entrepreneurship, showing its development over two programming periods, and its continued importance in providing affordable finance and soft support to the Polish social economy. Furthermore, the updated case study reports on the fast adaptation of the financial instrument in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, and its consequent ability to respond to changing needs.
This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. 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 competition for granting the Certificate of Quality of Social and Solidarity 2020 is aimed at awarding those entities that successfully combine economic activity with social commitment. The awarded certificates will contribute to building the brand of specific entities and the entire social economy sector. One of the categories will also include local governments that stand out in supporting the social economy and promoting the ideas of social cohesion and solidarity. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the announcement of the results of the Competition will take place in the form of an online report, among others. on the website www.znakjakosci.mrpips.gov.pl and on the social networking site Facebook. The competition for granting the Certificate of Quality of Social and Solidarity 2020 is organized as part of the project System of certification with quality marks for social economy entities and local government units, co-financed from EU funds, implemented in partnership by:
Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy – the leader of the partnership;
Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego – partner;
European Meeting Center – Nowy Staw Foundation – partner.
Competition categories
As part of this year’s – third edition of the Competition, certificates will be awarded in five categories:
a) Category I. Debut of the year.
b) Category II. The best employer.
c) Category III. Market success.
d) Category IV. PES project co-financed from ESF repayable funds.
e) Category V. Socially responsible local government.
Here you can see the full list of 2020 award winners, including some entities already present in our www.socialenterprisebsr.net database! Congratulations!
This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. 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.
Within the InDigiSE Erasmus+ project we aim to bring youth the best knowledge and expertise on how to establish and run a successful youth social enterprise. One of the articles we recommend is was published in “Financial Internet Quarterly”, Volume 15: Issue 3, “The Polish Model of a Social Economy with the Financial aspects and Profits at Background – from the General Theory to Practice” by Katarzyna J. Chojnacka 1 from the Jan Kochanowski University (JKU) in Kielce, Poland.
You can see the abstract below and read the whole text here:
This article contains main trends, assumptions and thesis about the social economy in Poland, which the author agree with. The main goal of it, is to bring together fundamental facts depicting the situation of the social economy in Poland (in theory and in practice) with the conditions that must be fulfilled in order for it to grow (also from the financial side). In the article, the aspect of profit in a social enterprise, was especially emphasized. To describe the topic the descriptive methods were used. The graphical analysis refers to the last three years, but to understand how the social economy operates in practice, author uses description of the data from 1999 to now, in this paper.
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 Galar Gdanski Foundation was founded in 2018 to activate people from social exclusion, nurturing Polish culture and national heritage, and promoting the history of Gdańsk.
In 2018, the Galar Gdanski Foundation started a new tourist service – CityTour – “Galar along with Gdansk”. In 2019 we launched a new route – “Galar along with shipyard” – as the only commercial unit in Gdańsk we offer tours of strictly shipyard waters. The cruises take place on replicas of historical wooden boats from 17th century, which for 400 years was sailing on the Motława River with all the goods, such as coal, salt, soap, grain etc.
In 2019 We started professional internships for youth from the child care home. We provide them with all necessary training and give work during the holiday season as a skipper. In 2020, we want to expand our project by activating seniors as mentors for young people. The seniors and youth will make a boat crew. We expect young people to get good practices by working with seniors and to draw from their huge life experience.
Our future plans are to build a living museum of boatbuilding.
In 2019, as the only one organization in the region, we were awarded by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy the 2019 Quality Mark of Social and Solidarity Economy in the Debut of the Year category.
MISSION – We are residents of the Tri-City who want to develop tourism and promote their region, educate and activate residents mainly based on Galar cruises and create space for employment by people at risk of social exclusion. In our activities, we are guided by openness, partner cooperation, creativity and social solidarity.
We hope that the presented social businesses will encourage you to start your social economy-related activity. If you wish to know more about our “InDigiSE” Erasmus+ project or you would like to your social business initiative to be promoted on the website, just let us know. You can contact BISER Team or any other IndigiSe partner in your area https://socialenterprisebsr.net/partners/. You can read more about the project here: https://biser-en.org.pl/indigise-project-adjusting-to-and-supporting-youth-on-socialenterprisebsr-net/
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.
We hope that the proposed scholarly article related to social businesses will help you to find the necessary information in order to start your social economy-related activity. If you wish to know more about our “InDigiSE” Erasmus+ project or you would like to your social business initiative to be promoted on the website, just let us know. You can contact BISER Team or any other IndigiSe partner in your area https://socialenterprisebsr.net/partners/. You can read more about the project here: https://biser-en.org.pl/indigise-project-adjusting-to-and-supporting-youth-on-socialenterprisebsr-net/
Thus, this month we recommend you to read the latest article by Agnieszka Pacut, Department of Management of Public Organisations, Cracow University of Economics, 31-510 Krakow, Poland. This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Theory, Research and Practical Applications
email to the Author: agnieszka.pacut@uek.krakow.pl
Pacut, A. Drivers toward Social Entrepreneurs Engagement in Poland: An Institutional Approach. Adm. Sci.2020, 10, 5.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the factors that influence the involvement of individuals in social entrepreneurship in Poland from an institutional economics perspective. The research is based on exploratory data analysis using qualitative data covering 22 interviews with social entrepreneurs and 10 representatives of stakeholders from Poland as well as observations and secondary data. By employing an inductive approach and a case study methodology, it can be stated that the involvement of social entrepreneurs is stimulated by a complex set of factors. Moreover, the results show the importance of the institutional environment for social enterprises in Poland, including the impact of formal and informal institutions on their development. The findings contribute to enhancing the knowledge on factors determining the establishment and development of social enterprises in Poland given the institutional economics perspective.
Keywords: social enterprise; social entrepreneurship; social entrepreneur; factors; institutional environment; Poland
Full article can be find here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/10/1/5 or download it here:
Today we present you the article about CLIPSTER – is a co-living/co-working startup accelerator program in Gdansk, Poland. 2020 will see the continuation of the international Clipster pre-acceleration programme (launched in 2015) offering a co-living option, first of its kind in Poland. Selected on the basis of their applications, candidates from Poland and all over the world are invited to Gdańsk where they are provided with co-living and co-working space and are offered opportunity to participate in training courses and mentoring. Participants are able to test their business ideas in a creative, international team. Clipster won the Polish finals of the Central European Startup Awards and was named the best incubator and acceleration programme in Poland, taking the second position in Central Europe.
Several people have decided to live in one place, even though they didn’t know each other earlier. Some of them have an idea regarding a business, others, skills in which they can help support these ideas. Their home is Clipster, in Gdansk. Currently there is room for three more people. Clipster was founded by Alfabeat and the Gdansk Entrepreneurship Incubator STARTER. Both are organizations which, for years, have been helping develop ideas into businesses, supporting start-ups created under their wings to achieve success.
This unique place was formed in the Culture Garrison, a new hot spot on the cultural map of Gdansk. Clipster is made-up of single and double microapartments with a kitchen annex and bathroom. Why micro? To give the residents a place to eat and sleep, without encouraging them to create their own private den. The entire basis on which Clipster is founded on encourages Clipsters to spend as much time together in a common room dedicated to work.
Who is the ideal candidate?
“Clipster is unique because it supports co-living, meaning, all participants of the project live together”, says Kinga Kuczynska from STARTER. “We’d like to invite all individuals who have an idea for their business, even those who might not have an idea but want to find one.”
At first, it’s possible to live at Clipster for three months. After that, the residents’ activity and development is verified and based on this their stay can be lengthened by three or even six months.
“At Clipster we offer an easy and harmless entry into the business world. Three months can be spent here without any commitment and can help answer vital questions such as: Is a career in a start-up fit for me? Will I find my team here? Maybe I belong in a corporation?” explains Jan Wyrwynski from Alfabeat. “However, a start-up is an obligation for a few years. If you receive money from an incubator, you can’t back away. At Clipster, ideas can mature and they don’t necessarily have to achieve success. If the idea is interesting though, we will invite its founders to form a business with our help.”
Entering the business world with support from Clipster is very intensive. At the moment, the process of connecting the residents and mentors into pairs is underway. Individual tutors are made-up of people who have already had success introducing an innovative product into the market. Among them are investors, advisors, managers and participants of international projects.
The residents will have to take part in weekly courses. The courses will go over teachings of business models, presentations, how to engage investors, and sales and marketing.
Jan Wyrwinski also underlines the weight of Clipster’s location: “The entire purpose is to mix different backgrounds which were exclusive up until now. The Culture Garrision gives us such possibilities. On the other side of the wall we have a gallery, right next us we have a music club and not far from here students of the Music Academy and Technical University have their housing.” counts Wyrwinski. “The more things going on in this melting pot, the better. We want to enrich the start-up scene in the Tri-City which currently is only Polish. Clipster is a way to bring in foreigners. At the moment we are waiting for confirmation from a very interesting candidate from Moldova.”
“The interactions and what goes on between participants is very important.” underlines Kuczynska. “We are very interested in what comes out of this combination of energy, ideas and characters.”
From the beginning of 2015, 10 people have already moved into the Clipster microapartments. The next three will move-in shortly. Tomasz Gabrys, a citizen of Gdansk, an alumni and electronical engineer from the Technical University of Gdansk, was the first.
“My work is to analyze the market for various patents and new technologies. Of most interest to me is the part where we have to check the demand for such a product and creating it, already after we have the technology and team”, says Tomasz. “I have participated in patent creation process several times. I know where people usually get held up. Most often it’s what we want to create in Clipster — a team of competent people who are able to spend a lot of time together not “jumping to each other’s throats”, however, stimulating mutual development.
He counts on mentors and the huge contact base. “Contact some of the rare Polish and European experts with specialist knowledge is incredibly difficult”, stipulates Tomasz. “When someone opens the door for you, the specialists will to help is much larger and it saves you much energy.
Another resident, Piotr Bialobrzeski is from Bialystok. He is an architect, who after his studies at the Technical University of Gdansk, decided to stay and can’t imagine living elsewhere.
“I spend my time putting together projects, however, for quite some time now I’ve been thinking of a start-up. I used to work with NGOs in creating various events where I was responsible for finding sponsors”, he says. “I want to create a web platform connecting both worlds, however, it this is a project completely separated from my own industry. I have to learn everything from the beginning and there is no better place for me to do that than Clipster where I can meet people who already have achieved their ideas. I count on their support and inspiration.”
Other than this, Piotr would like to find at least two residents who would like to create this platform with him.
Robert Rozanski landed in Clipster straight from Manchester, where he studied and started his doctorate in artificial intelligence.
“I came back to Poland because my scholarship ended and life here is cheaper. I am from Elblag, however, I was looking for residence in Gdansk and I found Clipster’s offer”, says Robert. “I have no idea what will become of my stay here, we’ll see. If someone will have an idea for their business which will require the use of new technology, I’ll help. In December I plan on handing in my doctorate thesis. Being here I can simultaneously expand my knowledge and contacts in the business world in which up until this point I didn’t have any relation with. Business and the academy seem very interesting, however, they restrict some flexibility. I would like to take some time to think about where my vision of life fits best.
The founders of Clipster plan on expanding the idea of co-living for the creative minds in Gdansk. A project on a much larger scale than Clipster will be developed in the same location — the Culture Garrison.
“Co-living is a fresh trend, present in only a few cities in the world for a few dozen months. The development of such a new idea in Gdansk could help position our city as an important place on the start-up map of the world”, underlines Kinga Kuczynska.
If you’re interested in knowing more on Gdańsk Business Incubator “STARTER”, operated by the Gdańsk Entrepreneurial Foundation and their great initiatives visit their website: https://www.inkubatorstarter.pl/en
Project Social entrepreneurship development in the Baltic Sea region SEBS2 is executed under the Erasmus+ program and co-financed by the European Union.
Responsible for the content solely publisher/presenter; it does not reflect the views of the European Commission or any related financial body. Those institutions do not bear responsibility for the information set out in this website.
Baltic Institute for Regional Affairs from Gdynia, Poland encourages you to use the maps created by the Pomorskie Region Regional Center for Social Policy. This planning is a systematized compendium of knowledge about economic entities related to services in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.
In response to the dynamic economic situation of the society in the Regional Center for Social Policy region in Gdańsk, I noticed that you create reading tools as well as up-to-date information about economic entities in the voivodship. The main idea behind the creation of maps was to facilitate contact with these entities. We also inform you that we provide you with a map that will be updated regularly. At the moment, it contains locations of nearly 300 points in Pomerania.
Details are in the table below.
ENTITY NUMBER OF ENTITIES
CENTRES FOR SOCIAL INTEGRATION 22
SOCIAL INTEGRATION CLUBS 16
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FACILITIES 2
SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISE 67
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY WORKSHOPS 49
SOCIAL COOPERATIVES 71
DISABLED WORKERS COOPERATIVES 7
SOCIAL ENTERPRISES 58
This content is shared as a part of the SEBS2 Erasmus+ project activities by Polish partner – BISER www.biser.org.pl actively promoting social economy entities and development in Pomorskie region to the Baltic Sea stakeholders.
Project Social entrepreneurship development in the Baltic Sea region SEBS2 is executed under the Erasmus+ program and co-financed by the European Union.
Responsible for the content solely publisher/presenter; it does not reflect the views of the European Commission or any related financial body. Those institutions do not bear responsibility for the information set out in this website.
During the webinar, the guidelines and recommendations of the amended program of assistance for socially and professionally excluded persons addressed to social employment entities and NGOs were discussed, as well as the rules of the “From exclusion to activation” competition announced by the Department of Social and Solidarity Economy at the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, along with how to properly complete the offer in the competition.
Full information about the programme: https://www.ekonomiaspoleczna.gov.pl/download/files/Zatrudnienie_socjalne/Program_Od_wykluczenia_do_aktywizacji.pdf
See the webinar (in Polish) here:
https://youtu.be/k1TFH060ydo
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