About the We make transition! project
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 About the We make transition! project

Local and regional authorities have a crucial role in driving resilience – societal ability to adapt and react. Due to the complexity of sustainability challenges, there is a need to mobilise all levels of society to create and implement solutions that enable systemic changes in our unsustainable practices. Civil society actors – associations, social entrepreneurs, cooperatives, communities, individuals – can have a pioneering role in enhancing ecological and social sustainability.

We make transition! project engages a great number of regional and local authorities, civil society, and other innovation actors from the Baltic Sea region. Partners from six countries cooperate with altogether 12 cities and municipalities in implementing local transition arena workshop processes including co-creation of a joint vision, pathways, concrete solutions, and initiatives that enhance the cooperation with civil society actors. The topics of the processes focus on either 1) sustainable lifestyle, 2) agriculture & food, 3) biodiversity, or 4) circular & sharing economy. The main output of the project will be a practical manual for applying the transition management approach to make strategy processes such as climate plans, roadmaps, and local strategies more interactive to involve also civil society actors.

On this platform we invite you to read and comment our publications including:

  • Case studies on civil society making sustainability transitions

  • Baltic Sea region sustainability vision and recommendations co-created by a transnational group of change agents

  • How to improve cooperation between local authorities and civil society actors? – a transnational gap analysis.

  • Manual for applying the transition arena method for inclusive governance (available later).

Publication: More about the project

New educational modules for social entrepreneurs are available
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New educational modules for social entrepreneurs are available

The social economy is a business model that works for the future of Europe. Within the RevitaLESE project, we have developed several educational models to strengthen European social enterprises, offer inspiration to the next generation of social entrepreneurs and educate about the necessary steps needed to ensure a more sustainable society. 

Closing the RevitaLese project (https://revitalese.eu/), we would like to share developed training modules for the promotion of social entrepreneurship, which are available in several EU languages and video instructions for their use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= OPkolu_KR54

A short two-year summary of the project is available here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hHc6MNTJwA
Share, use, and learn!

Staying Resilient: 8 Ways to Prevent Burnout Working in Social Economy

Staying Resilient: 8 Ways to Prevent Burnout Working in Social Economy

Staying resilient while working in a social enterprise requires adopting unconventional strategies to avoid burnout. While social entrepreneurs often face unique challenges that can lead to burnout, including working with limited resources, managing complex projects, and balancing multiple stakeholders, there are many ways to prevent burnout beyond taking breaks and practicing self-care. Here are eight strategies to help social entrepreneurs stay energized and motivated while making a positive social impact!

1. Connect with Nature 

Social entrepreneurs can benefit from spending time in nature, whether it’s going for a walk in the park, hiking in the mountains, or simply spending time in a garden. Research has shown that being in nature can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase creativity. By incorporating nature into their work routine, social entrepreneurs can recharge and prevent burnout. 

2. Practice Gratitude 

Cultivating a sense of gratitude can help social entrepreneurs maintain a positive mindset and avoid burnout. By taking time each day to reflect on what they are grateful for, social entrepreneurs can shift their focus from what they lack to what they have. This can help them stay motivated and energized, even during challenging times. 

3. Develop a Personalized Self-Care Plan 

Self-care is important for preventing burnout, but it’s important to tailor it to one’s individual needs and preferences. Social entrepreneurs can develop a personalized self-care plan by identifying the activities and practices that help them feel energized and relaxed. This can include things like practicing mindfulness, taking a bath, listening to music, or spending time with loved ones. By prioritizing self-care and incorporating it into their daily routine, social entrepreneurs can prevent burnout and stay resilient. 

4. Promote Mental Health Awareness 

Social entrepreneurs can prevent burnout by promoting mental health awareness within their organization and in their community. This can include organizing workshops on stress management, offering counseling services to employees, and advocating for mental health policies and resources. By prioritizing mental health, social entrepreneurs can create a supportive and inclusive work environment that promotes well-being and resilience. 

5. Cultivate Positive Relationships 

Building positive relationships with colleagues, mentors, and supporters can help social entrepreneurs prevent burnout by providing a sense of community and support. Social entrepreneurs can cultivate positive relationships by attending networking events, seeking out mentors and advisors, and participating in online communities. By connecting with others who share their passion and vision, social entrepreneurs can stay motivated and resilient.  

6. Embrace Flexibility 

Social entrepreneurs can prevent burnout by embracing flexibility in their work schedule and approach. This can include working from home, setting flexible deadlines, and adopting agile project management methodologies. By embracing flexibility, social entrepreneurs can reduce stress, increase productivity, and prevent burnout. 

7. Create Meaningful Rituals 

Creating meaningful rituals can help social entrepreneurs stay grounded and connected to their mission. This can include things like lighting a candle before starting work, taking a moment to reflect on their purpose before a meeting, or writing a daily affirmation. By creating meaningful rituals, social entrepreneurs can reinforce their values and stay motivated. 

8. Foster a Culture of Innovation 

Social entrepreneurs can prevent burnout by fostering a culture of innovation within their organization. This can include encouraging employees to experiment with new ideas, providing opportunities for professional development, and rewarding creative thinking. By promoting innovation, social entrepreneurs can stay engaged, motivated, and resilient. 

To sum up, preventing burnout is crucial for social entrepreneurs to sustain their positive impact on the world. Combining both conventional and unconventional strategies can help them stay motivated and committed to their mission. As social enterprises address vital social and environmental issues, it’s essential to prioritize our well-being to continue making a positive impact. Let’s take action and implement these strategies to ensure we can continue making a difference in the world.

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Original article available on Revitalese.eu website.

How does Social Entrepreneurship relate with Sustainable Development Goals?

How does Social Entrepreneurship relate with Sustainable Development Goals?

Social entrepreneurship is the process by which individuals, startups and entrepreneurs develop and fund solutions that directly address social issues. Organizations that are active in the social economy sector are sometimes confused with non-profit organizations, but in fact they are not profit-driven but focus on creating social or environmental changes.  

In this context, the key parameters of social entrepreneurship are social benefit, democratic and transparent governance, fair economic relations and structures, and all this, implemented with credibility, promoting social contribution and collective action. 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The 17 SDGs are linked – meaning that action in one area affects outcomes in others, in most practices economic development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.

While the SDGs are horizontal, several specific SDGs relate directly to social issues:  

  • SDG 1: Zero poverty – End all forms of poverty, everywhere. 

  • SDG 3: Good health and well-being – Ensure a life of health and well-being promote well-being for all, at all ages. 

  • SDG 4: Quality education – Ensure free, equal and equitable access to quality education for all, for all free, free and free education by promoting opportunities for lifelong learning. 

  • SDG 5: Gender equality – Achieve gender equality and gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. 

  • SDG 10: Fewer inequalities within and between countries 

Social Economy organisations’ activities are making visible the impact of their ideas in diverse areas. Social Economy complements countries direct actions to provide quality social services in a cost-effective way. It also complements their efforts to integrate young people and disadvantaged groups into the labour market and society at large and contributes to the diversity of corporate forms, increasing citizens’ and consumers’ choices and the quality of products/services. At the same time, Social Economy’s approaches contribute to the green and digital transition by providing sustainable goods and services, bridging the digital divide and facilitating the green transition.  

These organizations contribute to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN at national and European level, as their activities fight poverty, lead to sustainable cities and communities, responsible production and consumption and sustainable development financing initiatives, while securing sustainable planet for generations to come.  

Original article available on Revitalese.eu website.

Header photo by Prado on Unsplash

How to write a press release to achieve social impact?

How to write a press release to achieve social impact?

A press release is an effective tool to disseminate information to the media and the public about important events, developments, and initiatives. With the right approach, a press release can be a powerful tool to achieve social impact and bring attention to critical issues. Here are some tips on how to write a press release to achieve social impact. 

First, start with a compelling headline. The headline is the first thing people will see, so it needs to grab their attention. Make sure it is clear, concise, and highlights the key message of the press release. 

Focus on the “why”. When writing a press release, it’s essential to explain why the event, initiative, or development is important. What social impact will it have? What problem is it addressing? Make sure you convey the significance of your message and the importance of your influence.

Furthermore, you should provide the context of initiative, action, or event you are writing about. Although you know everything about your topic and you think it’s easy to understand it, your potential audience’s maybe not that into it. So – don’t assume that your audience knows all the background information. Explain the problem or issue you’re addressing. Try to do it in a simple way so that everyone can understand it.

One of the important things is using quotes. Including quotes from relevant people can add credibility to your press release and help to humanize the message. Use quotes from experts, stakeholders, or people who have been directly impacted by the issue. Try to have a main character in your story. 

Also, don’t be an expert or a poet. Avoid using jargon or technical language that may be difficult for the public to understand. Avoid words that beautify the topic too. Be real in approaching your topic. Use clear, concise language that is easy to read and digest. Don’t forget to send some visuals too. Visuals such as photos or videos can help to bring your message to life and make it more engaging. Make sure you have permission to use any visuals you include. It’s also desirable that you have people on your photos and/or videos – people appreciate personification.

In conclusion, writing a press release that achieves social impact requires a clear and concise message that explains the significance of your event, initiative, or development. Including quotes, visuals, and distributing it on social media can also help to amplify your message. By following these tips, you can create a press release that has a lasting impact and raises awareness about critical social issues.

Original article available on Revitalese.eu website.

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Images by Thom Milkovic , Us Wah on Unsplash

How to advance gender equality through the social economy? 

How to advance gender equality through the social economy? 

The social economy is an essential field in promoting gender equality. In most countries, women often make up more than 60% of the workforce, and gaps in leadership and pay have been reported lower. It is because social economy organisations prioritise people over profit and embody values such as solidarity, inclusivity, equality, and democratic governance. Therefore, the social economy field is an excellent example of how to start advancing gender equality in the wider economy. 

Women’s jobs are of higher quality, offer better stability, and have smaller wage gaps. In fact, gender gaps in pay and leadership are much lower in the social economy, especially in comparison to other economic fields. In most cases, women earn only around 6% less than their male colleagues. However, lower pay gaps are not the only thing attracting women. Other motivational factors are more resilient jobs, and the fact that the share of women in management positions in many social economy enterprises is higher than in the broader economy. This means that women represent a larger share of managers than in the total labour force in most European countries. Therefore, women are really more likely to become managers in social economy enterprises. Overall, it shows that the social economy can inspire the broader economy through principles of primacy of people or profit and more democratic and inclusive modes of governance. 

Another point is that the social economy puts people over profit for equity, solidarity, and mutuality. The promotion of such important values makes the social economy boost the value of traditionally female or women’s roles and stimulate more sustainable practices. In the social economy, labour conditions are generally more favourable to the reconciliation of family life and work obligations, which is an essential factor for women beyond their salary and power. Moreover, the majority of the enterprises offer material and parental leave, and around three-quarters offer sickness leave. Therefore, this is another crucial condition that fosters an inclusive working environment, promoting gender equality. 

Ultimately, the social economy is an excellent field for women as it offers opportunities to transition from informal to formal employment. It is also a much better field than other economies, as it increases women’s participation in the labour force by either supplying standard jobs to women or providing essential care and education services that enable women to participate in the economy. Furthermore, it applies a gender lens and more sustainable approaches to doing business, reducing gender gaps in leadership and pay.

 However, an important fact must be highlighted: even though women are in a better situation in social economy companies than in other companies, there is still a long way to go.  

Original article available on Revitalese.eu website! 

Source: OECD’s data

Social Enterprise and The Green Transition 

Social Enterprise and The Green Transition 

In recent years, we’ve seen a pretty revolutionary cultural shift from consumers, from one of securing the best product for the lowest price to one of searching out products that they know are kind to both people and the planet. Additional to that, consumers have been shown to relish the feeling of community that comes with this pattern of consumption, bearing in mind an increased environmental conscience. National and international laws, regulations, policies and politics are all motivated more and more by the desire to be part of the fight against climate change. 

As a result, the promise of a green economy which improves human well-being and builds social equity while reducing environmental risks and scarcities is incredibly attractive. Seen as an impactful alternative to our current economic model, which primarily produces profits from the extraction and exploitation of essential resources, an inclusive green economy has the potential to challenge inequalities, discourage waste, avoid resource scarcities, and improve outcomes to the environment and human health. 

In the last ten years, the concept of the green economy has become a strategic goal for many governments. By transforming their economies into supportive mechanisms for sustainability, these countries will be better prepared to take on the major challenges of the upcoming century. 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, is seen by many as a fundamental basis for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. At its core are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. These goals reinforce the social enterprise viewpoint that there is no such thing as real climate justice without the economic justice that underpins it. 

Social enterprises are seen as a key vehicle towards the transition to a post-carbon emitting future. As long as they have existed, social enterprises have shown themselves to be key contributors to the circular economy and leaders in challenging environmental and economic inequalities. Indeed, even the premise on which social enterprises are built, the pursuit of purpose over profit means they are at a distinct advantage in the green transition in comparison to traditional enterprises.

This agility serves greatly as the business model can pivot faster and more efficiently.In fact, traditional enterprises are, at times, incentivised to work in ways completely antithetical to the morals of the green transition as they are obliged to maximise profits. If they don’t do this, they leave themselves open to legal challenges from investment companies who seeks stable returns for their customers or their model falls apart. 

This fact has been noted by the European Commission which has developed the EU Green Deal. This is primarily an action plan, to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy and to restore biodiversity and cut pollution. The overarching objective is for the EU to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050. And, they’ve put their money where their mouth is, with a number of funding mechanisms in place to facilitate the EU Green Deal, totalling over €1 trillion! 

When it comes to social enterprises, there are lots of environmental wins to be made, even from the smallest of organisations. Moving towards a more sustainable business model can be daunting but you’re already ahead of the pack! 

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Original article available in Revitalese.eu blog. 

Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash

Definition of LESE and Why They Need Support

Definition of LESE and Why They Need Support

The term ‘Social Economy’ is one that is being used more and more these days when it comes to implementing the just transition. The European Union has shown itself to be a global leader in the space in recent years, with many initiatives created to support the growth of the social economy over the coming decades. RevitaLESE project, is a clear example of this. For people just entering the space, and even those who’ve been around a bit longer, some obvious questions might remain. For example, what is a social enterprise, what is a ‘LESE’ and why do they need the support? 

At its very root, the concept of a social enterprise, or a social economy organisation more generally, is to put the interests of people above the desire to maximise profits. Usually, this is done by engaging in some sort of traded activity with an express social mission. These social missions can be wide and varied; building wealth in local communities, creating positive environmental impact, or employing those who are distant from the labour market

Social enterprises have shown time and time again that they have an incredibly positive impact in the communities and economies in which they operate. However, they are not without their challenges by any means. Due to the primacy of purpose over profit in these organisations, oftentimes they can stagnate or make inefficient uses of their restricted resources. This can be for many reasons, for example, many social enterprises struggle to scale effectively as they are more averse to risk in comparison to profit-driven organisations. However, if the European Union is to meet its goals in the fight against climate change, the digital transition, and become a more just and inclusive society, the continued growth of social enterprise plays a fundamental role. 

That’s where the RevitaLESE project comes in. This project is based on the rejuvenation of these Long-Established Social Enterprises (LESEs) in terms of both their business model and social mission. In short, the overall goal of RevitaLESE is to revitalise the European social economy sector, maximise its impact, and solidify its position and recognition as a key contributor to the development of the European Union.

In this project, ‘long established’ refers to social economy organisations that have been in operation for 5-7 years or more and have moved beyond the start-up phase (in some contexts with underdeveloped social economy sectors, we have broadened our target group to include those in operation for 3 years+). 

Original article available on Revitalese.eu website.

Header Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash

Unlocking the Social Economy

Unlocking the Social Economy

Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and the World Economic Forum have just published the report “Unlocking the Social Economy – Towards an Inclusive and Resilient Society” to show the many ways in which the social economy, based on social innovation, can contribute to solving some of the greatest challenges of our time while at the same time contributing to job creation and economic activity. The report was made in collaboration with Deloitte.

The actors in the social economy have social and environmental impact at the center of all their activities, and they work in many different sectors.

Although they have great potential for creating a positive impact, actors in the social economy also face barriers that prevent them from unleashing their full potential. These actors are very different in different regions around the world, but still they have a number of common barriers such as a limited visibility, lack of a supportive legal and regulatory framework, and limited access to markets.

In that light the rapport Unlocking the Social Economy introduces concrete measures to deliver in two areas that can help unlock the potential that actors in the social economy face.

1) Promote the existing social economy actors by developing a supportive ecosystem.

This can be done by:

  • Recognizing social economy actors and creating supporting regulatory frameworks.
  • Creating incentives for financing and investment so that social economy organizations can more easily access the funds they need.
  • Improving education and research in social innovation, to increase the visibility of the social economy and thereby attract expertise and talent.
  • Designing public and private procurement policies so social  enterprises have better access to markets.
  • Collecting and publish data on social impact

2) Using the potential of the social economy to transform the broader general economy into more value-driven one.

This can be done by:

  • By adopting a framework for accountability, taxonomies for social reporting and more involving business and management models, social economy actors can contribute to systemic changes of our current economic model and its challenges.
  • Social economy organizations that are making the necessary transitions now can help accelerate the existing economy towards a more inclusive, sustainable future. This can help avoid billlion of costs that we might otherwise have to deal with if we do not ensure greater social cohesion, tackle systemic inequalities and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The report is based on a systematic review of over 100 independent academic articles and reports on the social economy as well as social economy actors in different countries, supplemented by interviews with experts, policy makers and practitioners. Three  rounds of consultancy have also been conducted with the Working Group on Unlocking the Social Economy, hosted by the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship.

The hope is that the report could serve as a starting point for dialogues that address regional and national challenges around the world. And the goal is that it can help promote action by raising awareness and actively discuss the political opportunities that exist globally, regionally and locally to reduce common barriers that prevent actors in the social economy from reaching their potential.

Download the full rapport here

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs stands firmly by the Ukrainian people in these difficult times

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs stands firmly by the Ukrainian people in these difficult times

The EYE programme has reached out to Ukrainian intermediary organisations and entrepreneurs to support them in this crisis.

Immediate emergency measures were taken and implemented by the entire network to support the functioning of the organisations and match Ukrainian entrepreneurs with their hosts outside of Ukraine and allow them to continue realising their ambitions to start and grow their companies.

In addition, Ukrainian entrepreneurs who are already on business exchanges abroad have been offered an extension of their stay.  

The situation is monitored on a daily basis so that the programme can continue to provide the best possible support to the Ukrainian entrepreneurs and the EYE local contact points in this crisis.

For an in-depth overview of the EU Support to Ukraine, please visit the dedicated information here.

 

 

 

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.