Business with added value - achieving social effects and economic viability of an existing social enterprise via expanding the capacity and developing new activities

The project proposal aims to raise the employment opportunities for persons from vulnerable groups of population by implementing effective mechanisms for their social and economic realisation, comprising motivation and training, subsequent support and interventions in the "environment" via creating jobs in a social enterprise (SE), social marketing and promoting social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The initiative envisages the expansion of an existing SE and ensuring occupation for people from the target group, as follows: 1) expanding the current business by purchasing additional equipment for Zelena (green) public laundry and employing 6 persons; 2) developing new economic units: a) Tvorilnitsa (artware) creative studio for producing souvenirs and houseware, and a social club offering arts and crafts workshops against payment, employing 3 persons; b) developing a website with an online Hopeshop catalogue for the promotion and placement of the SE's products and services, including the realisation of items made by other SEs, thus raising awareness about social entrepreneurship and CSR. It will provide a job for one person who will take care of its content management and administration. An accountant from the target group will also be hired. Within the project, 40 persons with disabilities and/or at risk of long-term unemployment will go through motivational training to enhance their self-esteem, stimulate them to improve/acquire competences that are sought on the labour market and to search for a job. Subsequently, 11 of them will be included in programmes for active socialisation and supported employment, conducive to their effective economic and social (re)integration. Based on their abilities and preferences, these 11 persons will be employed in the SE after being trained in practical skills: manipulating laundry machines, stitching, knitting, customer care, text and image processing and work with content management systems.

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