Visegrad project nr 2, Building International Bridges –
Social Entrepreneurship as a Tool for Local Economic Empowerment

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: 2023

Short description of the project:

The follow-up builds on the results of Visegrad Fund supported project „Social Economies without Borders”. It deepens established international exchanges in order to inspire social impact regarding the legislation, financial support, shaping public opinion etc.

The project has a 2-fold effect by:

  • Fostering international good practices exchange/networking on social inclusion/entrepreneurship
  • Using international practices to stimulate national/local authorities, companies and social enterprises to use social entrepreneurship as a tool for the socio-economic empowerment of marginalized groups.
The project is implemented by the Municipality of Krobia as the lead partner and the Barka Foundation from Poland, SIEC – Social Integration & Empowerment Centre is the main partner from Macedonia (including the Macedonian consortium partners ARNO, MISLA, LJUBEZNOST, AHP PRILEP and SOLEM), with the municipality Revuflop as one of the initial partners from Hungary. The network was joined by some new partners from the Czech Republic such as Slezska Diakonie and ERGON company, and Slovakia, the Municipality of Velky Meder. The project’s relevance is reflected in having a focus on the marginalization of vulnerable groups who are often excluded in all partner countries. While the Governments do address poverty and marginalization, a lot of work still needs to be done.
Poland being one of the leading EU countries in using social entrepreneurship to tackle the challenges provides inspiration the partner countries in their future socio-economic changes. Poland faces social exclusion of 30,330 homeless people, 3.3%/6.8% unemployment rate (7.2% among people with disabilities), 800,000addicts and elderly excluded citizens. Macedonia has a low market participation rate – unemployment – around 17.9%, with many homeless people, but only 318 registered, including Roma. There are no shelters, mainly temporary services. Czech Republic (Moravian-Silesian Region) has unemployment of 4.1%, 35,000 unemployed and homeless – 2.92%. Hungary and Slovakia-7.66% have unemployment of 4.8 % -HU and face similar problems as other partners.

Additional challenges are connected to finding sustainable solutions for local communities whereby marginalized citizens, including seniors, need to be activated. Increased by the Corona-crisis, elderly exclusion/loneliness, cultural tourism and de-institutionalization are the focus of the project that also responds to the goal of the Europe 2020 Strategy: “promoting social inclusion, in particular by reducing poverty and aiming to lift at least 20 million people out of poverty and social exclusion” and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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