Social entrepreneurship is our step towards a more equitable economy
28.08.2021
When business does not always mean generating profit at any price, and it is brave enough to risk in the name of a social cause, when a socially significant mission moves away from its comfort zone and dives into the restless waters of commercial activities, we get the formula for social entrepreneurship. The key for the success of this formula is in the balance of profit which both ensures self-sufficiency and works for solving socially significant problems.
In order to be more specific in explaining social entrepreneurship, we need to note that this economic activity brings benefits to the community. In other words, social businesses are innovations which solve social or ecological problems and, in this way, they create conditions for shared responsibility and cooperation in the commercial environment. Social entrepreneurship creates initiatives which aim to solve current problems, use innovative approaches, create new workplaces and positions, and encourage the quality of social relationships in the community.
Most often, but not always, non-governmental organisations are the main drivers of social entrepreneurship. By practicing economic activity, which they are allowed to do by law, they generate profit. Afterwards, they invest it in the initiatives which correspond to their social missions.
Our example for social entrepreneurship has two strands. The first is our economic activity. Botanica Life Foundation generates profits from guest house “Botanica”, the organization of educational courses and the sale of vegetables and vegetable products. Part of this profit is used as scholarships for professional development in the field of sustainable agriculture, offered to unemployed young people. Such young people receive the chance to take part in our educational courses and trainings. They gain practical experience in our gardens and learn valuable lessons about sustainable gardening and managing small farms.
The other strand of our social enterprise is offering employment to at-risk young people. For a third year, we offer part-time employment to young people from the Complex for psychiatrical health care in the community, located in Targovishte. Samiy and Stefka travel every day to our farm in Nadarevo where, along with the rest of our team, they create the look of our training centre and the vegetable gardens. They are one of the most diligent gardeners, responsibly taking care of our plants and welcoming our visitors with a smile and warm greetings. Next year, Samiy and Stefka will put into practice in their garden what they have learned about growing vegetables, flowers and herbs. In the Complex for psychiatrical health care in the community they will have a chance to grow some of their own food. Here are some thoughts which Samiy and Stefka shared regarding the opportunity to work in our organisation.
Stefka: “I like what is on offer – to learn, to practice, to be useful – it is not a matter of money, but an act of learning how to grow food, what is needed in order to raise healthy plants.”
Samiy: “It is true that physical work has its difficulties but I feel the pleasure of working and being useful. When we have visitors and guests, they see that the gardens are clean and well-shaped. The gardens are beautiful. In the future, I would like to learn how to drive a tractor, to mow and till with it.”
Taking the initiative and the specific actions for improving the environment, the conditions suitable for starting an activity or searching for solutions of a social problem at a local stage, is perhaps the best option for being active. The idea of “think global, act local!” works for social entrepreneurship as well. So let’s be active!
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