Description
The project addresses the challenges faced by many vulnerable women in rural areas at risk of poverty, unemployment, domestic violence and social exclusion. The project aims at empowering these women by helping them develop the needed business skills to set up social enterprises, online shops and cooperatives. First, an analysis of the regional business centres and incubators and a map of the business services in the Northwest Region will be prepared. Second, 45 women from the municipalities of Pleven and Lovech will be selected and trained for 5 days to start up a social enterprise. They will be provided with practical counseling by e-mail, Skype and during on-site visits for the next 3 months to prepare at least 10 business plans and the platform for an online shop. Finally, the public awareness will be raised via an exhibition of photos of women – entrepreneurs from the rural areas. The project will not only benefit the selected women but the local community in general.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the challenges faced by many vulnerable women in rural areas at risk of poverty, unemployment, domestic violence and social exclusion. It addressed 44 women from vulnerable groups from the rural areas of Lovech and Pleven Districts. All of them received good theoretical and practical training about social enterprises. The project activities led to the following results: a map of business services in the Northwestern Region; training courses and a mentorship programme presented to the representatives of the target group; 3 social enterprises were prepared for launching; a photo exhibition with 54 photos of active women from across Bulgaria selected in a competition. The created website
www.bg-word.org will continue to function actively after the project end. The social enterprise model is an innovative form of economic activity in the country and the project implementation contributed to greater opportunities for personal development and financial independence of women.
Summary of bilateral results