In recent months, the Social(i)Makers project partners have been working on local initiatives and activities that will sustainably support innovators in solving social problems. This has resulted in seven local innovation pilots. Innovation Sharing Approach, Poland
The goal of the pilot project in Poland was to create a stable ecosystem supporting the creation and dissemination of social innovations, thus contributing to solving social problems. As part of the pilot project, a handbook entitled “The Concept of a Universal Method for Implementing Open Social Innovations” was published, authored by Dr. Ryszard Necel from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. The publication is a collection of tools and guidelines supporting the process of developing and scaling existing social innovations. The material was based on the experience of the Animacja Foundation and the Femina Project Foundation in working with the SOS Homini innovation.
A short video presenting the project is available here.
Diginclusion Hub, Austria
To prevent disadvantaged individuals from being excluded from the labor market, the Austrian partner Arbeit plus – in collaboration with social enterprises B7 and VFQ – developed a tool to facilitate the digital transformation of social enterprises. Thanks to this solution, employees of these enterprises will be able to support their clients in improving their digital skills, increasing their chances of finding employment, and thus combating social exclusion.
A short video presenting the project is available here.
Scalerator, Germany
The Scalerator program was launched in June 2019 by the organizations Social Impact and Roots of Impact, in collaboration with the Impact Collective. Its main goal was to create a strategy for supporting social enterprises before scaling. The winner of the program was Querfeld, which combats food waste. The methodology involved identifying key challenges related to scaling, followed by professional advice on developing solutions, including gaps in sales structure and human resources.
More information about the project is available here.
Innovative models for employment, Hungary
The core of the pilot project in Hungary was to develop business models for employing disadvantaged individuals and to engage stakeholders and advocates relevant to the model. These models are intended, on the one hand, to strengthen the activities of innovative organizations (social enterprises) engaged in the employment of disadvantaged individuals, and, on the other, to introduce a methodology for measuring social impact. The support focuses on ensuring the conscious planning of their employment-related goals and social activities, as well as mapping the social problem that motivates their actions. Based on this, organizations are able to consciously plan their activities and their expected impact, taking into account the resources and tools available to them.
A short video presenting the project is available here.
Social Impact Evaluation, Italy
The main goal of the pilot project was to focus on impact assessment and, together with experts, develop a methodology for measuring and assessing the social impact of two projects developed by the Unione dei Comuni Distretto Ceramico (UCDC): “Social Pacts for active citizenship” and “Young Protagonists.” The methodology was intended to be universal enough to allow for implementation in future projects. Additionally, the goal was to increase efficiency, assess the real impact of social initiatives, and enhance the transparency of public administration. As part of the pilot, a database of information on previous editions of both projects was created, ex-ante and ex-post surveys were developed. Focus groups and training for UCDC staff were also organized.
A short video presenting the project is available here.
Open Future – entrepreneurial skills for young talents with disadvantaged backgrounds, Slovakia
Open Future is a three-year extracurricular program for young people aged 11-15, who, under the guidance of mentors, have the opportunity to work on innovative solutions that help improve their education and later employment. As part of the pilot, a handbook for mentors was developed for children’s education. Three meetings with inspiring experts from business, academia, the public sector, and NGOs were also organized. Due to the pandemic, classes were held online. Open Future staff provided tutoring and assisted program participants with homework, and worked on textbooks and preparations for the students’ summer school.
A short video presenting the project is available here.
Learning by Doing – Slovenia
The aim of the pilot was to practically test the active change model and evaluate the tools used in the process of creating social innovation. In the first phase of the pilot, several creative sessions were organized in various regions of Slovenia. Then, innovative solutions were sought among various target groups. Already at this stage, numerous ideas emerged, four of which were ready to apply for further support. As a result, the “Growing in the Kindergarten” project was selected. Its owners defined the activities and discussed with various stakeholders – from preschools, entities implementing similar initiatives, to the Ministry responsible for preschool education. Together with the selected preschool in Maribor, green corners were symbolically opened, contributing to the greening of urban areas and fostering children’s environmental awareness.
A short video presenting the project is available here.
Social(i)Makers is an international project implemented by partner organizations from seven Central European countries: Poland, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, and Italy, under the Interreg Central Europe Programme. Its goal is to disseminate knowledge and tools for implementing social innovation.
As part of the project, the “Social Innovation Academy” – a comprehensive educational program on social innovation – was launched. The repository of materials is currently available on the Skyrocket platform.
More information about the project and its activities can be found at:
Website – https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/Social(i)Makers.html
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/socialimakers/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPJOdMVjaG5cXnQtzzOHA2Q?disable_polymer=true
Twitter – https://twitter.com/SocialiMakers
