For the first time in Latvia, open door days in social enterprises will be held

From 14 to 18 October, the Ministry of Welfare organises a weekly social entrepreneurship week, which will be marked with various activities. In order for everyone to get acquainted with and know the presence offered and how social enterprises work, from 15 to 17 October, the first time in these companies will be the opening of open doors with the motto “acquainted with the social entrepreneurs who do the world better!”. In open-door days, 10 social enterprises in Riga, Ithumille, Sigulda and Valmiera are invited to visit.
The “mobilisation” of non-deaf people will offer a unique opportunity for everyone to learn how it is to teach unheard people to drive a car. It will be possible to participate in the practice session in Riga, as well as to visit the theory training in Valmiera and talk to the company's founder and manager Santa Beitani. The first non-waste/Zero Waste/cafe in Latvia “Cafe M” calls for the identification of the company's backstop, whether there is no waste in the cafe? The guests will be welcome and the story of their exciting social entrepreneur will be told by the founder of the cafe and by Ulla Milbert. The aim of the clothing design and manufacturing company “OWA” is to change the stereotypes in society on persons with disabilities and their working abilities. In open-door days, the company's founder and manager Nathalie Jermolayeva will inform about the company's daily and business model, as well as the goods produced by Latvian social entrepreneurs will be available in the store. In the open glass design studio/workshop “Glass Point” will be able to find out about the masterpieces offered by the company and how to reprocess glass in artistic and design products on the spot in the studio or in a self-handed home. The visitors of the social enterprise “Momma and Dad” will have the opportunity to know the objectives and daily work of this social enterprise. The Vizana dance school offers to look at the studio rooms, observe dance lessons, and meet on the spot and talk to the school manager Edmunda Veizana on behalf of a better world. The private primary school “Ķiparu nams” is invited to see the opening school premises opened on 1 September of that year and in negotiations with the manager Sanda Reikmanis to understand the daily and challenges of the social enterprise. The social enterprise “all can” in Sigulda offers employment opportunities for people with disabilities, parents who care for children with disabilities, pre-retirement people and other social groups. In open-door days there will be an opportunity to talk to the company's founder Eva Vilnius, as well as to look at how work is going on in the workshops of the company “all”. “RB Cafe” is the first cafe in the Baltics where people with disabilities are mostly working. The guests will have the opportunity not only to treat some delicious confectionery, but also to know the day of the cafe and understand what the major challenges and benefits of such a social enterprise are. On the other hand, the founder of the call centre Sonido and manager Inga Muižniece will allow visitors to be present on the business day of the company, where people with special needs will be able to feel the importance of a well-equipped working environment, as well as everyone will have the opportunity to “raise their stone from the heart”.
For more information about the times, places and login of open door days, on the website of the Ministry of Welfare www.lm.gov.lv and on the website of the social https://www.facebook.com/labklajibasministrija/, Facebook, see “Actions”. Other information: League Ivanova, liga@sua.lv, 26464686.
“In Latvia, the social enterprise law has been working for a year and a half. In the meantime, 70 companies are active with official social enterprise status. IT is possible to receive ALTUM financial support in the form of Granta for up to 200 thousand euros to commence or expand this business. While social entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly popular around the world, however, a large proportion of society has a false impression that it is merely a charity. Our social entrepreneurs offer very different and innovative services, create original design products, develop digital tools and motion accessories, and export the product produced. Open doordays are a great opportunity to know the reality of these companies and the benefits of their work for society, as well as it will be valuable to talk to business leaders, because the human factor is particularly important in social entrepreneurship and a genuine desire to work for the benefit of society,” calls on the Director of the Labour Market Policy Department of the Ministry of Welfare, President of the Commission of Social Enterprises Imants Lipskis.
As part of the Social Business Week, the Ministry of Welfare also invites the story of four social entrepreneurs in video format:
“RB Cafe” - https://youtu.be/TmyWJtZ1GPY
“Angel mail” - https://youtu.be/4ok3QnRgxFY
“Thornihill Private High School” - https://youtu.be/xmH_s4Hjchs
“Twigobot” - https://youtu.be/qIo4blGhOTg
For reference:
According to generally accepted international practice, a social enterprise is a company whose main objective is to create social impact and benefit society rather than to provide profits to owners. In this form of business, the social mission is more important than profit – it is not a target but a means. Profits are reinvested in the implementation of the social objective rather than redistributed. In Latvia, social enterprises are defined by the law of the social enterprise, which entered into force on 1 April 2018. 
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