SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A Non-for-profit Company Set up in July 2010, aiming to: ďƒ˜ actively contribute towards a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, ďƒ˜ to engage in community/solidarity action.
Textile Recycling
• Most important project is textile recycling. We collect used clothes, shoes, linen and other items, using: • Collection banks, placed in public spaces in cooperation with municipalities, local authorities, churches, schools etc.
Community Network
• Collaboration with community organizations, based on a cash return system. Number of partners in the network 402.
Recycling Process
• Textiles that are not reusable are turned into wiping cloths, fibres, insulation and other
materials. Only a small proportion, around 2%, ends up as garbage. http://www.star2.com/living/2015/02/15/old-clothes-can-be-renewed-into-something-useful/
Environmental Action Anakyklos collection and recycling project
contributes to the reduction of the volume of garbage that end up in landfill, answers a significant social and economic problem
of Cyprus. /
Solidarity Shops of Anakyklos • A second important problem that is addressed is the provision of useful clothing to people, who cannot afford to buy new clothes. • People in need get the clothes free in the four solidarity shops of Anakyklos. /
Financial Donations Anakyklos also contributes, through financial donations, to
numerous community projects, run by municipalities, NGOs, institutions for handicapped and others.
A Model of Social Enterprise • 35 persons are employed, most of whom were unemployed for a considerable period. A special emphasis is placed in employing vulnerable people such as single parents, young people etc. • Equal pay, gender equality, pro-worker policies.
Main factors of success a) Important problems of society addressed. b) Use of best practices in the field of entrepreneurship, such as professionalism, good and serious planning, including responsible budgeting policy and accounts, quality and productivity control, innovation, use of technology etc. c) Use of best practices in the field of community/solidarity sector, including empathy for human suffering, commitment and loyalty, fairness and a strong sense of justice and equality, humane management and leadership from the front.
Problems and Challenges a) Red tape and bureaucracy b) Absence of legal framework c) Absence of support structures, both from the private sector (e.g. bank loans) and the state (no start up funding)
d) Absence of awareness as to the nature of social enterprises.
Plans for the Future
- setting up of social cooperatives mainly in the field of the
environment, - address the number one social problem of Cyprus unemployment.
Thank you!!