Goals for Sustainable Development
SDGs or Sustainable Development Goals represent the United Nations’ global plan consisting of 17 goals aimed at promoting well-being, economic growth, and environmental protection by 2030. These goals cover various areas, including eradicating poverty, ensuring quality education, achieving gender equality, mitigating climate change, and sustainably using resources.
The SDGs are significant because they help countries and organizations collaborate to address global challenges and ensure a better quality of life for future generations. They are increasingly embraced by organizations and businesses as they foster societal and environmental well-being while providing significant advantages to the companies themselves.
Many organizations integrate SDGs into their strategies to enhance their reputation, attract socially responsible investors, and strengthen customer loyalty. The SDGs help businesses define their sustainability objectives, such as reducing carbon emissions, promoting gender equality, or supporting local community development. Furthermore, more buyers and partners are demanding that companies demonstrate responsibility toward society and the environment, driving the adoption of SDGs as a global standard. This highlights that sustainable operations are not only an ethical choice but also a strategic step toward long-term competitiveness and growth.
Therefore, the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia (SEAL) has also turned its attention to this topic and, using the SDG Impact Assessment Tool, analyzed which sustainability goals align with the organization’s activities.
Three Sustainable Development Goals most closely align with SEAL’s activities – 8, 10, and 17.
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
Eighth SDG focuses on decent work and economic growth. Economic growth should serve as a positive driving force in every country, which is why stakeholders must ensure that financial growth goes hand in hand with dignified working conditions and environmental care.
Real involvement of organizations in achieving this goal means promoting policies aimed at economic development – creating new, inclusive jobs, fostering entrepreneurship, and encouraging innovation. It also involves ensuring equal pay for women and men, including other vulnerable groups such as youth and persons with disabilities.
How Does SEAL Implement This Goal in Its Activities?
SEAL supports and provides networking opportunities for social enterprises and organizations pursuing social objectives in their daily operations. Social enterprises focus on: 1.) Employing marginalized or vulnerable groups, or 2.) Creating products or offering services for these groups.
The organization actively advocates for the interests of social entrepreneurs at institutional and political level. This includes engaging in discussions with relevant institutions on tax reliefs, legal changes affecting social entrepreneurs, grant and legal system support, and the contribution of social enterprises to the national economy.
SEAL organizes training programs and seminars for social entrepreneurs to enhance their skills in social entrepreneurship, particularly sustainable social entrepreneurship, and to improve financial literacy. These activities ensure that entrepreneurs have the knowledge and tools necessary to grow and create new and stable jobs.
In 2025, from January 15th to May, five thematic exchange visits to social enterprises in Latvia and Lithuania will take place. For more information about the event, read
By introducing social entrepreneurs to grant opportunities, various funding platforms, competitions, and promoting collaborations with large companies, SEAL supports economic growth. Additionally, SEAL provides lectures and workshops in educational institutions – schools and universities – to educate and introduce young people to social entrepreneurship. At an international level, SEAL shares its experience and knowledge with organizations across Europe.
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
Tenth SDG focuses on reducing inequalities. The majority of the world’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of a very narrow group of people. This situation perpetuates inequality. For all countries to prosper, equality and well-being must be accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, or economic status.
This goal sets the target of gradually achieving income growth for the financially vulnerable 40% of the world’s population by 2030, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and promoting social, economic, and political inclusion, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
How Does SEAL Implement This Goal in Its Activities?
The association plays a crucial role in reducing inequality by focusing on supporting and growing the social enterprise sector. The organization brings together 141 like-minded organizations, businesses, and individuals who believe in the potential of social entrepreneurship in Latvia and are ready to participate in the development and strengthening of the sector. The social enterprises supported by SEAL employ people from marginalized or vulnerable groups and promote the representation of women and other underrepresented groups in business and leadership positions.
The organization collaborates with lawmakers to ensure that the legal framework supports social enterprises that reduce inequality through their activities. This includes financial support, various regulatory measures, and fair access to resources. By promoting public understanding of the benefits social enterprises bring to society, SEAL encourages institutions and large companies to form collaborations and purchase goods from social enterprises.
In collaboration with international organizations, SEAL has the opportunity to learn from the best case studies within the European Union and beyond, with the goal of implementing these practices in Latvia.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Seventeenth SDG focuses on building partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Global goals can only be achieved by working together, as both international investments and support are needed to ensure technological development and fair access to markets, especially in developing countries.
This goal involves multilateral partnerships where countries and organizations mobilize, sharing knowledge, expertise, technologies, and financial resources to support the achievement of sustainable development goals in all countries. Not only international cooperation is essential, but also collaboration between sectors within each country – coordinating and aligning domestic policies for sustainable development.
How Does SEAL Implement This Goal in Its Activities?
SEAL collaborates with various state institutions to develop supportive policies for social entrepreneurship, ensuring alignment with national and global sustainable development strategies. It also works with non-profit organizations, NGOs, and advocacy groups to strengthen the impact of social entrepreneurship initiatives on government institutions and address common issues. SEAL is a member of the Latvian Civil Alliance and LAPAS, as well as international networks such as Euclid, ENSIE, and closely collaborates with the DIESIS network.
The organization actively participates in international projects, gaining and sharing knowledge, best practices, and resources. This promotes global understanding of the role of social entrepreneurship in sustainable development, enabling the application of newly acquired knowledge and tools to strengthen the social enterprise sector in Latvia. SEAL also collaborates with universities and research institutions that gather data on the impact of social enterprises.
This data is also presented to international partners to create a strong knowledge base for the development of common policies. The association promotes access to platforms where useful research results, success stories, and tools can be learned and shared. These resources can be used by anyone in Latvia and globally to replicate effective social entrepreneurship models.
Fill out this tool and find out how your organization or business aligns with these criteria!
Study: Social innovators in Latvia and Lithuania step up for social needs unmet by the state or market
In a rapidly changing world, social problems are becoming increasingly diverse and complex, and innovative solutions are essential. Social enterprises and NGOs play a crucial role in the development and promotion of social innovation. They meet social needs in various sectors that the state or market cannot.
A study titled “Comparative analysis of social innovators in the Zemgale region and Northern Lithuania” was conducted this year to identify social innovators in Latvia (specifically in the Zemgale region) and Northern Lithuania (specifically in the municipalities of Rokiškis, Biržai, Pasvalys, Kupiškis, and Panevėžys), to understand their fields of activity, impact, legal framework, strengths, and challenges. In the first phase, 95 potential social innovators were identified in Zemgale and 134 in Northern Lithuania, while more in-depth research was carried out on social innovators with high social innovation potential – 25 in Zemgale and 59 in Northern Lithuania.
The study was implemented by the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia together with the Lithuanian Social Business Association, Zemgale Planning Region and Administration of Rokiškis District Municipality within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania Programme 2021-2027 project “Improving the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Zemgale and Northern Lithuania” (RE:IMPACT).
Strengths
Although social innovators face various challenges in their work, they have identified their strengths. The first and most important is flexibility – the organizations represented by social innovators are often micro and small, which allows them to be very flexible and react quickly to various situations. The ability and need to cooperate with different stakeholders – local government, local organisations, ministries and local communities – is also a strength of social innovators. Some of the social innovators identified in the study cooperate with more than ten
partners, for example, 30 municipalities and other organizations.
It should also be emphasized that one of the most important strengths of social innovators in both Zemgale and Northern Lithuania is their ability to respond to the needs of residents – especially those that local authorities or national institutions have neglected or not fully met.
Fields of Activity
Social innovators in both Latvia and Lithuania work in various sectors, addressing social problems in different areas. Very often, their activities are focused on solving social problems related to socially vulnerable groups. For example, in Northern Lithuania, there is “Solidarumo kava” – a cafe where people with intellectual disabilities work. In Zemgale, the social enterprise “Līgotnes LM”; has created a family-type social care center for the elderly and people with special needs.
The most active areas are education, culture, arts and tourism. There are also many social innovators in the social care, social services and health sectors in both regions, filling gaps in services that are not sufficiently provided by national or local authorities.
Social innovators are also active in agriculture, manufacturing, accommodation and catering, but these sectors still have potential for development. However, social innovation is lacking in areas such as construction, wholesale and retail trade, transport, information and communication, and financial and insurance activities.
In the field of education, social innovators most often cover formal and non-formal education, creating innovative learning products or materials for various target groups. For example, the social enterprise “Barboleta” in Jelgava has created an innovative learning method for children – a balance board that helps them concentrate and learn better. Another social enterprise in Jelgava – “BJMK Rokskola” – offers the only rock music education in Latvia and provides alternative music education in a supportive environment to help young people discover the joy of composing.
The study also reveals differences between the regions – in Northern Lithuania, social innovators work in agriculture, while in Zemgale this field is not particularly popular. Work in agriculture is very often linked to reducing unemployment among socially vulnerable groups. For example, the rural community “Kairelių kaimo bendruomenė” grows strawberries and employs local residents in seasonal work, organizes “End of Work” festival, where cash prizes are awarded to the most active community members, villagers, and young people who have volunteered their time and work. Overall, the most popular areas for social innovators in Northern Lithuania are education, culture, tourism and active recreation, while in Zemgale it is social care, social services and health.
Impact and Motivation
The social impact created by social innovators in Northern Lithuania and Zemgale is very diverse – providing jobs for local residents; educating people on various topics important to the local community and wider society; creating positive conditions for the preservation and popularization of cultural heritage; providing benefits and improving the quality of life for a specific target group; preserving and improving the environment; creating a sense of community; introducing innovation.
Of course, these benefits can only be created by willing and motivated individuals. The study also explored the motivation of social innovators to start their activities – most often it is the desire to see changes in society, to benefit the whole society or a specific target group, to find effective and sustainable solutions to specific problems.
Understanding and State Support
Although the concept of social innovation and social innovator is not yet sufficiently developed in Latvia and Lithuania, and there is no separate legislation specifically addressing social innovation, a positive step has been taken in both countries – support organisations “Latvian Social Innovation Competence Centre” (SIKC) and “Lithuanian Social Innovation Cluster” have been established with the aim of developing the social innovation
ecosystem. SIKC was founded this year with the core mission to ensure that the parties involved in the social innovation process have sufficient access to the necessary competencies both in Latvia and abroad. The “Lithuanian Social Innovation Cluster”, established in 2020, is a network of socially responsible organisations and enterprises that unite, develop and strengthen organisations and enterprises that create innovative social entrepreneurship.
The study found that planning regions and municipalities are significant driving force for social innovation, as they initiate projects that are better tailored to local needs and can therefore finance the creation of social innovation in the regions. A positive example of cooperation from Zemgale should be mentioned – the Jelgava County municipality has given the former school premises free of charge to the social enterprise “Sajūtu māja”
(private primary school “Pats”), which offers innovative, child-centred primary education in the region.
Study is available
Project No. LL-00020 “Improving the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Zemgale and Northern Lithuania” or “Re:Impact” is implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania programme 2021-2027. The total budget of the project is EUR 595,286.00, including co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund of EUR 476,228.80. More about the project here.
How to improve social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Zemgale and Northern Lithuania?
The Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, together with the Zemgale Planning Region, Rokiškis District Municipality, and the Lithuanian Social Business Association, is embarking on the project “Improving the Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Zemgale and Northern Lithuania” (RE:IMPACT) in response to this question.
The role of social entrepreneurs in the Baltic region is becoming increasingly significant in the fight against various societal issues. The Covid-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, rising prices, and inflation have demonstrated the importance of societal engagement, inclusivity, innovative solutions, and various approaches to addressing these challenges. In such a situation, regional support is particularly crucial because local leaders are the ones who recognize the potential opportunities for utilizing innovative solutions.
Often, national and municipal authorities do not realize possible forms of support for collaboration with social enterprises, and sometimes there is a lack of understanding and motivation to establish such partnerships. According to the European Social Entrepreneurship Survey (2021), the majority of Latvian residents perceive political support for social entrepreneurship as low (25.6%) or even very low (25.6%). Similar results were obtained in Lithuania as well.
Despite Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia working closely with various public sector stakeholders, there is still a weak understanding of social innovations, social entrepreneurs, their work, and impact. According to the BRESE report, many social entrepreneurs lack business skills. In both Latvia and Lithuania, the majority of social enterprises have emerged from the non-profit sector and are newcomers to the business sphere. Moreover, the growth of social enterprises is influenced by the size of the national market. This can be particularly observed in areas outside the capital, such as remote districts of Zemgale.
To change the current situation, the goal of the “RE:IMPACT” project is to improve the environment for social entrepreneurship at the regional level – in this project, focusing specifically on Zemgale region and Northern Lithuania. Project partners will promote public sector participation, support measures for social entrepreneurs, develop educational materials for teachers, and inform wider public about social entrepreneurship in general and good regional examples of social entrepreneurs. By doing so, the capacity of social entrepreneurs will increase, which will positively impact local communities on a broader scale.
During the project, it is planned to: identify, map, and assess potential areas for the development of social enterprises; analyze and compare the needs of social enterprises in the Zemgale region and Northern Lithuania; develop practical educational materials on social entrepreneurship for schools and business centers, as well as strengthen the skills of social entrepreneurs and organize experience exchanges.
To achieve these goals, the project is divided into three different stages, each of which will accomplish one of the project’s objectives through various activities.
In the first stage, the status of existing and potential social enterprises will be researched, and educational materials and guidelines will be developed. In the second stage, exchange visits for both social entrepreneurs and public sector representatives will take place, during which participants from Latvia and Lithuania will get to know each other, share their experiences, and learn from each other’s mistakes and success stories to apply the newly gained knowledge in their daily lives. In the final, or third stage, social enterprise stories will be promoted, and an information campaign for the wider public will be conducted.
Currently, we have started actively identifying organizations and individuals working for the common good in the municipalities of Zemgale – Aizkraukle, Dobele, Bauska, Jelgava, Jēkabpils districts, and Jelgava city.
If you know people or organizations implementing activities for the common good in Zemgale, please contact us! Write to or !
The total funding for the project is EUR 595,286. 00. The co-financing of the project from the European Regional Development Fund is EUR 476,228.80. The project implementation period is until January 31, 2026.
For more details about the project, you can visit HERE.
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This publication is prepared with the financial support of the European Union. The content is solely the responsibility of the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, a partner of the project “Improving the Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Zemgale and Northern Lithuania”, and does not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
Podcast as a tool for social impact communication
The concept of social and environmental impact has become increasingly relevant among professionals in various fields in recent years. As early as 2007, it was discovered that podcasts are a powerful tool for presenting complex and interdisciplinary topics to a wider audience.
Each country participating in the “Podcasting based social learning environment” project had its own focus theme for creating podcast episodes. The goal of the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia was to educate a public about social entrepreneurship and to strengthen the activities of social entrepreneurs by interviewing them.
Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, along with three partner organizations from Lithuania, Estonia, and Turkey: Stories For Impact OÜ (EST), Koc University (TR), and VšĮ “Geri norai LT”(LT), concluded the Erasmus+ project “Podcasting based social learning environment” and shares the collected results of the project.
The project started in November 2021, and its main objective was to inspire and train professionals from the public and private sectors who work or are interested in defining, managing, measuring, and communicating the impact of their activities, as well as young people who want to use podcasts as a tool to create communication materials on topics related to human well-being and environmental protection, or to create positive impact and reduce negative impact in society.
Handbook: How to Create a Social Impact Podcast
Throughout the “Podcasting based social learning environment” project, an educational yet easily understandable material was created, providing recommendations on how to create your own social impact podcast as successfully as possible.
The material is organized into various thematic sections and provides advice on how to choose your podcast’s topic and communicate with your audience, as well as how to attract sponsors and analyze data.
You can view the compilation of recommendations HERE!
Guidelines for Creating a Podcast
If you have a desire to start your own social impact podcast but don’t know where to begin, then during this project, we also developed guidelines with recommendations for starting a podcast.
How to assess resources and plan the creation of your podcast? Is it necessary to immediately purchase expensive equipment, or can you get by with the technology available at home?
These and other questions are answered in the guidelines developed during our project, which can be viewed HERE.
This article has been created within the framework of the Podcasting-based social impact learning environment project, co-financed by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with Stories for Impact, Koç University Social Impact Forum – KUSIF, and Gerinorai.lt.
How to create your own social impact podcast?
The main goal of the project “Podcasting based social learning environment” is to inspire and train professionals from both the public and private sectors who are working or interested in defining, managing, measuring, and communicating the impact of their actions, as well as young people who want to use podcasts as a tool to create communication materials on topics related to people well-being and environmental protection or to create positive impact and reduce negative impact in society.
We invite you to take a look on the materials developed in the project!
A cluster approach in regenerative projects
Creating an enabling environment for successful and sustainable regeneration projects based on the cluster approach requires collaborative actions among diverse stakeholders, including public authorities, third-sector organisations, academia, and policy-makers. Social economy clusters link a unique membership composition to social and ecological innovation objectives and this approach combines the power of clusters with the forward-thinking principles of the New European Bauhaus to drive innovation and progress in a regenerative way.
Two excellent case studies like Roccavaldina and PLOUCS highlight the transformative power of clusters. These examples emphasise inclusive collaboration among businesses, SMEs, chambers of commerce and incubators. This approach prioritises sustainable and inclusive business models rooted in local communities. Moreover, such policy implications like the Social Economy Action Plan, Clusters for Social and Ecological Innovation and others serve as a guide for fostering transformative, inclusive, and aesthetically pleasing developments aligned with the New European Bauhaus vision.
Through analysis of such case studies it was agreed that stakeholder engagement, governance challenges, and financial sustainability as well as the need for inclusive, sustainable, and accountable regeneration efforts involving diverse partnerships is an essential part to implement regenerative projects successfully.
The Roccavaldina initiative, Italy
Roccavaldina is a village in Sicily of great historical and architectural value, located in a position of great scenic beauty overlooking the Gulf of Milazzo and the Aeolian Islands like a terrace. The great paradox of the socio-economic profile of the area lies in the fact that in contrast to the factors of identity, there is a deep social and economic fragmentation that is closely correlated with the progressive processes of decline.
The Roccavaldina initiative aims to establish a Park of Beauty and Science (PBS) with a holistic and interconnected approach, focusing on new biomaterials and bioplastics from circular economies. The project has three key components: rehabilitating an abandoned craftwork area, enhancing the architectural heritage, and reforestation for zero emissions. The transformation of an abandoned handicraft centre into a hub for research, training, and production involves the creation of a research centre, a bioplastics factory, and a lab for innovation. The synergy involves a public private partnership, attracting talents, and aligning with New European Bauhaus principles.
The organisational model involves collaboration between the municipality, MeSSInA Foundation, Ecos-Med Social Cooperative, and Horcynus Orca Foundation, following a participatory democratic process for strategic planning. The initiative creates opportunities for economic development, inclusiveness, and environmental responsibility and building cohesion through shared social norms and cooperation networks. The initiative aims to create co-working centres, educational-industrial centres, bio-plastic factories, and artistic/educational workshops to contribute to economic development, social cohesion, and cultural promotion in the Roccavaldina community.
There are several important links with the New European Bauhaus Initiative. Roccavaldina focuses on an ecosystemic approach, aesthetically enhancing local buildings through land art and promoting biodiversity preservation. The planting of over 2000 trees in a former landfill not only contributes to carbon negativity but also extends collective care beyond the human community. The circular economy hub’s role is to be a centre for green job training and upskilling, emphasising lifelong learning opportunities for vulnerable groups. A centre for social inclusion is providing a need based employment opportunities for vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities. This transformative approach integrates closely with the local municipality, acting as an intermediary in identifying beneficiaries and determining accessibility criteria. The engagement of local actors occurs at three levels: cluster members supporting identification and co-design, the local community participating in the regeneration process, and a mutual exchange partnership with the local municipality.
Read more about the good practice – the Roccavaldina initiative
PLOUCS, France
PLOUCS, the association for the development of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in the Landes founded in 2017, was born out of the initiative of a group of players committed to promoting the SSE in this area of south-west France. The Landes département, while offering great economic and natural diversity, was facing socio-economic challenges, notably unemployment and precariousness in some rural areas.
It comprises about 20 local SSE structures governed cooperatively and consisting entirely of legal entities. PLOUCS engages in various activities, including its SSE project incubator that provides project leaders with consulting, training, and co-working spaces funded by European and regional support. The organisation also develops educational tools, like the Kess’Essa game, which raises awareness of SSE and receives funding from the Landes department and regional sources.
PLOUCS drives the “Coopératives Jeunesse de Services” initiative, allowing young people aged 16 to 20 to engage in cooperative projects during the summer. It facilitates networking and cooperation between SSE actors, local authorities, and educational partners funded by the SSE region. The organisation is essential to promoting the SSE, supporting social entrepreneurs, raising awareness, and creating opportunities for youth involvement in cooperative projects. In so doing, PLOUCS contributes significantly to the economic and social development of the region.
PLOUCS demonstrates a strong alignment with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values, showcasing its commitment to integrating arts and culture, closing the loop through circular economy practices, and fostering social inclusion. In detail, PLOUCS practises participatory co-development with participative governance structures, working globally and embracing a multidisciplinary approach. Specifically, PLOUCS promotes art dissemination through Landes’Art, engages in circular economy and sustainable agriculture projects, prioritises social inclusion in its initiatives, and actively participates in national and international collaborations, including knowledge exchange with European clusters. PLOUCS’s efforts exemplify the principles of the NEB Compass, making it a noteworthy contributor to the vision of a more sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetically pleasing future.
Read more about the good practice – PLOUCS, France
Key Aspects for Success
The peer review discussions within the working groups have provided valuable insights into critical aspects of stakeholder engagement, governance challenges, and financial sustainability inherent in regional regeneration projects, with a specific focus on diverse cluster models. The overarching objective is to foster the development of self-sustainable projects capable of generating financial resources, ensuring the enduring viability of regional regeneration initiatives within the cluster framework.
- Financial sustainability: It is important to diversify funding sources beyond initial public investments, to search for innovative approaches, particularly embracing a cluster-based strategy for sustainable development, for example, virtual currencies not only as a medium of financial exchange but also as a tool for fostering a collaborative economic system.
- Inclusive stakeholder engagement: Stakeholders from public authorities, third-sector organisations, academia, and policy-makers should collectively mandate and facilitate inclusive stakeholder engagement models, such as co-design and co-planning particularly involving the community. Ensure diverse partnerships involving communities, social economy ecosystems, and academia.
- Transparent communication and governance: Transparent communication, robust feedback mechanisms, and conflict resolution strategies are crucial for successful management and governance in cluster-based regeneration projects.
Read more about these aspects as well as the summary of good practices – The Roccavaldina initiative in Italy and PLOUCS in France
The social economy missions were organised in the framework of project ‘SEA4NEB’ that aims at promoting social economy models to contribute to the New European Bauhaus and at how they can foster spatial and sectoral clusters, taking an ecological approach to cultural cooperation and territorial development with local authorities. The whole methodology of the project is based on a strong partnership at local level between the local authority and the SE actor, while Diesis Network will act as transnational facilitator and coordinator.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Gamified Social Entrepreneurship Educational Approach
In today’s fast-paced and entertaining digital world, it is crucial to reevaluate traditional education methods and make learning more accessible and understandable in both formal and non-formal education. There is a need for innovative approaches to make learning more engaging, effective, and enjoyable, as traditional classroom methods may not always resonate with students and do not offer engaging experience. The changes in the society, especially after recent challenges the world is facing such as Covid-19 pandemic and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have directly affected the work. Moreover, everyone should have an opportunity to explore their ideas of how society and communities can help one another, irrespective of the obstacles they may face. Entrepreneurship skills are valuable not only for aspiring entrepreneurs, but for anyone seeking to navigate the challenges of the modern world. It is essential to expand awareness of various social challenges and social entrepreneurship can be used as a powerful tool for addressing these issues to a broader audience. Game based learning offers a fresh and interactive way to teach complex subjects, to actively engage with the subject and inspire learners.
Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia together with Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) from Georgia, Tudatos Ifjúságért Alapítvány (TIA) from Hungary, CXJV Conexão Jovem Associação (CJ) from Portugal and Izglītojošo spēļu un metožu asociācija (ISMA) from Latvia have started a cooperation to explore fresh unconventional methods and to create an engaging and intuitive learning experience that can be easily adopted and understood by diverse audiences by using gamification as a tool within the project “ImpactED: Gamified Social Entrepreneurship Educational Approach” that will last until June 2025.
The objective of the cooperation is to explore and demonstrate how gamification can be effectively employed to enhance non- formal education and the learning process, specifically in the context of social entrepreneurship field as well as to contribute to the broader discussion on innovative educational approaches that not only make learning more enjoyable, but also equip learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to address pressing societal challenges through social entrepreneurship.
The project will implement a series of activities focused on developing innovative gamified educational materials for social entrepreneurship, including designing an interactive social entrepreneurship game, testing, creating guidelines and a video. These activities will actively engage young people to explore entrepreneurial opportunities that address societal issues and become more responsible citizens as well as social entrepreneurs to show their solutions as an example. The main result of the project will be an engaging and innovative educational game that can be used both in formal and non- formal education context, as well as youth training.
The impact of the cooperation and project results are aimed towards providing young people with sustainable problem-solving skills, empowering young individuals to address social issues effectively in the long term. As a result they will expand their capacities, particularly in critical thinking and problem-solving. This shift from theoretical learning to practical application will enable them to adapt and respond to emerging challenges with resilience and creativity in the future. It will enhance the quality of youth education, promote social entrepreneurship, and foster civic engagement.
RESULTS
- Research findings on the teaching methods preferred by young people and educational experts’ perspectives on incorporating games into the learning process.
- Successful examples of social entrepreneurship games and methods in Latvia, Georgia, Portugal, and Hungary.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission or Agency of International Programs for Youth. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Revitalising Rural Europe
The New European Bauhaus initiative emphasises the concept of “Regaining a sense of belonging” and focuses on preserving cultural heritage, integrating sustainable development principles, and involving local communities for socio-economic benefits. Two excellent examples of rural regeneration practices that align with these principles are Lūznava Manor in Latvia and The Whole Village in Romania.
Both initiatives are closely aligned with the New European Bauhaus values. Lūznava Manor embodies beauty, sustainability and regenerative practices. The Whole Village concept connects communities, prioritising sustainability, cultural heritage preservation and inclusive living. Both projects actively involve local communities, fostering collaboration, and addressing complex challenges in a transdisciplinary manner.
Lūznava Manor in Rēzekne, Latvia
Lūznava Manor stands as a testament to cultural revitalization and community development. Through meticulous restoration and collaborative strategies, the manor has become a cultural and social hub, contributing to the economic and social renaissance of the rural Latgale region. By repurposing historic buildings, engaging the local community, and championing sustainable nature management practices, Lūznava Manor has become a successful model of rural regeneration, aligned with the values of the New European Bauhaus.
The manor has already hosted 1,373 events and welcomed 113,000 visitors from 52 countries in the last three years, showcasing its transformative potential. Noteworthy achievements include repurposing historical buildings into dynamic cultural spaces, establishing a children’s playground, implementing residency programs for artists, and fostering a rich tapestry of creativity within the community. The inclusive role played by Lūznava Manor as a cultural hub is pivotal, fostering community bonds and providing a platform for social entrepreneurship to thrive. The project’s success is deeply rooted in a collaborative strategy that engages the local community, entrepreneurs and regional organisations, fostering inclusiveness and challenging discriminatory practices, trying to develop a new way of living together. Despite financial challenges, the manor is a compelling example of the transformative potential inherent in cultural revitalisation, showcasing its positive impact on rural regeneration and sustainable community development.
The Lūznava project, under the beautiful value, embodies the Bauhaus concept of beauty by integrating cultural and social values into the restoration of the main building. Modern IT solutions provide an interactive experience with authentic cultural heritage, promoting a sense of community through various cultural activities.
Read more about the good practice – Lūznava Manor in Latvia
The Whole Village Concept in Romania
The Whole Village concept focuses on the comprehensive restoration of cultural and natural heritage in Transylvanian rural areas. “Mihai Eminescu Trust” (MET) community-centric approach addresses depopulation and unemployment, resulting in the restoration of historic structures, tree planting, job creation, and cultural and eco-tourism development. The project is aligned with the New European Bauhaus values, promoting sustainability, heritage preservation, and inclusive community development.
MET’s remarkable achievements include successfully restoring 700 historic structures, planting three million trees, and creating 100 jobs, along with providing 140 seasonal opportunities during the peak tourist season. The initiative strategically leverages cultural and natural heritage to encourage tourism as a sustainable source of income for rural families. Beyond physical restoration, MET’s focus extends to community empowerment, education, and supporting local businesses. With an emphasis on inclusiveness, the initiative selects project leaders and teams, provides training, supports local entrepreneurs, and continually adapts for improvement. The project’s goal is to enable local communities to govern themselves, but cultural and historical factors are currently impeding progress.
The Whole Village project aims to connect various communities and individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing lives through meaningful social interactions and shared experiences. The project combines cultural and natural heritage to develop sustainable cultural tourism, create revenue for rural families, and improve their quality of life. Under the value of sustainability, the project is committed to regenerating and preserving cultural landscapes, promoting both agricultural heritage and tourism, and encouraging sustainable practices, such as sustainable tourism. Regarding building restoration, the project prioritises using sustainable materials and techniques while promoting traditional materials and involving skilled artisans.
The project’s efforts have yielded positive transformations, including increased educational levels, improved quality of life, and a shift towards sustainable practices and cultural preservation.
Read more about the good practice – The Whole Village in Romania
Key Aspects for Success:
By integrating creative and artistic industries with social economy organisations, it is possible to create clusters that promote specialised, integrated, multifunctional, and complementary economic activities. As in ecological systems, learning and adaptation are essential for survival and sustainability. Both initiatives prioritise the crucial concept of “belonging” in their rural regeneration and community revitalisation strategies. They achieve this by emphasising the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage sites to revitalise rural areas and contribute to overall development.
For such projects to be successful, several aspects are crucial:
- Financial sustainability: Rethinking financing approaches and innovative financing models are essential for long-term impact.
- Stakeholder engagement: Effective stakeholder engagement is pivotal, especially in rural areas and partnerships involving diverse stakeholders from the public and social economy sectors.
- Leadership in rural areas: Strong leadership is necessary to drive these initiatives forward.
- Self-driven co-creation models: Encouraging self-driven co-creation models can foster effective governance.
- Governance structure based on values: A governance structure based on values can help navigate complexities and ensure sustainable impact.
Read more about these aspects as well as the summary of good practices – Lūznava Manor in Latvia and The Whole Village in Romania
In conclusion, Lūznava Manor and The Whole Village are excellent examples of rural regeneration practices that align with the New European Bauhaus concept. By preserving cultural heritage, integrating sustainable development principles, and involving local communities, these initiatives contribute to socio-economic benefits and foster a sense of belonging in rural areas.
The social economy missions were organised in the framework of project ‘SEA4NEB’ that aims at promoting social economy models to contribute to the New European Bauhaus and at how they can foster spatial and sectoral clusters, taking an ecological approach to cultural cooperation and territorial development with local authorities. The whole methodology of the project is based on a strong partnership at local level between the local authority and the SE actor, while Diesis Network will act as transnational facilitator and coordinator.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Guidelines for creating social impact based podcasts
Have you ever thought you need your own podcast but don’t know where to start? How do you identify resources and plan your podcast? Do you need to buy expensive equipment straight away or can you get by with the equipment you have at home? Find out in the How to create a social impact-based podcast guide, which will help you take the first steps towards creating your own podcast!
The guidelines have been developed as part of the project “Podcasting-based social learning environment project”, which aims to inspire and train public and private sector professionals working or interested in defining, managing, measuring and communicating their impact, as well as anyone who wants to use a podcast as a tool to create positive impact and reduce negative impact in society.
Regenerative projects - revitalising disused areas
New European Bauhaus acts as a bridge between the world of science and technology and the world of art and culture to re-think the opportunities green and digital challenges could bring to our lives. Exploring various examples of social economy models and their development can foster understanding the New European Bauhaus principles as well as implementing them in a broader perspective.
Two good practices – The Split Youth Centre in Croatia and the Living Factory in Poland, of urban regeneration were analysed using peer review methodology and they showed some notable examples of community involvement, sustainable living and creative integration.
The Split Youth Centre and the Living Factory are two projects that align with the principles of the New European Bauhaus and could serve as inspiration for future urban regeneration and community development. These are transformative initiatives that have breathed new life into once-neglected spaces, showcasing the seamless integration of community engagement, sustainable living and creative ingenuity.
The Split Youth Centre in Split, Croatia
The Split Youth Centre in Split, Croatia aims to transform disused infrastructure into a functional co-creative space for various activities such as work, culture, creativity, sports and recreation. It seeks to improve the quality of life for local youth, artists, hobbyists, cultural and social activists, and the community by providing diverse programmes and events. The project addresses the need to revitalise unused infrastructure and promote artistic, creative and social engagement among the local community, particularly youth. Collaboration is at the heart of Youth Centre, as 28 public, civic and private organisations join forces to revitalise the neglected space. With hundreds of programmes and activities held throughout the year, more than 2,000 hours annually, the project has undeniably enriched the quality of life within the local community.
It resonates with the principles of the New European Bauhaus initiative, incorporating inclusive decision-making through collaborative governance. As a vibrant centre for creativity and community, it offers valuable inspiration for similar regional projects, proving the profound impact of revitalising spaces and nurturing the human spirit, one programme at a time.
Read more about the good practice – Split Youth Centre
The Living Factory Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
The Living Factory, situated in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland, is embarking on a remarkable journey of revitalising the former industrial area, carving out a vibrant centre that thrives on locally and socially rooted entrepreneurship. Grounded in the community’s needs, the Living Factory addresses the region’s pressing issue of economic transformation. With the mining industry’s decline, the project offers hope by fostering local entrepreneurship and generating job opportunities for those impacted by industry changes.
The Living Factory functions as a business incubator, bringing together social and economic partners to collaborate and create new businesses. The project advocates the potential of cooperatives to create job opportunities for individuals transitioning out of mining and mining-related industries. Comprehensive training programmes, mentoring and vital capital support are offered to budding entrepreneurs to help them realise their dreams.
The Living Factory project reflects the NEB initiative’s emphasis on economic transformation, sustainable living, and cooperation between different sectors.
Read more about the good practice – Living Factory
Representatives of several social economy organisations from Latvia, Italy, Croatia and Belgium analysed these good practices, using peer review. A peer review is a mutual and voluntary learning process between well-qualified equals based on systematic exchange of experiences and evaluation of policies, actions, programmes or institutional arrangements. The presented comment papers and peer review working groups provided valuable insights into important aspects of:
- Financial sustainability
- Ensuring Effective and Efficient Use of Public Funds
- Harnessing Innovative Strategies for Income Generation
- Leveraging Alternative Funding Sources
- Stakeholder engagement and collaborative partnerships
- Diverse Stakeholder Engagement Models
- Role of Social Economy
- Strengthening Collaborative Partnerships
- Effective management and governance
- Governance Models for Regeneration Projects
- Capacity building for urban regeneration
- Sustainability and Impact Management
Read more about these aspects as well as the summary of good practices – The Split Youth Centre in Croatia and the Living Factory in Poland
The social economy missions were organised in the framework of project ‘SEA4NEB’ that aims at promoting social economy models to contribute to the New European Bauhaus and at how they can foster spatial and sectoral clusters, taking an ecological approach to cultural cooperation and territorial development with local authorities. The whole methodology of the project is based on a strong partnership at local level between the local authority and the SE actor, while Diesis Network will act as transnational facilitator and coordinator.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
