SEAL Lookback at Achievements in 2024
Looking back at the achievements of 2024, we, the team of the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, conclude that this year has been a year of surprises, changes and innovations! We have met new partners who offer attractive benefits to SEAL members, started working on a record number of projects, started new traditions such as the two-day members retreat in the summer and the networking event for large and social enterprises, implemented the long cherished idea of a catalogue of social enterprise products/services and a photo exhibition with stories of social entrepreneurs, as well as changes in the team composition – two new colleagues have joined the Association’s team.
However, the many changes do not change the fact that SEAL continues to develop social entrepreneurship for long-term change in Latvia, working in three main directions – public awareness, capacity building of members and advocacy of interests. The annual report is also divided according to the Association’s areas of activity. Here is a look back at the key milestones for 2024!
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MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN 2024
Social Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition “Let The Good Ideas Grow”
The Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia for the sixth time organised the social entrepreneurship pitch competition “Let The Good Ideas Grow”, which has become a tradition. The competition was held in cooperation with Luminor Bank, Development Finance Institution ALTUM and charity shop network “Otrā Elpa”. The two winners each received a cash prize of €4,000! Each year, the competition is open to existing and emerging social entrepreneurs from all over Latvia who need funding to implement a new social entrepreneurship idea or an existing project. The final of “Let The Good Ideas Grow” was broadcast live on internet news media Delfi.lv.



Winners:
🏆 Jury’s Choice – Association “Tavi draugi” with the idea to refurbish and rent out donated items as inventory.
🏆In the live audience vote – Creative Sustainability Platform Bourzma with the idea to create a textile upcycling workshop for the production of sustainable clothing.
Sympathy Awards:
🏆”Luminor bank” Sympathy Award winner – initiative of Elīna Zandere “Health in Every Bite”, which offers specialised food production for people after oncological and other diseases.
🏆”ALTUM” Sympathy Award winner – association “Krapes muiža” with an idea for environmental improvement to promote rural tourism and the creation of a fishing spot for people in wheelchairs.
🏆 “Otrā Elpa” Sympathy Award – went to “Mombee.lv” – a platform for information, emotional and practical support for expectant and new parents, especially mothers with postnatal depression.
🏆The “Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia” Sympathy prize went to Izipizi.lv with the idea to develop a network of food lockers to promote the sale of local food.

PHOTO EXHIBITION “SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN LATVIA”
The colourful photo exhibition “Social Entrepreneurship in Latvia” introduced the public with 10 Latvian social enterprises and their creators working in different fields. The exhibition happened thanks to the support of Luminor Bank and ALTUM.
The exhibition was not only open to Riga residents and visitors, but also travelled to other cities in Latvia – Liepāja, Valmiera, Lūznava, Jelgava and Balvi!
Heroes of the exhibition: Visi Var; Ramala; Atbalsta māja “Brīvupes”; Visas Iespējas; RB Cafe; Dzīves oāze; Sonido; Difftravel; Barboleta; Neredzamā pasaule/ Sensorium
The exhibition is also available in digital version

NETWORKING EVENT FOR LARGE AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
At the beginning of September, a long-cherished dream of bringing social enterprises and large enterprises together came true! Under the leadership of SEAL, 15 social entrepreneurs and 15 representatives of big business gathered in the bustling premises of Āgenskalns Market to get to know each other, understand each other’s offer and needs, talk face to face and build new socially responsible business partnerships.
Participants – social enterprises:
| Visi Var | RaMaLa | Dabas Zirgi | Dspc Laipa | Neredzamā Pasaule | Tuvu | Esi/ | RB Cafe |BlindArt | Ziedoņa klase | GLASS POINT | tiptip.lv | Visas Iespējas | Sonido | Zvaigznājs
Participants – large companies:
| Rīgas meži | SCHWENK Latvija | Lidosta Rīga | Eco Baltia VIDE | SAF Tehnika | Valsts nekustamie īpašumi | Rīgas satiksme | Getliņi EKO | Omniva Latvija | DHL Express Latvia | ZAAO | Latvijas valsts meži | Rīgas ūdens | Latvijas Mobilais Telefons



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PROTECTION OF INTERESTS
NATIONAL LEVEL

In 2024, we would like to highlight:
🟣Work with the Ministry of Welfare on the Social Economy Plan. Active participation of the SEAL and various recommendations in the development of the plan.
🟠ALTUM grant launch event at Āgenskalns Market. The available funding is 7 million euros and will support around 120 social entrepreneurship business ideas.
🟢Evaluation of the “Augšup” grant programme. 21 applications were received from companies and idea developers from the municipalities of the Pierīga region, who competed for a total amount of 52 thousand euros. SEAL Director Regita Zeiļa was among the jury members who evaluated the applications. 9 social entrepreneurship ideas were funded, two of which are also our members: the Privātā Glūdas pamatskola/mājskola un Laimes bļoda! Watch the event report HERE!
🟣Meeting the European Parliament election candidates. These meetings were important for the Association to understand to what extent the parties are interested in the development of the social economy and what should be done in this field at European level. 5 parties responded to the meeting. Click HERE to view the galleries!
🟠Meeting of social entrepreneurs with Riga City Council representatives. This event was a great opportunity not only to raise awareness about the social economy ecosystem and the role of social enterprises in it, but also to share real stories of social entrepreneurs; experiences, as well as to work practically on various topics relevant to social entrepreneurs. View the gallery HERE!
🟢Following the recommendation and opinion of SEAL , changes have been made to the Public Procurement Law, including the possibility to reserve the possibility to participate in procurement procedures only for candidates or tenderers with SE status and employing target groups (at least 30%). Previously, the law only covered people with disabilities, but now there is a much broader view.
PROTECTION OF INTERESTS
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

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REPRESENTATION
Members elect the SEAL Council at the General Meeting for a two-year term. It acts as the strategic advisory body of the Association, defining the main directions of the SEAL’s activities and voting on the admission of new SEAL members.
At the end of 2024, the Council changed with the addition of Dace Indrika and Jānis Broks. The current Council will remain in place until 23 November 2025. Many thanks to Kristīne Vērpēja and Māris Grāvis for their work on the Council so far!
The day-to-day duties of the Association are carried out by its Director Regita Zeiļa, Project Manager Līva Švarce and Event Coordinator Līga Ivanova. The team has grown bigger this year with the addition of new colleagues – Project Coordinator Annija Krūmiņa and Project Manager Anete Urka.
This year also marked an expansion of the SEAL’s capacity to participate in the various discussions where important decisions are made. SEAL representation is ensured:
- Ministry of Welfare Social Enterprise Commission (Inga Muižniece, SEAL Council Chair)
- The Council of the Society Integration Foundation (Liene Reine-Miteva, SEAL Council Member)
- EU Funds Monitoring Sub-Committee “A More Social Europe” (Regita Zeiļa, SEAL Director)
The Association is a member of several international networks – ENSIE (European Network of Social Integration Enterprises) and DIESIS Network – one of the largest networks specialising in supporting the social economy, social entrepreneurship and social innovation. Since 2021, SEAL is also a member of the Latvian Civic Alliance, the largest umbrella organisation for the non-governmental sector.



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OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
SEAL is a non-governmental membership organisation whose members are not only social enterprises, but also individuals and associations, companies, foundations that participate in the development of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem. At the end of 2024, there were 140 members in the Association.
Special benefits for SEAL members:
🟢Useful contacts and new cooperation opportunities;
🟢”Member-to-member” discount offers;
🟢First to know in an aggregated form about various funding opportunities, current events in the field;
🟢Participation in networking events, trainings, visits to other social enterprises in Latvia and abroad organised by SEAL;
🟢Participation in discussions with representatives of local governments and ministries and other related organisations and institutions;
🟢Special offers for SEAL members only, such as the opportunity to apply for a Christmas donation worth 400 euros, to apply for health insurance, to upgrade/create your website or other digital solution for free, to be featured in a catalogue with your service/product;
🟢Additional visibility and recognition – on SEAL social media, in the traditional media, at local and international conferences and discussion panels.
2024 events for members: 1.training event “How to communicate to reach your customer?”, 2.inspiration and experience afternoon “Do you need your own podcast?” 3.SEAL General Assembly, 4.Members networking event in Sigulda city at the social enterprise “Visi Var”, 5.Two-day summer holiday event at “Upeslīči Atpūtai”, 6.SEAL members networking and training event at “Atver Durvis Betānijā”, 7.International Social Entrepreneurship Day and SEAL Birthday – experience stories, 8.Christmas event – gingerbread baking at Āgenskalns market.
There was also a meeting with the Riga City Council on support opportunities for social entrepreneurs in Riga, as well as two members meetings with the Ministry of Welfare. In cooperation with “VAIRO”, we organised a seminar for members on financial wellness, as well as an informative webinar on the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, participated in an event on mentoring skills development, etc.



OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
EXPERIENCE EXCHANGE ABROAD
International exchanges also marked 2024. During this year, members worked with colleagues abroad on topics such as social impact assessment, adult and public education, sustainability and green living, representation of the enterprise and international networking.
In May, three SEAL members travelled to cities in the northern region of Poland to visit social enterprises there. Read more about the trip HERE! In September we hosted the Social Entrepreneurship Association from Poland and the social enterprise KNOF from Slovenia here in Latvia. During three days we introduced the foreign guests to different Latvian social enterprises and organisations that include adult and public education in their activities. In total, 9 SEAL member organisations were involved in hosting the guests. Find out more about the visit HERE!
For the second year in a row, the Baltic Sea Impact Network brings together more than 50 social entrepreneurs from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark and Ukraine, creating a space to gain useful contacts and knowledge for the development of their business. Latvia is represented by 10 social entrepreneurs. In October, 30 members of the network gathered in Tallinn to meet in person and participate in the Impact Day Sustainability Festival. A recap of the event is available HERE!
We hosted Danijela Paska, a researcher representing ACT Grupa, the leading social economy promoters in Croatia, for a two-day exchange visit. Both theoretically and practically, members had the opportunity to learn more about social impact assessment methods. The Croatian researcher also visited SEAL members – “Latvian Samaritan Association” and “Free Riga”. Find out more about the visit HERE!



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INFORMING SOCIETY
In 2024 we would like to highlight:
🟣Participation in the discussion and social experiment on employment opportunities for people with mental disabilities at the “Lampa” discussion festival together with the Latvian Samaritan Association.
🟠Opening of the photo exhibition “Social Entrepreneurship in Latvia”. In cooperation with Luminor Bank and ALTUM, SEAL invited the public to get acquainted with 10 Latvian social enterprises and their creators working in different fields. The exhibition toured several Latvian cities and was featured in more than 20 media publications. View the digital version of the exhibition HERE!
🟢Information event in cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare on European Union funding opportunities for social entrepreneurs. 42 participants attended the event.
🟣Presentation at the conference “Opportunities and Challenges of the Social Economy” within the Social Entrepreneurship Week. The final conference was well attended by sector related organisations, politicians, social entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.
🟠Leading a panel discussion on youth entrepreneurship at the Baltic Sustainability Awards event.



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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

In 2024, we worked on a record number of projects – 13 – many of which started in that year.
In 2024, we started work on:
The Interreg project aims to improve the social entrepreneurship environment at regional level – in the case of this project focusing specifically on Zemgale and Northern Lithuania. The project will: develop practical educational materials on social entrepreneurship for schools and business centres, strengthen the skills of social entrepreneurs and organise experience exchange trips, improve the capacity of the public sector to develop social entrepreneurship.
SICC – Social Innovation Competence Centre. Conventional solutions to many challenges are no longer effective, which is the main reason why Social Innovation Competence Centres are being set up across Europe. In the long term, such a centre will be established in Latvia by the Centre for Social Integration and SEAL will have the opportunity to contribute to its creation.
DO Impact project will provide various opportunities for SMEs to learn digital technologies and data management to address social challenges more effectively.
Scaling Catalyst – 91% of social entrepreneurs across Europe want to scale their businesses and the Scaling Catalyst project aims to provide social entrepreneurs and their supporting organisations with the tools they need to scale.
ValuEU project aims to bring together higher education institutions and social innovation actors, as these groups play a key role in the innovation landscape and often university students/graduates become agents of innovation and change in society. New problem-solving models based on the experience of the target audiences will be developed in cooperation with both parties.
ThinkGoal offers Latvian social entrepreneurs the opportunity to exchange experiences with Polish and Slovenian social entrepreneurs and support organisations on sustainability, adult and community education.
ImpactED is developing an educational game on social entrepreneurship that can be used as a teaching tool in schools to make learning about social entrepreneurship more engaging.
In 2024, we continued our work on:
BSIN – Baltic Sea Impact Network aims to build international cooperation and exchange of experience among social entrepreneurs. The network has 50 members from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark and Sweden.
EU Fund Guardians provide the SEAL with the opportunity to participate in the Monitoring Sub-Committee “A More Social Europe” of the European Union Funds 2021- 2027 programming period and to work together with different ministries, to take part in discussions on investments.
BuySocial – the cooperation of many European countries in this project significantly raises awareness and cooperation opportunities between social and traditional enterprises. This means more successful and socially responsible partnerships.
B-Wise project ended in November 2024. For four years, European countries collected and analysed data on social entrepreneurs for labour integration and looked for ways to support them. During the project, the Latvian Samaritan Association obtained licences for three training programmes.
PODIMP project ended in April 2024. Its main objective was to use the podcast as a tool to create communication materials on the social impact of social entrepreneurs.
THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS! MAY 2025 BRING NEW OPPORTUNITIES!

ESEM: Lack of social entrepreneurship’s understanding hinders its growth
European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM) is a biennial survey-based study of social entrepreneurship across Europe. It aims to provide decision-makers, social entrepreneurs and their staff, academia and civil society with data on social entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurs and the ecosystem. The latest report reveals important facts not only European, but also the development and trends of the Latvian social entrepreneurship sector in 2023 and 2024. The report offers insights into the sector’s impact, innovations, barriers and future opportunities. The results of the ESEM 2023/2024 were launched on 23 January at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Essential aspects of social entrepreneurship in Latvia
Currently there are 242 active social enterprises in Latvia – based on the 3rd of February 2025 data of the register of Social Enterprises of the Ministry of Welfare. A social enterprise is a limited liability company (SIA) that carries out economic activities and generates positive and significant social impact in one of three ways: by employing target groups, by improving the quality of life of groups whose lives are affected by problems of major importance (e.g. by producing specialised goods or services for them), or by carrying out other activities of importance to society that generate lasting positive social impact (e.g. supporting science, protecting and preserving the environment).
On 1 April 2018, the Social Enterprise Law entered into force, providing a legal framework, both in terms of the criteria for becoming a social enterprise and elaborating the support for this type of business.
The ESEM report provides a comprehensive analysis of trends in the activities of social entrepreneurship organisations, including social enterprises, NGOs and foundations.
Key trends in social entrepreneurship
Focus on promoting public well-being. Latvian social entrepreneurs are active in healthcare (30.5%), education (28%) and reducing social inequalities. The strategic priorities of the companies are mainly based on social impact, and 66.7% of the respondents consider social impact to be important in decision-making.
There is a growing interest in environmental sustainability. Social entrepreneurs have a consistent focus on social objectives, but in recent years there has been a growing interest in environmental sustainability, in particular the integration of circular economy principles into business operations. Many companies are seeking to integrate more responsible processes into their internal operations, such as material recycling and waste reduction.
Innovation and adaptation. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies implemented digital transformation processes, developed new products and expanded target groups, thereby increasing the sector’s resilience and level of innovation.
“ESEM report shows that while the sector faces a number of challenges, it continues to evolve and contribute to significant societal change. This study is an essential tool for policy makers and entrepreneurs to develop targeted support and promote sustainable growth,”
says Regita Zeiļa, Director of the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia.
Key challenges for social entrepreneurs
Economic and political conditions. Inflation, the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine are the main challenges that have an impact on the stability of the sector. 33.3% of respondents indicated that these factors were a major obstacle to their companies’ operations.
Lack of financial stability. 51% of companies noted that the stability of their financial planning is temporary – up to six months. This reflects the need for sustainable support mechanisms and new sources of income.
Lack of awareness among the public and support organisations. 22.2% of enterprises indicated that the lack of understanding of social entrepreneurship by the private sector – banks, investors and public institutions makes it difficult for them to operate and develop.
The report also provides recommendations on how to mitigate these challenges. The main proposal highlighted is the creation of a special tax incentive system for social enterprises, supported by 74.1% of respondents. It also recommends the creation of specific state and local government funding mechanisms and the promotion of cooperation with the private sector.
About ESEM
ESEM is a study that aims to collect data on the social entrepreneurship sector across Europe in order to promote evidence-based policy and support mechanisms. ESEM is managed at European level by the Euclid Network and national surveys are organised by European social economy support organisations. In Latvia, the survey was implemented by the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia in cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare, Reach for Change and the EKA University of Applied Sciences. Every two years there is a joint ESEM Europe report, while individual country data and analysis are available in national reports. The data collected by ESEM includes observations analysing 1807 social entrepreneurs’ responses from 30 European countries. These responses were collected in 2023 and 2024.
The ESEM report about whole Europe will be published soon HERE. At the moment there is available an informative material about the most important facts from the report.
Read the summary of the report on the situation in Latvia
Read the full report (in English) on the social entrepreneurship environment in Latvia
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 TALK ABOUT LATVIA INTERNATIONALLY?
To showcase and talk about examples of social entrepreneurship in Latvia on a broader scale, from September 24 to 26, the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia (SEAL) hosted foreign guests – the WAMA COOP Association for Social Entrepreneurship from Poland and the social enterprise KNOF from Slovenia – and introduced them to various Latvian social enterprises and organizations that incorporate adult and community education, as well as green living and sustainability into their work.
The represented fields included literature, music and performing arts, environmental adaptability, startups, green lifestyle, catering and event organizing, idea workshops, education, and more. We participated in visits, engaged in practical activities, and also held discussions, exchanging experiences with each other.
We introduced the guests not only to social entrepreneurs in Riga, but also visited the city of Jelgava, which is a great example of how a growth-promoting environment is being created not only in the capital.
And now, a little more about what we experienced:
DAY 1
In the morning of the first day of visit, representatives from three countries gathered in the cozy office of the Open Society Foundation “DOTS,” where we got to know each other a bit better. We also introduced our project partners with social entrepreneurship and the field of the social economy in Latvia, as well as the various focus areas of SEAL, one of which is education of a society.
Inga Muižniece, the founder of the social enterprise “Sonido,” shared her success story. “Sonido” is a call center for people who feel lonely and want someone to talk to. As representatives from KNOF and WAMA-COOP pointed out, neither Poland nor Slovenia has a similar phone line dedicated to people, who simply want to talk and to feel heard.
After Inga’s inspiring story, it was time to stretch our legs and to physically visit other SEAL members and explore their experiences in their actual working environments.
The first in-person visit was to the SEAL member, the non-governmental organization “Apeirons,” which actively educates the public on various issues related to improving the quality of life for people with different types of disabilities. Public education takes place in many forms – through social media and influencers, interviews in traditional media, and memorable advertising campaigns. We saw several of these campaigns in the “Apeirons” office and learned the stories behind their creation. “Apeirons” has also developed an innovative service called “Sensory Lunch,” where participants, during the meal, learn several sign language signs, gain insight into Braille, and learn about environmental accessibility.
After a lunch at the social enterprise café “Boršč in Old Town of Riga/Delicious with Ukrainian women”, which provides employment opportunities for people from Ukraine, we headed to the museum of SEAL member, the social enterprise “Invisible World.” This enterprise educates the public about vision impairments through an interactive experience. In the “Invisible World” museum, visitors, guided by a blind guide, walk through completely dark rooms and try to complete various tasks related to touch and movement. At the end of the activity, visitors have a chance to ask the blind guide various questions to better understand the daily life of a visually impaired person and the barriers they face every day.
DAY 2
On the second day of the visit, we traveled to Jelgava City, where we met the people making a difference in the city and its surrounding areas.
The day began musically with a visit to the social enterprise “BJMK Rock School” the only accredited music school offering a professional music education program in “Rock Music.” Here, not only children and young people, but also adults can fulfill their dream of learning rock music by playing rock instruments and mastering vocal skills. We saw this firsthand when one of the school’s teachers greeted us with a song and a virtuosic guitar performance.
By organizing various events, the rock school also contributes to the city’s cultural and community life, providing its students a platform to showcase their talent to a wider audience.
The city of Jelgava is actively creating an environment where social entrepreneurship and various citizen initiatives can thrive. One of the key contributors to this effort is “KOPRADE,” a special space for young people established by the Zemgale Business Center. Young people aged 13 to 25 from the Zemgale region come together here to enhance their entrepreneurial skills. The Zemgale Planning Region (ZPR) promotes not only traditional entrepreneurship, but also supports social entrepreneurs and creators of social innovation. SEAL collaborates with ZPR to promote social entrepreneurship and innovation in this region.
The Zemgale Regional Competence Development Center (ZRKAC) provides lifelong learning opportunities tailored to the needs of the Zemgale region’s residents, considering the wishes and needs of every individual. The center embraces various innovative methods and organizes a grant competition for social entrepreneurs called “Impulse.”
On the way back to Riga, we stopped by the social enterprise “Branku Brančotava,” a catering and event venue. It was established by the association “Tuvu,” which helps families in Latvia who are in need and lonely individuals. The organization also works with young people by organizing camps and events. Thanks to the profits from the charity shop “Tuvu” and the cultural venue “Branku Brančotava,” various charity projects are carried out.
DAY 3
The visit to the second-hand clothing and goods store “Otrā Elpa” (Second Breath) was a fantastic opportunity to purchase beautiful and practical souvenirs as mementos of the trip. The company’s team introduced the guests to ways of caring for the environment by applying business methods. This meeting was especially valuable for the Slovenian company KNOF, as they, like “Otrā Elpa,” specialize in the reuse and resale of clothing and furniture. Both companies shared their experiences and exchanged ideas.
From saving the planet, we moved to literature. The social enterprise “Ziedoņa klase” (Ziedonis Class) introduced the Polish and Slovenian guests to Latvia’s outstanding poet and thinker Imants Ziedonis. The organization focuses heavily on educating and inspiring teachers, because only inspired and happy teachers can make their students feel the same way. They also offer activities for children – classes can sign up for a team-building game in a closed room inspired by Imants Ziedonis’ works, where students solve various puzzles.
The day continued in an artistic atmosphere as we arrived at the creative spaces of the social enterprise “Zvaigznājs,” where young performing artists express themselves musically and creatively using modern sound and visual techniques. The studio was created by the well-known Latvian singer Agnese Rakovska, who represented Latvia in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
“Viskaļi” also offers workspace for creative and positively “crazy” people who want to develop their ideas, projects, or businesses while looking for a vibrant community to grow in. The large and empty former building of the Riga Technical University was given to the social enterprise “Free Riga,” which renamed the space “Viskaļi.” They’ve also been granted two other buildings in Riga, where new tenants are breathing life into these spaces.
At “Viskaļi,” the foreign guests, shared impressions, discoveries, and feelings from the past few days.
Here are a few quotes from the them:
“A great opportunity to meet like-minded people with similar life paths and challenges. After participating in such an event, I no longer feel so alone in my work. I feel positively ‘recharged.’”
“The visit program was very rich. I liked that we had the opportunity to meet representatives from various fields.”
“Great experience! I gained new ideas on how I can help develop new initiatives in NGOs in Poland.”
We extend our thanks to our members and social entrepreneurship support organizations that opened their doors to our guests and shared their stories: Sonido; Apeirons; NeredzamaPasaule.lv; BJMK; Zemgale Planning Region;, Zemgale Regional Competence Development Center; Branku Brančotava; Otrā Elpa; Ziedoņa klase; Zvaigznājs and Viskaļi.
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The trip took place as part of the project “Think globally, act locally – international partnership for effective social entrepreneurship education,” co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program.

Call for applications for the annual Social Entrepreneurship pitch competition
Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia in cooperation with Luminor bank keeps their tradition and organises the Social Entrepreneurship pitch or presentation competition ”Let the good ideas grow 2024”. The aim of the competition is to promote the development of existing social enterprises and new social entrepreneurship ideas, as well as to share the ideas across Latvia. This year, the total prize fund – funding to implement a social business idea or develop an organisation – is €8,000. The participation in the competition is free of charge and the application is open until 20 September: https://ej.uz/pičs_2024
The competition is open to existing and emerging social entrepreneurs from all over Latvia. They can be companies with or without social enterprise status, associations and foundations that need funding to implement a new idea or an existing project. In addition individuals who are still cherishing their social entrepreneurship idea and looking for start-up funding can also apply. The main aspect for eligibility is that an organisation or business idea fits the essence and definition of social entrepreneurship – producing goods or services to solve a social problem and benefit society.
“Year after year, we see that the prize money is an important boost for both existing and emerging social enterprises. And funding is not the only benefit – participants also gain good public visibility and recognition, learn how to present their idea professionally, and establish contacts and business partnerships with other social entrepreneurs. Every year we also introduce thematic accents – this year those top 10 participants whose product or service is a social innovation, or addresses sustainability issues, focuses on preserving nature and green course will receive special prizes,”
says Regita Zeiļa, director of Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia.
“The cooperation with the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia and the pitch competition for social entrepreneurs has become an annual tradition. Every year it is inspiring to see new ideas and commitment to something that is relevant, topical and even unaddressed for society. We are glad that social entrepreneurs keep their finger on the pulse of society’s needs, thus also raising a need and finding solutions for it,” says Kerli Vares, Head of Luminor banka Latvia.
The competition is organised in three rounds, to apply please read the REGULATIONS (in Latvian) of the competition and fill in the APPLICATION FORM (in Latvian). The 25 strongest ideas will be shortlisted for the second round of the competition, where the participants will receive training on how to best pitch their ideas. The finale of the contest will take place on 17 October in Riga, where the ten finalists will present their ideas on the stage with a five minute pitch to the jury and a live audience across Latvia. The live broadcast of the competition will be available on “Delfi.lv”. Viewers will also have the opportunity to vote for their favourite.
Two social entrepreneurs or authors of social entrepreneurship ideas each will receive a cash prize of €4000 to develop their business or idea. The winners are determined by a jury and a live vote of the audience.
The pitch competition “Let the good ideas grow” will take place for the fifth year. Last year, 99 participants entered the competition, and the final winner was the social entrepreneurship initiative “Is it easy to put on trousers?” by Zane Bērziņa from Ogre, which produces specialised clothing for people with reduced mobility, with the aim of making their everyday life easier and helping them to integrate into society. The second winner was “BJMK Rokskola”, a social enterprise from Jelgava offering alternative music education in a supportive environment.
“Winning the pitch competition has given us the opportunity to turn a dream and an idea into reality – we have established a company that has already been granted the status of a social enterprise, created a website – online shop vilbers.com, purchased materials, created production patterns and prototypes. After the publicity of the competition, I have been contacted by countless people through social networks who are very much looking forward to this garment and are happy that finally there will be such a product on the Latvian market, and someone is thinking about the needs of these people,” says Zane Bērziņa, founder of the social enterprise “Vilbers”, after winning the 2023 competition.
The competition “Let the good ideas grow” is organised by the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia in cooperation with Luminor bank for the fifth year with the aim to promote the development of existing social enterprises and new social entrepreneurship ideas, as well as to raise awareness about social entrepreneurship ideas and initiatives. The competition is supported by the Charity shop “Otrā elpa”, news portal Delfi.lv and the Development Finance Institution “Altum”, co-financed by the European Union (ESF project number 4.3.3.3/1/24/I/001 “Support for Social Entrepreneurship”).
Social Tourism Development in Latvia
Social tourism is inclusive for different groups of people and accessible to everyone. Since 2014, the discussions on the concept of social tourism have started and there were several attempts to introduce it in Latvia. Social entrepreneurs seem to be the most suitable to implement the concept of social tourism, however social entrepreneurship in the tourism and hospitality sector has only recently emerged.
Social entrepreneurship is a type of business where the main objective is not to make a profit for business owners, but to solve a social problem or to create a benefit for society and to reduce the negative impact on the environment and disadvantaged communities. Social entrepreneurship is also increasingly developing in the regions of Latvia, and tourism is an area that has great potential for financial diversification of organisations, which is often one of the biggest challenges for businesses in the regions.
Tourism trends after Covid-19
The tourism industry is based on directing the flow of travellers and regulating their presence in specific places – tourist destinations. Tourism products are very diverse, both services and goods – they are unlimited in time and space. Business thrives where opportunities and an enabling environment are created. COVID 19 pandemic has had a major impact on the tourism industry and has changed the habits of tourists. Local tourism has been boosted, tourism services are becoming more specific and varied, and businesses are diversifying their products. This summer’s campaign “Visit Latvia’s Castles and Manors 2022” that was organised by the Latvian Association of Castles and Manors in cooperation with LIAA, shows that at the moment the most frequent travellers are families, couples and small groups of friends. International tourism has seen a decline in the share of group trips and in the markets generating tourists. In general, an increase of interest has been observed in nature tourism, individual experiences, including catering in non-traditional settings such as ‘Home Café Days’ or dinner on the lake. More and more people are thinking about health and health prevention measures. There is also a demand for masterclasses offering activities related to art, gastronomy, sports, spending time with loved ones and pets. There are many successful examples of animal therapy, allowing people to interact with trained dogs, horses and other pets.
Latvian social enterprises in tourism
Armands Muižnieks, a professional guide, lecturer at Turiba University and RSU, says that in one of the international conferences it was mentioned that the traveler society is changing from an information society to a dreamer society. Travelers are fascinated by sensations and adventures and less interested in information that is available to everyone. Latvian social enterprises such as “Emociju laboratorija” and “Glass Point ” offer previously mentioned masterclasses in the arts. The social enterprise “Brīvupes” in the municipality of Balvi offers animal therapy – canister therapy with dogs. The social enterprise “Nature horses” in Ķekava municipality offers experience with horses and promotes their welfare. This is also a time of opportunity for entrepreneurs from small tourist destinations in the regions, towns and countryside to create an offer that may not be their main source of income, but that can help to diversify and stabilize their income. Sometimes ideas are born by chance, adapting observations or examples seen on trips abroad. This year, a new social enterprise, “Kultūras tūrisms”, has started their activity, Indulis Bērziņš, the founder says:
“What I do is nothing new. The first Glemping came about a long time ago, when rich people brought luxury tents to sleep in the middle of nowhere in the desert. However, our niche is to be able to stay in places in Latvia where it hasn’t been possible before, and to be at the heart of great cultural places and people who are already successfully welcoming guests, just without overnight accommodation. This is a new offer in Latvia and possibly in the world.”
Current tourism trends also mean a distinctive tourism product targeted at a specific market segment – one that is not a mass tourism product. There is therefore great potential for tailor-made tourism services, such as a floating raft in a Finnish lake with facilities for wheelchair users to fish through holes drilled in the floor – just like ice fishing, with safety precautions. Muižnieks also mentions the example of how he and a wheelchair-using student from SIVA College thought about creating high beds for growing vegetables and spices so that wheelchair users could sow, plant, weed and harvest their own crops. Another successful Latvian example is the social enterprise “Visi var” in Sigulda, which both produces its own design and household goods, involving people with disabilities, and also sells the goods it produces. These include various themed candles, crockery, clothing and accessories, and could certainly be souvenirs of various tourist destinations if production is expanded.

Accessibility
Accessible environment in general is of great importance – for example, in Liepāja, a blind guide Artūrs Līvmanis offers guided tours. As he says in an interview, “Liepaja has a good system of traffic lights and sound, as well as a public transport loudspeaker that announces the number and destination of the bus at each stop, so you can hear it outside.” Accessibility and universal design are issues that should be on the agenda of every tourism service. For tourism to thrive, there must be tourist attractions (man-made or natural), accessible environment (including easy-to-use transport systems) and adequate tourism infrastructure. This is an issue for many tourism destinations in different regions of Latvia and needs to be addressed. Once this is sorted out, operators will find ways to provide services. For example, the social enterprise “Difftravel” is already exploring accessibility and offering tours for people with mobility, visual or hearing impairments to appropriate locations in the Baltic States and plans to develop further destinations for trips abroad.
Social entrepreneurs have a much better understanding of social issues and where to develop tourism and hospitality services for different groups in society. For example, the social enterprise “Neredzmā pasaule” offers guided tours in the dark led by blind guides. Such specific services are one way of promoting public awareness and integration of people with disabilities. The most important aspect of such offers is that the service must comply with the principles of social entrepreneurship. The service must be safe, of good quality and accessible; it cannot be only a marketing slogan. Often entrepreneurs get carried away with the idea and forget that the interests of the client are the most important aspect of successfully selling the service. Competition in the tourism industry is high, so the quality of the service is important. The recipient of a service will not choose a service or product just because it is offered by a social enterprise. At the same time, it is important to explain to the general public why the results and impact of the work of social entrepreneurs is important, and sometimes the prices of the service may be higher – it is not profit for the owner, it has a higher added value.
Muižnieks also points out that on average it takes three years for a company to conquer a market and feel stable. It takes time and human resources to prepare and prioritise a tourism product, find partners, find sales channels, attract customers through social media, etc. Once a clear offer has been defined, it is necessary to involve sector or industry associations to find partners who can advise on marketing activities or implementation. In the tourism and hospitality sectors, cooperation plays an important role. In the tourism sector, help is available at national level from the LIAA Tourism Department, regional tourism associations, tourist information offices and centres, professional associations and business incubators.
This article was written in the framework of the project “Social Entrepreneurs for Tourism”, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.
