Social Entrepreneurship Programme 2014/2015 was launched by organizing a tender for selection of participants. Forty-eight civil society organisations from all over the country interested in business activity or carrying out business to support their mission and objectives submitted their applications by June 20th.

The initiative is organized for a third time by the Bulgarian Center for Non-for-Profit Law, Programme and Analytical Centre for European Law Foundation and UniCredit Foundation with the support of the America for Bulgaria Foundation. It aims to stimulate NGOs to find the “meeting point” between their own social objectives and the principles of economic effectiveness and efficiency.

The largest number of applications was submitted from Sofia, and more specifically, 24 applications, followed by 4 applications from Varna and 3 applications from Burgas. Other organisations interested in participating were from big cities such as Plovdiv, Lovech, Gabrovo, Shumen, Sliven, Kyustendil, Pernik as well as from smaller locations such as Dimitrovgrad, Levski, Sozopol, Strelcha, Troyan, Dolni Vadin village, Vrav village, Lesichovo village. Half of the organizations have no experience in conducting business. All of them have been receiving support from volunteer workers.

The ideas to carry out business suggested by applicants can be grouped under several fields:

• Developing and selling products/services: candle and stoneware workshop, workshop on traditional ceramics, souvenirs made of natural materials, organic soap, unique textile accessories, workshop on specialized garden items made of recycable materials, pasta production, plant for the manufacturing of concrete, stone and marble items, pet shop, self-defence courses, massage studio, advertising and publishing center, etc.

• Services intended for a specific target audience: providing specialized educational services for children, educational programmes for children and young people and social services for vulnerable groups (laundry service for low-income households, nutrition assistance);

• Online stores for services and products and internet platforms for sharing resources and providing expert support.

At the end of August a committee will review the applicant organisations in the programme and choose the organizations which will be given the opportunity to compete for the prize worth a total of BGN 30 000.

Training seminars will be held at the end of September and the first half of October 2014. The selected NGOs will become familiar with the main topics related to the development of an idea and the preparation of a business plan with examples of successful social business in Bulgaria. Organisations will also be given the opportunity to develop their ideas into business plans with the support of programme advisors.

During the last phase of the social entrepreneurship programme each participant will be able to take part in the competition for the best business plan developed by an NGO. The prize provided by UniCredit Foundation and America for Bulgaria Foundation will be given to the three best projects.

For further information about the previous edition of the social entrepreneurship programme of an NGO and the winners, please visit: http://www.bcnl.org/bg/news/1242-тримата-финалисти-в-конкурса-за-найдобър-бизнес-план-на-нпо-са-вече.html.

More information for clients:

UniCredit Bulbank, Call Centre

Phone: 0700 1 84 84

More information for media:

UniCredit Bulbank, Identity & Communications Department

Viktoria Blajeva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Ekaterina Ancheva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 963, flbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Magdalena Ivanova, Phone: + 359 2 9232 528, nbhebmfob/jwbopwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch