As part of a study visit to Belgrade, we gained experience in the functioning of social enterprises with the aim of applying them in Brčko

The project team and representatives of partner civil society organizations within the project “Socio-Economic Inclusion in Brčko District BiH – SEI” visited Belgrade in order to gain insight into positive practices of establishing social enterprises.

According to the dynamics of the implementation of the SEI project, financed by the Government of the Czech Republic through the Development Agency of this country, with the support of the Government of Brčko District and the implementation of CARE International Balkans and the Brčko District Development-Guarantee Fund (RGFBD), the capital of the Republic of Serbia was visited by employees of the SEI Centre, RGFBD, as well as representatives of partner non-governmental organizations – The Youth Center “Vermont”, Citizens’ Association “DEMOS” and Citizens’ Association “Vjera i nada”.

The aim of the visit was that the representatives of the mentioned project actors have the opportunity to witness good practices of establishing and operating different modalities of social enterprises, where Belgrade represents one of the leading environments in the countries of the region.

One of the positive examples when it comes to the non-governmental sector, especially in supporting women and girls who are victims of human trafficking and who have suffered domestic violence, is the Citizens’ Association “Atina” Belgrade. In addition to various forms of education and psycho-economic empowerment of the mentioned groups, the founders of “Atina” also made an additional step by establishing the company “Bagel Bejgl”, where the brand is precisely the production of bagel sandwiches, but also other bakery products and sweets.

“Certainly, our company is also known for catering services, not only in Belgrade but throughout Serbia. What is more important to us than that is the fact that through work in the company we train many young people to work in the kitchen, then we organize training in the sales segment, and, for example, in working with a cash register,” said the director of “Atina” Marijana Savić, particularly emphasizing that they are proud when some renowned hospitality company approaches them wanting to employ those who have completed training with them.

In addition to what was seen within “Atina”, another extremely interesting and practically feasible story is the Belgrade Citizens’ Association for the support of persons with developmental disabilities “Naša kuća”, within which also operates a social enterprise. The association was founded by parents of children with developmental difficulties in 2007, and within it various forms of education are provided. Several sections operate here with the aim of developing different skills in persons with developmental disabilities. The social enterprise exists without direct municipal budget support, but with significant assistance of socially responsible companies, i.e. firms, as well as by applying for a wide spectrum of different calls for donor funds of international level.

“We operate through two segments: collecting and recycling hard paper, that is, the covers of packs of world-branded cigarettes, which ultimately results in the production of cardboard and cardboard boxes of various sizes. There is also the production of paper bags, handmade paper and printing. The second segment of work is the production of edible and aromatic herbs and sweets,” emphasized Gordan Jovanović, head of General Affairs of the association, stressing that both forms of activity have long since been branded and recognized, not only in Belgrade but also throughout Serbia.

In addition, certainly the primary goal of “Naša kuća” is the socialization and occupational therapy of persons with developmental disabilities.

“The main goal of all activities is for people with developmental disabilities to reach their maximum in community inclusion, by applying different types of occupational therapy and specific work tasks, in order to help their empowerment,” emphasized work assistant Dušan Rakovac, noting that the results of joint efforts are more than visible and recognized in the wider environment.

Otherwise, eight persons are employed in the enterprise, and there is continuous support from the parents of all members, so in “Naša kuća” they believe in the continuation and further expansion of this recognized and very positive story.

The final part of the study visit to Belgrade, with the aim of gaining insight into positive practices of functioning of different forms of social enterprises, was spent by the SEI project actors in the family company for professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities “Freestyle Trade d.o.o”, which has been operating since 2007.

The company deals with the production of sweets and catering services, and employs seventeen persons with disabilities.

“Our employees are very hardworking people, who are, among other things, very grateful for the opportunity to be employed, and that through socialization they also earn personal income, that is, a salary. Believe me, in communication with them there are no difficulties at all, because they have a strong will and strive to give their maximum,” emphasized the sales manager of the company, Master of Organizational Sciences Đorđe Manić, adding that everything they are tasked with is almost entirely carried out.

Otherwise, along with the earlier brand “Mašnica”, the newest brand of this confectionery company is the chocolate “Bajadera” with six different flavors, as well as ice cream.

“We maintain production and the number of employees primarily with significant assistance from budget funds, but also with increasing support from socially responsible companies that choose us as their partners and in this way provide us with the necessary financial support,” highlighted Manić, concluding that they are very satisfied with the functioning of their own company.

On behalf of the Brčko Association “Vjera i nada”, Edina Krivašić-Agić was also very satisfied with the visit to Belgrade and what was seen.

“The visit to social enterprises is yet another indication that when given an adequate opportunity, people with developmental disabilities know how to use it in a very high-quality way. It is more than obvious that this is one of the best ways of complete socialization of people with developmental disabilities, that is, people with disabilities,” emphasized Krivašić-Agić.

Certainly, the visit to Belgrade is multiple useful for the purpose of the key task of the SEI project this year, which is the opening of the first social enterprise in the territory of Brčko District.

“We have seen three very high-quality and practical stories. However, not every one of them is applicable in just any environment. I think that the social enterprise ‘Naša kuća’, primarily thanks to the parents who, through engagement and support, primarily wanted to help their children, jointly achieving commendable results, represents a model that, with certain specifics, would be applicable in the District,” said project manager Branislav Tanasijević.

In that sense, contacts will be continued with the management of “Naša kuća”, in order to transfer the model of this positive story also to Brčko.

“With this goal, in the near future cooperation with the mentioned experts will be intensified so that in the District, hopefully by the end of this year, we will open a social enterprise, with the selfless support, as we saw in Belgrade, of socially responsible companies, which certainly also exist in the District,” concluded Tanasijević.