Social Entrepreneurship – Real and Effective for the Social Economy in Poland

In August, two representatives of the Karin Dom team – Bistra Boncheva (Administrative Director) and Veneta Mileva (Marketing Manager) had the opportunity to immerse themselves in a challenge and be guests of a truly different social enterprise from Poland.

The two ladies, who are directly involved in the social entrepreneurship of Karin Dom and the development of new ideas in this field, visited a civil organization for family support A Person in Need (Człowiek w Potrzebie) in Warsaw. The foundation was established in 2005 by Maria Knapik Stepanov, who as the wife of an evangelical pastor working with families, sees the whole spectrum of problems people face. Many years of experience and empathy allow her to make the decision to create the organization.

The organization is developing an impressive social enterprise called Different, and it is indeed different. “DIFFERENT restaurant in the dark” is a social enterprise in which 14 employees work, 7 of whom are blind and they are the waiters. Customers enter the restaurant, led by their blind waiter and guide in this pitch-black challenge. The waiters serve the customers during the dinner, immersing them into a different world of new experiences, filled with countless tastes and aromas. This journey is also a culinary delight that the visitor can feel with all their senses… except sight.

The team of the organization – Michal, Marta, Agata and Anna shared their experience and some secrets for a successful business with a cause. For the work, for the team, for the challenges and the wave of refugees to their country.

There are so many impressions from meetings with Polish organizations: Pedagodzy na podwórku (Teachers in the Yard Organization) – teachers who include children from a small Polish town in summer activities and help them communicate and play, Montessori Mountain School a Montessori school located in a beautiful area near Warsaw where children have the option of full distance learning from home. Klubokawiarnia Pożyteczna (Useful Club and Cafe) – a small bistro created by parents of children with intellectual disabilities who are already part of the establishment’s team. The Lafontaine Foundation, which organizes daily workshops and training for refugee children from Ukraine, supports the elderly and people with special needs.

All these meetings give us confidence that in Bulgaria we will be able to achieve a decent way of life and work for people with special needs. And they really can handle many different challenges! Karin Dom also sets itself the ambitious task of supporting this process of inclusion and full life for people with different abilities, who bring enormous potential and can teach us many things.

We reserve a special place for the Invisible Exhibition. The Invisible Exhibition in Warsaw – an extraordinary museum and project that combines culture, education and social integration. In completely darkened rooms, faithfully reproducing the landscape familiar from everyday life, under the protection of a blind guide, you will experience something absolutely extraordinary. Get ready for a one-of-a-kind lesson in empathy, humility, and gratitude. And if you visit Warsaw, don’t miss visiting the really different and very exciting restaurant and exhibition.

The development of the international partnership happened thanks to the latest exchange program (Shadowing program) for social enterprises from Italy, Greece, Poland and Bulgaria, with a coordinator for Bulgaria the Bulgarian Center for Non-profit Law. Under the same program, Karin Dom will host a social enterprise from Greece.

Karin Dom is part of the DarPazar community – the online platform that has united social entrepreneurs in our country and helps them reach more and more people with their products. It also supports social enterprises through the exchange of ideas, training and sharing of international experience. Visit the platform and order products with meaning and a cause!

The material was prepared within the framework of the „SEHUBS Co-creating Hubs for Social Enterprises“ (621421-EPP-1-2020-1-IT-EPPKA3-IPI-SOC-IN). This project is financed with the support of the European Commission. This material reflects only the views of the authors and the Commission is not responsible for the use of the information contained therein.