Stakeholders in Latvia discussing interregional learning

SECON stakeholders at Riga Planning Region have had 2 meetings in the 1st half of 2024: each meeting with a different focus. A meeting on March 7, 2024, was organized to look back on the interregional learning experience in Bulgaria in November 2023.

The stakeholders were interested in both: the social economy policy framework and system in Bulgaria and in social economy practices. Vita Žunda, SECON  project expert shared the presentations of Bulgarian colleagues. The next point on the agenda was finalizing the decision on which stakeholders would attend the interregional workshop in Hargita (Romania) in April 2024.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Welfare, Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, the municipality of Ropazi, the municipality of Sigulda, the Municipality of Ādaži, NGO-Partnership “Pierīga”, Riga Planning Region, as well as social enterprise representatives.

The meeting was combined with a visit to the social enterprise “Sonido” which is a call center employing people with special needs, and also running a social project “Let’s Talk” aimed at lonely people. The stakeholders were able to ask questions to the owner of the enterprise, as well as people with disabilities who are employed.

The next meeting on June 27, 2024, was held as a focus group discussion and involved representatives of 4 social enterprises, as well as representatives of Ropazi municipality, the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, Riga Planning Region. The discussion was moderated by the Chairperson of the Council of Social Entrepreneurship Association Ms.Inga Muižniece.

Representatives of social enterprises appreciated the opportunity to express their opinions about the policies and support mechanisms related to the social economy. There was a discussion about cooperation between social enterprises and municipalities and the expectations of social enterprises regarding support mechanisms. One of the important elements of a support system is easy access to information from municipalities and the central government. The conclusions and summary of this discussion were reflected in the national report on social economy needs.

This meeting was also combined with a visit to a social enterprise. The manager of the social enterprise “Reto Cerība” explained that the enterprise offers employment at a woodworking workshop to people who are in the process of rehabilitation to overcome addictions.