EUROPEAN UNION OFFICE IN KOSOVO /
EUROPEAN UNION SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
PRESS RELEASE
Start of Construction of the Building for the Social Enterprise Management- Incubator Facility Building in Gracanica
Pristina, August, 20, 2014
The Construction of the Gracanica Social Enterprise Management /Incubator Facility started today in the presence of the representatives of the EU Office/EUSR, the Government of Kosovo and the Municipality of Gracanica.
Social entrepreneurship is perceived as a system that can provides new solutions to eliminate poverty, help solving ecological problems, enhance social inclusion and increase societies’ welfare in general, said the Head of Cooperation of the EU Office/EUSR, Christof Stock.
"The project implemented in Gracanica will support local entrepreneurs and people from vulnerable groups that are working in the art and handicraft sector and help them with development of their business", said Stock.
"The project which is starting today in the municipality of Gracanica, is a new format of creating sustainable employment opportunities and increasing the professional skills of the disable people" said Nenad Rasic, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare.
The mayor of Gracanica Municipality, Branimir Stojanovic said that there will be a well-packed platform of supportive and advisory services offered to the Social Incubator beneficiaries and networking partners.
"The facility having around 430sqm, will provide a very good working commodity, tools and equipment for art, craft and artisan works, training, promotion, networking, festivals and fairs events", said Stojanovic.
The project "Developing and Managing the Art and Handicraft Sector in Gracanica", funded by the EU Office, is implemented by Prishtina REA in partnership with the Municipality of Gracanica.
Background info:
The Project is supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo, and its duration period is between 15 June, 2014 & 15 April, 2016.
Project Focus and the Beneficiaries:
Supporting and empowering the employability and social inclusion of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups through promotion of art and handicraft within a manageable well-equipped Social Incubator Facility managed by the Social Enterprise, developed through its Business Advisory Centre and promoted by its Artisans’ Traveller.
Project projections:
- A market oriented Art and Handicraft production capacity handled, through the engagement of disable’s and vulnerable (around 150 beneficiaries)
- Constructed Building & Increasing the production and management capacities towards the Social Incubator facilities and managed by the established Social Enterprise,
- Developing the marketing, promotion, IT platform and sale of Art and Handicraft & related products(traditional food and tourism) Kosova wide and constructed the Artisans ‘Traveller, promoted at the Art and Handicraft Festival in Gracanica and B2B event,
- Consolidating the Business Advisory Centre in Gracanica, to be allocated within the Social Enterprise premises - Promoting and providing the Entrepreneurship & Management Skills widely, (100 beneficiaries) and five sub granting initiatives.
Expected Results:
Gracanica Social Enterprise Established - Art & Handicraft Production Capacity Increased,Construction of the Social Enterprise Facility (Incubator and BAC) and the Artisans’ Traveller - Business Advisory Centre Consolidated- and Training and Coaching, Small Scale Grant Scheme,Promotional Events, Fairs, and Matchmaking visit, Getting recognized as a facility where youth and disable people will get various education, cultural, tourism, entrepreneurship and other events and activities,promoting it as a place to be visited and visible by local partners, stakeholders, tourists, guests.
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For more information contact:
Safet Kabashaj, Outreach Officer, , 038 5131 525;
European Union Office in Kosovo/EUSR website: