Empowerment of Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

ESEE project aimed at achieving the following objectives: 1. Raise awareness about social entrepreneurship as a viable and impactful approach to addressing social and environmental challenges. ...

ESEE project aimed at achieving the following objectives: 1. Raise awareness about social entrepreneurship as a viable and impactful approach to addressing social and environmental challenges. 2. Develop and enhance the skills, knowledge, and capabilities of NGOs’ and charitable organisations’ staff interested in social entrepreneurship. 3. Advocate for supportive policies and regulatory frameworks that enable the growth and sustainability of social enterprises. 4. Facilitate networking opportunities and collaboration among NGOs, charitable organisations, institutions and individuals interested in social entrepreneurship. 5. Search for good practices at European level regarding mechanisms that provide financial support to social entrepreneurs, such as grants, seed funding, impact investment and affordable loans. 6. Conduct desktop research on the local (Cypriot) context and the European level, social challenges, and best practices in social entrepreneurship. 7. Engage the broader community and promote the importance of social responsibility. These objectives aimed to address the multifaceted challenges of setting up a social enterprise in Cyprus due to the lack of appropriate ecosystem (eg. lack of public funding schemes).

The main activities implemented during ESEE project were the following ones: 1) Kick-off meeting, 2) European based desktop research, 3) Collaborative workshops, 4) Delivery of the TC on the Basics of Social Entrepreneurship Spirit, 5) Establishment of the Cypriot social enterprise ecosystem, and 6) Dissemination Activities. In ESEE project, a wide range of activities was implemented through close collaboration among FU, ESSEL and TU. FU coordinated the project, led Activity 1 and 5, developed and translated content, conducted desktop research, and managed dissemination. ESSEL led Activity 3, organized workshops and a one-day conference in Cyprus, and handled related logistics and communication. TU co-led Activity 1, supported the desktop research, managed the Training Course, prepared teaching materials, and organized local activities. All partners participated in meetings, evaluation, and dissemination efforts, ensuring effective implementation and broad impact at local, national, and European levels. The Training Course (TC) was the major project activity since 1) enhanced participants' knowledge around social enterprises and 2) created a new network between professionals who are interested in the social entrepreneurship.

The project produced several concrete outputs and impactful results across its key activities. A comprehensive desktop research was developed, including the creation, structuring, and translation of general content, offering valuable insights into the social enterprise ecosystems of the participating countries. Teaching and training materials were prepared, printed, and translated to support the TC, which was successfully implemented. Two workshops and a one-day conference were organized, enhancing knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement at the local and national levels. Dissemination materials such as press releases and promotional content were produced and distributed, ensuring wide visibility. The project also led to the establishment of a Cypriot social enterprise ecosystem and strengthened the capacity of all involved partners. Photo documentation, media coverage, and active promotion at national and European levels (e.g., publication on EPALE platform) further extended the project’s reach. Evaluation activities supported continuous improvement, ensuring the quality and sustainability of the project’s results.