A Social Entrepreneurship Program in the Western Balkans

A Social Entrepreneurship Program in the Western Balkans is currently inviting applications for its fourth call, which opens on September 1st. The program is seeking young individuals aged 16 to 35 from the Western Balkans region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) who are dedicated to creating positive change within their communities.

To be considered for participation in the program, teams must meet the following criteria:

1. Demonstrate a strong desire to learn about social entrepreneurship and actively engage in a regional intercultural initiative.
2. Display the aspiration to develop a tangible idea with a social impact.
3. Show a willingness to collaborate and learn from fellow participants in the region.

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Eligibility

Eligibility requirements include:

• Applicants should be young individuals aged 16 to 35 from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
• Proficiency in the English language, sufficient for active participation in an international program.
• Form a team of at least two individuals.
• Be available and prepared to commit to a program that entails four hours of active participation per week, including meetups, during a three-month ideation phase, whether conducted online or offline.
• Exhibit a high level of motivation to gain knowledge about social entrepreneurship and engage in a regional intercultural program.
• Possess the ambition to develop a concrete idea with a social impact.
• Be open to learning from other stakeholders in the region.
• Have identified a social or environmental issue they aim to address.
• Have, at most, worked on their idea at a small-scale or personal level, without yet engaging in substantial business activities.
• Ensure that the idea’s impact is either regional or local in scope.

You will be considered ineligible if your project falls into any of the following categories:

• Projects that have already received support or funding from another program offering similar training and knowledge to aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Entities that are already incorporated or registered as formal organizations.
• Initiatives associated with political parties, government bodies, or state agencies.
• Ideas centered around providing scholarships.
• Ideas seeking capital funding.
• Research-focused concepts.
• Projects that are already actively selling products or services.
• Ideas that may perpetuate discriminatory practices or contribute to the division within communities.
• Initiatives whose primary impact extends beyond the Western Balkans region.

Benefits

• RISE is dedicated to assisting young change-makers in transforming their impactful ideas into sustainable social enterprises.
• Their tailored support program, known as the RISE Journey, is carried out through six local incubators within the Western Balkans region. Participants are partnered with a local incubator to receive training and technical expertise.
• The RISE Journey comprises two key phases:
• The Ideation Chapter (October 2023 to February 2024): During this phase, participants gain access to a series of training sessions and mentoring focused on social entrepreneurship and intercultural understanding. At the chapter’s conclusion, participants are expected to present their social business model, addressing the identified societal issue with an emphasis on impact and sustainability.
•  The two most promising social business ideas will receive €2,500 in financial support, embark on a Western Balkans expedition, and enroll in a regional incubation program.
• The Incubation Chapter (March 2024 to June 2024): This phase extends the support program to a regional scale.
•  Participants work toward developing a functional prototype of their idea while engaging in regional activities such as a Bootcamp to collaborate with fellow Risers and a RISE expedition that introduces them to the region’s social enterprises.
• Notably, the RISE Journey has already empowered over 360 young social entrepreneurs, including 130 social enterprise ideas, and has successfully incubated 36 social enterprises.
• Now, it’s your opportunity to take part in the RISE Journey and contribute to positive change in the region!

Application Process

• Demonstrating a strong drive to engage wholeheartedly in the program, possessing the mindset of a genuine change-maker, and a dedicated commitment to actively participate in the three-month ideation program.
• Presenting an idea that effectively addresses a significant social or environmental problem.
• Showcasing the potential of the idea to evolve into a sustainable business venture.
• Having more than half of the team members proficient in English.
• Offering preference to teams that have not previously received support or funding from other existing programs that offer similar training and knowledge to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Click here to apply.

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