expertise 2023 ukraine

Social entrepreneurship in Ukraine: driving social impact in the face of a conflict

Petro Darmoris, Director at Social Economy Ukraine and Board Member of Social Economy Europe, reflects on the state of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ukraine today, on the role of social entrepreneurship after the Russian invasion and on staying hopeful and driving social impact in the face of a war.

ghana 2022 impact projects

Scaling ed-tech solutions in Ghana

Despite significant progress in recent decades, the Ghanaian educational system continues to face several challenges. In our Scaling Readiness program, done in partnership with the Jacobs Foundation, we're equipping 10 outstanding edupreneurs with the resources and skills to strengthen and scale the impact of their ed-tech solutions.

ghana 2022 impact projects

Empowering youth and women in Ghana to advocate for their economic rights

Poverty is a major and multidimensional issue in Ghana, preventing individuals especially young people and women from enjoying a right to economic security. Through Forum CIV, together with Social Enterprise Ghana, we're enabling young people and women living in poverty to advocate for and gain access to services that should be made available to them to become sustainably self-employed or start a small business.

2022 Bulgaria projects

Enhancing the ecosystem for early growth social entrepreneurs in Bulgaria

To help close the funding gap for early-growth social entrepreneurs in Bulgaria, with the support of the European Commission, we launched the cross-sectoral initiative the Valley of Growth. The project included mapping and research activities to better understand the social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bulgaria, designing and verifying a new financial instrument and creating an impact community of social entrepreneurs, investors and experts.

change leader story Bulgaria equality 2023

A pioneer gym for children with disabilities

Sports play a crucial role in the lives of children with disabilities, offering a wide range of benefits that positively impact their physical, mental, and social well-being. However, in Bulgaria, there are few sports facilities equipped for the needs of children with disabilities. Determined to change that, Svetoslav Zahariev founded Zahariev Fight Team - a pioneering gym which provides adapted equipment and regular training sessions for children with disabilities and special need

Sweden change leader story equality 2023

Turning fear into fins

That a girl who grew up far from water, without any experience or knowledge of swimming, would take her first swims on her own as an eighteen-year-old; and then training as a swimming instructor and starting her own swimming school, is a story that inspires. Muna Idow is the mermaid who found her fins relatively late in life and who has made it her life's project to spread the love of water further.

Sweden change leader story equality 2023

Sounds of hope: Reshaping suburban children's lives

A child of Caribbean immigrants, Jean-Charles Cari grew up with his mum in the rough suburbs of Paris and saw many of his friends end up on the wrong path. But role models and music saved his life. Ten years ago he moved to Sweden and when he recognized himself in many of the young teenagers, he decided to offer them what he had helped him, and so Artozik was born.

Sweden ecosystem 2023 partnerships

Promoting social entrepreneurship in Sweden together with Clear Channel

We’re happy to share that we’ve just entered a long term partnership with Scandinavia's leading outdoor media company - Clear Channel. Together we have developed the outdoor campaign "Your idea - Our support" which will increase awareness about our work and promote local Swedish social entrepreneurs offering solutions for children and young people.

2022 impact Ethiopia climate

Catalyzing Green Business in Ethiopia

Since 2021, Reach for Change, with the support of the IKEA Foundation, has been implementing a pilot project in Ethiopia aimed at inspiring young people to establish green enterprises. This innovative approach has been delivered in collaboration with four higher education institutions in Addis Ababa, consisting of two TVETs (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and two universities. The pilot has yielded valuable learnings and insights, including the implementation of a Green Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and a Green Innovation Lab.

expertise 2022 Sweden Baltics impact

Empowering Social Entrepreneurs to Support NEETs

In Europe, a concerning statistic reveals that 11.5% of young people between the ages of 15 and 25 are neither in work nor in education. This critical period of their lives, when they should be embarking on their professional journeys, utilizing their acquired skills and knowledge, is instead marked by a struggle to find employment. This situation leads to frustration, economic hardship, and even mental distress, with potentially severe consequences for their well-being. At the same time, societies miss out on the opportunity to benefit from the talents and innovative ideas these young individuals possess.

expertise Sweden blogpost 2023

Unique investments in social entrepreneurship in the EU and the UN - but where is Sweden?

With the EU's Social Economy Action Plan and a recently adopted UN resolution, Sweden has a chance to invest in social entrepreneurship. The opportunity is about to be missed, but there is still time to raise the issue, write our CEO Sofia Breitholtz and Jenny Carenco, partner in Utfallsfonden and board member of The Swedish National Advisory Board for Impact Investing.

Sofia Breitholtz

Sweden change leader story 2023

Training for a more equal society

Throughout her life, our Change Leader Susan Dahlbeck experienced how local gyms in Järva outside of Stockholm were dominated by men and lacked safe places for young women. As health issues have increased in socio-economic challenged areas, she decided to start Healthy Women - a network for young women to engage in physical activities and ongoing social gatherings. We talked with her about her journey and the impact created by Healthy Women.

ghana partnering for change 2023

Global Board Visit in Ghana

In March, Global Board member Monica Lindstedt - founder of Hemfrid, and Advisory Board member David Orlic - Co-Founder & CEO of Anyone, together with our CEO Sofia Breitholtz and a business delegation from Sweden arrived in Accra, Ghana - to spend the next three days experiencing first-hand the impact created by driven social entrepreneurs, meet local partners of Reach for Change and explore the interesting city of Accra.

ghana expertise blogpost

Developing the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ghana

Our Country Manager in Ghana, Solomon Twum, reflects on how the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ghana has developed over the last decade, and shares insights on the national policy in the area, the local impact investing scene and what's needed in order to create more cross-sector collaborations for impact.

Solomon Twum

ghana news 2023 partnerships

Partnering for Change in Ghana

On Tuesday 28th March, together with the BMW Foundation, Reach for Change Ghana gathered over 75 local and international partners, social innovators, business leaders, investors, and development partners in Ghana at an exclusive “Partnering for Change” roundtable event at the Fiesta Royale Hotel, Accra.

Sweden education change leader story 2023

Inclusive environments for kids: lessons from a social entrepreneur

The close environment has a big impact on how children interpret social structures, and how they interact with each other. It’s up to us adults to create an environment that reflect that we’re all equally important. Our Change Leader Johanna Abdo, founder of the Swedish educational brand Elsa och Sam has dedicated herself to creating more inclusive environments for kids. We talked with her about her entrepreneurial journey and the products and impact she’s creating.