Hope Soap

Hope Soap  

A - DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD PRACTICE

A1 - Title in original language
Работилница за сапуни HOPe Soap

A2 - Title in English
Hope Soap  

Overview  
The micro social enterprise “HOPe Soap" provides employment for young people who have left institutions for children deprived of parental care and are placed in family-type housing. After adequate training the youngsters produce and sell handmade soaps and in such way contribute to their own subsistence. The main effect is the provision of employment and incomes for young people raised in orphanages and thus the social enterprise helps them to build skills for an independent life.

A3 - Location of GP (national)
Bulgaria

A4 - Location of GP (regional)
Botevgrad

A5 - Economic field of activity
C Manufacturing

A6 - Ultimate purpose of GP
To create or conserve employment
To improve social cohesion/inclusion
To practically facilitate or enable social enterpreneurship

A7 - Spatial scale
Local

A8a - Start date
June 2011

A8b - Anticipated end date (if applicable)
ongoing

A9 - Short description of the GP
A micro enterprise for handmade soaps

A10 - Key words relating to the GP
Youth
Addressing unemployment
Training/mentoring
Skills development
Housing

A11 - Objectives of the GP
Establish an integrated approach for provision of social services and development of social and employment skills for disadvantaged young people from social institutions.

A12 - Activities that have taken place
Handmade soaps. Soaps are made from a base ready to be melted, flavors, colors, etc.. and added and then poured into special molds. After cooling, soaps are packaged and are ready for commercial distribution for corporate events, weddings, etc.

A13 - Achievements of the GP
Young people with little chances for labour market integration and social inclusion receive opportunities for income-generating activities, respectively to earn their own income. Furthermore, there is potential to expand production & hire more people from the same social background.