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Project: ‘Social Economy in Practice’ – Community Initiative EQUAL as a part of international partnership SETEN. The project financed by the European Social Fund.

Social Economy in Practice project is carried out as a part of Community Initiative EQUAL (subject D) whose main aim is to strengthen the social domestic economy (including the third sector), especially the services operating to the benefit of local communities. The stress is put on work places quality improvement. The aim of subject D is to support the creation of Polish social economy model through determining the role and objectives of social economy by enhancing the attraction of local labour market and services, supplementing and strengthening operations performed as a part of domestic policy.

The mission of the Partnership concentrates on the support of the development of Polish social economy model through the establishment of local Social Economy Centres, being institutions that act as a go-between in the integration process with the labour market of permanently unemployed. The target groups of the project are the weakest social groups, marked by low mobility level and high risk of permanent unemployment, in the case of which to date standard methods, mainly based on passive methods of support, are ineffective.

Sports Association will involve beneficiaries into sport and recreational activities, which will help to build up and create Social Economy Centres. Through its activity, the association will develop active attitude, willingness to develop culturally, physically and socially among communities involved in SECs, and support the education of beneficiaries by broadening their knowledge, mainly in the area of geography, culture and history of Poland. The association will take steps to learn beneficiaries how to live in such communities as the association, and consequently raise civic consciousness within local community.

The fundamental aim of Social Economy Partnership is to support Polish social economy model through the establishment of local Social Economy Centres, the institutions that act as a go-between in the integration with the labour market of permanently unemployed. The aim of the Partnership activity is coherent with the European Strategy of Social Integration in Poland.

This goal is coherent with the European Strategy of employment, European Social Fund and Community Initiative EQUAL, and contributes to the accomplishment of tasks set forth in the National Strategy of Social Integration in Poland.

The activities of Partnership will focus on the weakest social groups, marked by low mobility level, highly endangered by permanent unemployment, towards which previous standard methods, mainly based on passive help, proved to be ineffective. The alarming relationship that has been observed so far proves that the longer excluded people are provided with institutional help, the poorer prospects they have to stand on their two feet. The lack of support for the activity of beneficiaries, their environment, self-help groups and non-governmental organisations, being recognised as ineffective, is the direct reason for the present situation. According to Prof. E. Leś integration through participation and labour is a preliminary in social development. Thus Partnership will focus on systemic activities.

Project’s objectives:

analysing previously employed methods for target group and examine their efficiency
analysing possibilities, preferences, expectations, motivation and obstructions encountered by target group
analysing economic and legal situation in terms of introduction of new forms of employment for people from target group
developing new effective mechanisms of support for people moving from secondary into primary labour market through:

4a. creating local support system for the beneficiaries of the project thanks to the establishment model Social Economy Centres.

4b. drawing up and implementation of new forms of occupational mobilisation for excluded people through:

- testing methods of creation and functioning of social co-operatives

- creation of market-oriented enterprises that respect the needs of people characterised by low job qualifications and low employment level

- help in self-employment

- the development of supported employment as a part of open labour market

4c. creating support system for local social market models through: development of social consciousness and co-operation between local business, social economy, local government and local community, enhancing access to investment capital by social economy (dotation, microloans, and guarantees system), business consultancy system and infrastructure (creation of a local mine of enterprise within social economy), IT platform creation in order to integrate the permanently unemployed with local labour market.

applying conditions for effective Partnership
promulgation of best practices, developed in the course of project implementation through:

6a. help in the course of creation of local programmes aimed at the development of social economy in communities, Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, Dolny Śląsk Voivodeship and the whole country.

6b. help in the establishment of inventive programme of postgraduate studies for social workers

6c. conference organisation, press articles publication, TV and radio interviews, contests held under the patronage of local government and documentary.

Results:

Thanks to the establishment of Social Economy Centres, along with the system of support, the Partnership project will lead to the implementation of new jobs creation programmes for excluded people.

The Partnership also intends to establish three parallel social economy models being Social Economy Centres (in the large city – Poznan, small town Bogatynia and in the Chudopczyce village). During the implementation of three jointly developed models, the Partnership will systematically analyse encountered problems, provided solutions, achieved results in different regions as well draw on experience and achieved effects of partnerships from other regions. During the establishment of three social economy models a special importance is attached to the development of local society involvement strategy, local consulting and financial market, entrepreneurs, employer representatives, other institutions from the third sector, local government and labour and market institutions. This process has been already initiated during the appointment of the Partnership members. In Social Economy

Centres the following instruments of social economy are supposed to be tested:

- the activity of social co-operatives
- market-oriented enterprises that respect people of low professional qualifications and low employment level
- self-employment
- temporary work

The following results are expected:
• imposing sufficient conditions for the employment of about 500 excluded people
• employment growth and integration with local market of a target group
• receptiveness growth of local societies and institutions to the development of local social strategies and the establishment of local public convenience councils
• higher efficiency of social economy institutions clerks to the benefit to the integration of target group with local market.

The Partnership activity enhances the local development, IT society development, and the promotion of man and women’s’ equal chance policy.

Sports Association for Social Integration Barka is responsible for the accomplishment of the objectives outlined The Programme, Action 2
a) the implementation of social economy programme in Poznan commune – the establishment of groups and organising training for beneficiaries in Social Integration Clubs.
b) the implementation of social economy development programme in Poznan commune through the support of informal ways of education – group formation and providing beneficiaries with training as a part of Social Animation School programme.
c) the establishment of social co-operatives
d) drawing up and implementation of new labour forms of activity for excluded people in Poznan commune.

Detailed conditions shall outlined in the agreement between the Administrator and the Partnership.

translation: Dominika Nowakowska

Social integration through sport

Jacek Kaczmarek 12-03-2006

In order to understand the meaning of social integration we should look back on period of history when it had crucial impact on our society. Owing to cultivation of Polish tradition in hard circumstances, for instance under annexation, Poles have not lost their national identity.
Integration of the patriotic opposition allowed Poles to gain the highest level of independence among other states of the Warsaw Pact after the Second World War. Thanks to strong tradition and solidarity Poles were able to enjoy their freedom; freedom, which were considerably limited, however, never fully suppressed.

Nowadays, despite our experience, we face problems of social integration. There is no concrete enemy that would mobilize our nation. Nevertheless, we are obliged to maintain strong national solidarity. A state is internally strong when there is solidarity between its citizens. As history has proved, such society cannot be easily manipulated. Nowadays we are not threatened by any hostile empire, but by consequences of economic stratification. The deeper contrast between the rich and the poor, the more serious problems and conflicts.
A question arises: how can social integration be built? Seemingly, financial support is the best solution to the problem. However, distribution of money leads to nowhere. Those who are relegated to society’s margins cannot use their money in a rational and constructive manner. These problems cannot be solved by creation of ghettoes supplied by charity organizations. On the contrary, these groups should be integrated by their involvement in local issues. Such engagement gives opportunity for development. Owing to Centers of Social Integration and Centers of Social Economy and other non-governmental organizations people in need are given such opportunities.

One of the strongest human instincts is our need to be respected. Nevertheless, this innate desire is not taken into account in case of distribution of goods. Unemployment benefits suggest lack of resourcefulness. Obviously, it is a fundamental misunderstanding. Need for financial support is not an individual’s fault in many cases. It is our common burden, as we are building a country, where citizens’ worth depends on their wealth. We must avoid mistakes which were made by other states. States which are the models we should follow as far as their political system is concerned.

Apart from work, one of the most important components of life are hobbies. Human being without any passion, who does not spend his spare time actively, cannot develop. Human being cannot be only a worker. Sport is a crucial factor in the process of social integration. Thanks to sport everyone can feel relaxed and satisfied. Sport is an invaluable factor in the process of building self-respect. Sport is also the only hobby shared by people who are on the verge of social isolation. Unfortunately, sport which is watched on TV, not practiced. Majority of Poles watch football matches and ski-jumping. Every success of the Polish representation gives us great satisfaction. This great potential should be used to integrate people with whom our organization works. We should build social integrity by promoting active participation in sporting events. Our aim is to help in setting up football teams and organization of league contests. We want to prove that, apart from reading sports section in a magazine, everyone can practice sport.

Sport Association for Social Integration ‘Barka’ ( Sportowe Stowarzyszenie na Rzecz Integracji Społecznej ‘Barka’) in partnership with IW EQUAL ‘ Social Economy Project’ ( ‘ Ekonomia Społeczna w Praktyce’) helps with organization of spare time. ‘Barka’ promotes the idea of self-fulfillment through sport from a local to international level. According to our point of view satisfaction in this field motivates to improvement on other areas: work, civil activities etc.
One of the strategies to help young people may be based on street football. Players start from matches played in the yard of their houses. If the team is successful its players may become members of the Polish Representation.

These are the reasons why the Polish Street Soccer League has been established. League which consists of amateur teams from whole Poland. Our aim is to organize league contests and the National Cup of Street Soccer. Participation in these sporting events will be free of charge.
An adventure which starts in slums and ends in the Polish Representation proves the importance of sport in the process of social integration. Local groups are proud when one of their members becomes a World Champion. It reinforces community solidarity and integration-extremely important factors as far as future works with these groups are concerned.

Motivation which stems from prospects of building self-confidence and self-respect cannot be overestimated. It inspires young players to take care of their health. As a result good physical and psychological condition improves their performance on other areas. At the beginning social integration starts on the level of a local team and its supporters. Next, it expands on other groups when the team plays successfully in the League. Football team, like every other group, gives the best effect of therapy. Human beings cannot develop on their own. That is why our association supports other projects, not only those connected with sport. For example we are opening local integration clubs. First of them will be set up at Śródka-the area which is being revitalized by citizens from Śródka accompanied by non-governmental organizations and the city authorities. The club is supposed to be a place accessible for everyone, where people from the district can meet, have some inexpensive coffee and food, talk with their neighbors or watch TV without drinking alcohol. People connected with a social cooperative, which is under our protection, will be employed in the club. Establishment of the social cooperative is one of important issues concerning social integration. Local groups integrate when their members are in charge of some business.
At the beginning we are going to concentrate our efforts on the Srodka area. Matches of the Polish Street Soccer League will take place at the Center of Social Integration which associates teams from various regions and various non-governmental organizations.

To sum up, sport helps build social integration. Programs which are based on sport should be necessarily implemented. We are obliged to help in every field people who are on the verge of social isolation. As practice has proved, such attitude is the most effective. Our desire is to involve other organizations and institutions in our project. We hope our programs will be implemented in many other regions. We wish to create a program for social integration through sport that could be treated as a model. Our plan for future is to cooperate with other regions on base of common methods.

Our conceptions and methods have proved to be correct as other states (e.g. Holland) have made a request for help in implementation of similar program. Moreover, international organizations, like Homeless World Cup and Street Soccer World have approved of our methods. We have been requested by these organizations to represent the idea of street football on international forum. Furthermore, we are taking part in competition for the best place to organize the most important sporting events of this type.

To sum up, a program for social integration can be, and should be, based on sport. Sport and other leisure activities are crucial elements of human condition. Sport teaches how to establish good relationships with others. In order to revitalize people who need our help we should take into account not only their career but also development of their passions and active forms of recreation.