At the end of last year, thanks to the non-governmental organization (NGO) "Mozaik", Nikšić gained a unique store - the "Mozaik Concept store" (Art shop), a shop selling art and handicrafts, which operates according to the principles of social economy, was opened on Narodnih heroja Street.
The shop was opened as part of the "Creative Social Entrepreneurs" project, employing three women with disabilities for a period of six months, and the results of the aforementioned project were presented at the final conference.
"The project is significant both for the organization and for me personally, because when we talk about employment, we always emphasize that it is important to use all possible resources and competitions, to come up with a good idea, to promote something innovative and to talk about inclusion and its true meaning, which is providing jobs for people with disabilities (PWDs)," said the president of "Mozaik", Blagoje Šturanović.
As he emphasized, the project, which lasted nine months, opened the story of social entrepreneurship.
"I hope that other employers will use this model, not just us, and thus employ as many people with disabilities as possible," said Šturanović.
Nada Bošković, project coordinator, emphasized that the main goal was to support inclusive employment of PWDs, with an emphasis on women with disabilities, advocacy and creation of social enterprises, and bringing the labor market closer together.
"We founded a company that operates according to the social entrepreneurship model, opened the 'Mozaik Concept store' - an art shop that brings together and promotes the work of local artists and craftsmen, employed three women with disabilities, and empowered people with disabilities and employers to actively engage in the employment process," Bošković pointed out.
As part of the project, educational trainings were organized for PWDs and employers on the topic of employing people with disabilities and advocating for social entrepreneurship. The art shop was adapted for people with wheelchairs, equipped with furniture, and a public call for producers and artists was issued.
"15 local craftspeople and artists have applied to exhibit their works in the shop. We have seen through this project that further information is needed for people with disabilities themselves about their rights, as well as for employers," emphasized the project coordinator.
The project "Creative Social Entrepreneurs" was implemented by the NGO "Mozaik" within the framework of the program "Strengthening Civil Society to Support Sustainable Socio-Economic Development of Montenegro".
The program is funded by the European Union, co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration, and implemented by Help and Juventas.
According to Biljana Vučetić, from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue, it is important that as a society we continue to build an environment in which social entrepreneurship will gain increasing importance, where the state, civil sector and business community will cooperate to create policies that support its development.
"The 'Creative Social Entrepreneurs' project brings concrete changes, providing support to women who have decided to create their future through entrepreneurship and contribute to the community. Their courage, innovation and dedication are an inspiration to all of us and a driver of not only economic, but also social change," said Vučetić.
She pointed out that working groups formed in the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue are preparing a draft Strategy for the Development of the Social and Solidarity Economy, as well as the Law on the Social Economy, which will lay the "foundations on the basis of which social and solidarity economy entities will obtain their legal status."
"We firmly believe that after the legal and institutional framework is established, this way of doing business will also take root among responsible citizens of Montenegro. Therefore, this conference is not only an opportunity to summarize the results of the project, but also to look back on future steps towards strengthening the social and solidarity economy in Montenegro," said Vučetić.
Jovana Božović, representative of Help, reminded that during the grant scheme, together with the NGO Juventas, they supported 21 projects, including two informal groups and one individual, and that "Mozaik" was one of the organizations that stood out during the implementation of the project.
"I must commend the dedication and effort they put into the implementation of the project, as well as the strengthening of the capacities of their organization," said Božović.
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