Vobrousek and the Love for Bees...

© vobrousek.cz

While being a part of the project 'Roadmap of Social Enterprises' (with financial support of Visegrad Fund) that aims to create a digital map of social enterprises in 8 countries, namely Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, I currently have this great possibility to look for and meet some inspiring examples of social entrepreneurs in Czech Republic. And one of them is Natálie Pivrncová, a young entrepreneur and the producer of environmentally and bees-friendly beeswax wraps 'Vobrousek' - a reusable and long-lasting alternative to plastic and/or aluminium food packaging. I had the chance to hear the inspiring story of Natálie during the Erasmus+ international training course 'Sustainable ImPACT' organised by the NGO Youth Progress Czech Republic gathering young and active people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Armenia, Portugal and Czech Republic. Moreover, as a group we had this amazing opportunity to participate in a practical workshop and make beeswax wraps ourselves...

Exploring the Scene - Social Enterprises in Czech Republic

© iED

Czech Republic has a very versatile and encouraging amount of socially entrepreneurial initiatives as we found out during our initial search in the depths of Internet. That's where we started our search. It was especially exciting for my fellow-explorer that discovered a completely new field of businesses doing things differently with society and the environment in mind.

Even though Czech laws regarding social enterprises are rather flexible at the moment (not strictly defined), it hasn't stopped many entrepreneurial minds to come up with very inspiring, innovative, environmentally friendly and inclusive business initiatives. These initiatives take different legal forms - work integration enterprises, associations, cooperatives, companies with limited liability, not-for-profit organisations (further referred to as NPOs) etc (Frankova, 2019). There are also different support mechanisms in place such as grants and loans, as well as a few mainstream banks, innovation centres and business incubators that help with subsidies, intellectual capital and/or visibility. Most of the social enterprises and initiatives that we found have a social media presence (Facebook and Instagram), beside physical websites (with e-shops allowing to purchase their products and/or services).

Prague Airport: The Smells and Love Stories

© Marta Podniece 'Prague Airport'

I'm traveling in memories. In memories of the best study times of 2008 that happened to be in Prague. I would love to see more than just the Airport but the time is limited. 

Czech language sounds as usually soft even it's told to be completely opposite of soft. However, this time I can hardly understand what people are talking about.

I love airports. I love those masses of people passing each other, searching either their gates or the right perfumes in duty-free shops, carrying luggage of different sizes and colors. So many contrasts at one spot, in this multi-cultural mass of business men with elegant suitcases, mums worryingly dragging their kids to WCs, beautiful strangers that you fall-in and out of love as fast as the gate-ways are rolling and what a pity - you're heading in a different direction, smoking prohibitions, innovations on advertising boards and all around, bored baristas in small coffee worlds situated tightly next to each other, people communicating in all possible languages of the world or being silent and thinking great thoughts. There's something magical on this tiny spot of a land known as the Airport, the spot which almost never disappoints you and fulfills your hope of flying, flying artificially though.