4th Stakeholder Meeting at Harghita County Council
The fourth local stakeholder meeting of the project “SECON – Social Economy – Regional Policies for Supporting Social Economy Enterprises” took place on February 27 in Miercurea Ciuc, at the headquarters of the Harghita County Council.
The SECON project is implemented under the Interreg Europe programme and aims to support social economy enterprises by developing and strengthening regional policies. Through regional and interregional learning activities, as well as the development of studies and reports, the project promotes knowledge exchange, helping participating regions improve their public policy instruments. In doing so, it contributes to creating an environment conducive to the growth of the social economy, with a particular focus on rural areas.
During the meeting, Zonda Erika, project manager and Executive Director of the Programs and Projects Directorate of the Harghita County Council, presented the SECON project. She emphasized that the main objective is to maintain continuous dialogue with partners in order to develop, by 2027, public policy proposals at the European Union level that support the development of the social economy.
András Lóránd, County Councilor, reported on the most recent project meeting held in Spain. Representatives from the partner countries had the opportunity to learn about successful cooperative models, such as the ACTYVA Cooperative Society, formed by teachers who manage a school and produce teaching materials and school uniforms. Participants also explored the link between innovation in the healthcare sector and the social economy, through the activities of the Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Center Foundation.
During the meeting, Csata Orsolya, a representative of the Right Association, presented details of her initiative to launch a social enterprise. After completing a course in social entrepreneurship, she developed a business plan for her own enterprise.
Her project, Oldy Pajamas, aims to involve the community in Şumuleu Ciuc. The first step of the initiative is to organize a tailoring course, which will also allow for the employment of individuals to implement the project. Oldy offers a simple solution for easing the dressing process of elderly and immobile individuals, enabling them to dress without having to get up or make difficult movements.
Gál Katalin, a representative of the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Harghita, presented an initiative within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme, which aims to develop a training program for young people on the topic of sustainable social enterprises. The program includes educational materials, brainstorming sessions, simplified explanations of economic concepts, and online coaching. Through this initiative, young people are encouraged to develop their own social enterprise ideas. The aim is to inspire them to launch social businesses and equip them with comprehensive knowledge about the social economy and the necessary steps to start a social enterprise.
Márk Dezső, President of the Romanian Employers’ Association in Harghita County, gave a presentation on the current state of social enterprises in the region, highlighting that there are currently over 500 such enterprises in the Central Region, with numbers expected to increase in the coming years.
Gligor Cristian, a representative of the Harghita County Development Agency, compared social enterprise programs with the results of Startup Hub and Startup Nation 2022, offering a clear perspective on the state of the social economy in the region. He emphasized that social enterprises are becoming an increasingly attractive option due to their sustainability and stable access to funding sources.
At the end of the meeting, participants informally shared their experiences and insights, further contributing to the development of this important segment of the economy.
Photo and information provided by the Press Office of the Harghita County Council.