Jakob Horvat
The sun becomes beer. Not without it, but with the concept of Julian Wudy and his team of Collective Energy. The realization of jointly financed renewable energy projects, so it stands on their business card. Two years ago, the "Collective Energy" initiative was launched with the goal of crowdfunding solar systems for medium-sized companies. The pilot project: Bruckner's ore Bräu, a family business in the Mostviertel. Many people have invested 200 Euro in solar panels there. Their returns are vouchers worth 300 Euro. 60 Euro annually, for five years. As a result, Bruckner's ore Bräu will gain around 20 percent of its energy in the future in an environmentally friendly manner and the investor hop and malt in a palate-friendly form. "We grew up with the issue of energy shortages. Now you can wait for the world to change and someone else to take care of it. We decided to take this into our own hands, "says Julian Wudy, describing the themes of Collective Energy. The idea recently won the Social Impact Award 2014. The prize money of 4.000 Euro should now finance its own homepage and the next step from the initiative to the club. So far, Julian and his team have paid for everything out of their own pockets.
"Especially at the beginning it is particularly important not to be alone, but to see that there are other weirdos who want to realize their visions."
Hannah Lux, Social Impact Award, on social enterprise.
Social enterprise: for a better society
More and more young people are developing ideas to address the social and environmental problems of their time - including social enterprises. The Social Impact Award is an institution that promotes these ideas and social enterprises. "Once you have found the key to solving a problem, then you should see that this idea is spread. That's what the Social Impact Award is all about, "says Peter Vandor from the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship at WU Vienna. He launched the award five years ago. This year, it has already been awarded in a total of seven countries; in Austria alone, 113 participants submitted their projects. The international success is also due to the close cooperation with the "Impact Hub Vienna". A working space for social enterprises in the seventh district of Vienna. A co-working platform with workshops, know-how and many opportunities to exchange ideas with like-minded people. And part of an international network. "Especially at the beginning it is especially important not to be alone, but to see that there are other spinners who want to realize their visions. The Social Impact Award helped me to believe in my idea, "says Hannah Lux, who has won the" Social Impact Award "2011 herself and now belongs to the core team of the award. Also Ali Mahlodji has dusted 2011 with "Whatchado" - a video portal for vocational guidance for young people - the award: "Suddenly we have seen that other people believe in us. That was the kick ass we needed to keep going. "Today, the social enterprise" Whatchado "is internationally successful and employs 32 employees.
Social business is an economic concept often attributed to Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. Companies active in the field should solve social and ecological social problems. The concept is to make capitalism sustainable.
Social enterprises: added value instead of greed for profit
Social enterprise in the modern sense goes back to Mohammed Yunus, an economist from Bangladesh. In 2006 he won the Nobel Peace Prize with his idea of granting microloans to economically disadvantaged people. In his opinion, social enterprises have to complete the structure of capitalism and solve social and ecological problems: "If you take off your profit-maximizing glasses and take on social glasses, you see the world from a different perspective," says Yunus. This perspective is also characteristic of Peter Vandor: “There is always a mission being pursued. Social enterprises want to create added value, master a social challenge or help disadvantaged groups. The idea of profit is in the background. "
In Austria, social enterprises have only been on the rise for a few years. According to estimates by the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship, there are around 270 organizations and projects that can be assigned to this basic idea, from the initiative in the concept stage to the finished GmbH, which creates jobs - often also for socially disadvantaged people.
Longboards of released prisoners
Such a job also has David Deutsch. The 29 year-old was imprisoned for eight months in 2004 for assault and 2011 was sentenced a second time. Today David is in charge of a bike workshop in the 12. District in Vienna. The workshop is part of the association "Neustart", which wants to give former prisoners with projects like this the chance of a meaningful life after the detention. Recently, David has a new job: he produces longboards for a social enterprise that works with his workshop.
Melanie Ruff and Simone Melda founded this company called "Ruffboards" in January 2014. Their concept: Instead of throwing away old snowboards, they produce new longboards. Like skateboards, only longer, more agile and trendy. The "ruffboards" produced by ex-prisoners complete the business model, as Simone explains: "Our goal is to create jobs, not to maximize profits. We could also produce cheaper in Bratislava and have a bigger profit margin. But here we can generate a social impact and change something for the better. Those who are employed after their detention reduce their recidivism rate by 50 to 70 percent. "
Social enterprise: with work to perspective
"Ruffboards" is about to make the leap to the economically successful company. As I visit the workshop, David proudly presents the work of his team to the women entrepreneurs: the very first board - a premiere, a milestone. It took them four hours to make it by hand, and 280 Euro should cost it. Melanie tries it out right away, is thrilled with maneuverability and workmanship: "Pipifein, runs very supple. Congratulations on the great job. "
For David, the result is more than just a board that drives well. For him it is a perspective: "It is a new challenge, a responsibility that I can take on. And it's fun to be so involved in the development process. "The social value of working with" Ruffboards "is enormous, confirms Heinrich Staffler, social worker at" Neustart ":" It is a great appreciation for our employees, if they notice that they are needed. That someone comes from outside and wants something from them increases their self-confidence. This is a very important step towards rehabilitation. "
150 "Ruffboards" are expected to be sold by the end of the year. The vision: between 300 and 500 boards in five years. Social added value is also a good marketing argument. Three dealers in Vienna and one in Berlin are already interested in the boards. A working day is seven hours a day and David and his staff are currently creating two boards. Simone adds: "And if it does not turn out, we'll hire someone else. That's our goal, something better can not happen to us. "Melanie and Simone are convinced that their way is the right one. Confirmation also comes from an objective point: the social enterprise "Ruffboards" made it into the top 10 of the "European Social Innovation Competition" in May.
Tastefully change the world
There is a long way to go between the vision of making the world better with a good idea and winning awards. And more and more young people in Austria are ready to go - also in the direction of social enterprises.
Cornelia Mayer is one of them. Their project "Top Travel" is still in its infancy, slowly but surely becoming casual youthful sneakers. She gives the residents of the asylum center St. Gabriel near Mödling the opportunity to cook and sell their national dishes - under the guidance of a chef who also lives there. The target group are people who live or work in the area. "Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in Austria, they simply have no employment there. The residents of the asylum center are grateful for the task, can improve their German language skills and incidentally, the food really tastes excellent, "says Cornelia Mayer. Cooking is mainly Arabic, Afghan and Chechen. In October, the social enterprise "Top Travel" officially go to the start, delivery service included. Then participation in the "Social Impact Award 2015" should come within reach.
Visions with added value
During my research I met many social enterprises and people with good ideas. Every single one would be worth mentioning here. A selection…
Digital coaches for seniors
Smartphone, Internet, Tablets: Many people over fifty lose touch with the technologies of our time. Daniela and Kornelius bring modern people closer to these people. With the quality of a personal service for their "digital coaches". Even young unemployed are in the team.
www.qualitaetszeit.at
Legal Assistance "Vienna Legal Literacy Project"
Under the motto "Making Law Simple", law students teach young people the basics of relevant legal topics. Whether cyberbullying, environmental law or copyright for download fans. The VLLP explains in an understandable way.
www.vllp.org
Tutoring for refugees
The "School for All" project is preparing young refugees for compulsory education, which many are denied due to structural hurdles. Choir, theater group, football team and dance class included. Mentors, tutors and other supporters are sought.
www.prosa-schule.org
Mug collector for Welthungerhilfe
The self-proclaimed all-profit organization transforms the pledge of cups into donations, which finance clean drinking water and sanitary facilities in the south-east African Malawi in cooperation with Welthungerhilfe. Gathered at festivals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More ideas for generating donations are welcome.
www.vivaconagua.at
The Leihladen
"Borrow instead of buy": Leila is a library for everyday objects, a loan shop. Originally invented in Berlin, the club is now also in Vienna. If you become a member, you bring in things and in return you can borrow others. Free and at any time. "Save space, save money, produce less, throw less", so the motto.
www.facebook.com/leihladen
Photo / Video: Shutterstock.
