In this three-year programme we, along with local IKEA co-workers, support Polish and Romanian social entrepreneurs to grow their business and impact, expanding local employment opportunities and finding solutions to social and environmental challenges.
Front runners
Both countries have reduced poverty in the last two decades, but the job is far from done. Two million people still live in extreme poverty in Poland, from a population of 38 million, while in Romania one in five people are at risk of poverty.
At the same time, new economic opportunities are being created in the steadily growing social and environmental sustainability sectors. The social entrepreneurs we support are front runners of this people and planet positive movement in their countries. They create better everyday lives for marginalised populations including women, migrants, small producers and artisans, youth at risk, migrants and refugees, and people with disabilities.
Inclusive futures
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Partnering with IKEA Social Entrepreneurship in this new programme is an exciting opportunity to support social enterprises in the region where NESsT was born 25 years ago shares Nicole Etchart, NESsT co-CEO.
The accelerator was launched during a welcome summit (February 1-2), where the ten social entrepreneurs had the opportunity to get to know each other and the support teams at NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship. They also met local IKEA co-workers, who play a key role in the accelerator. Alongside NESsT business experts, co-workers from IKEA Poland and Romania will share their business knowledge and insights as mentors for the social entrepreneurs. Åsa Skogström Feldt, managing director, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship B.V. on the new accelerator:
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We are very happy to welcome the cohort of social entrepreneurs to our accelerator together with NESsT. This programme will contribute to a more inclusive future for people who need it the most in Poland and Romania.
