Social business: how Moscow entrepreneurs help special people

Social entrepreneurship is a very important area of ​​business in the country

Today, the largest number of such enterprises, which often employ people with mental or physical disabilities, is located in the Moscow region (810 enterprises according to the JV register) and Moscow (287 enterprises). Social business includes private kindergartens, homes for the elderly, as well as enterprises whose main task is to help people with special needs in various ways. Sometimes it can be difficult for such companies to stay afloat on their own, because sometimes they have to provide services almost at no charge. Then they come to the aid of various funds. For example, the Fund for Regional Social Programs “Our Future”. For 15 years of work, he has supported more than 900 projects of social entrepreneurs in the country. Three of them were told to journalists by the Fund’s employees during the press tour.

Stroller for sports

On Konenkova Street in the capital, the production of active-type wheelchairs is located. Such products enable people with disabilities to engage in tennis and table tennis, fencing, basketball, badminton, sledge hockey, dancing and even martial arts. More than 50% of employees, including CEO Andrey Elagin, are people with disabilities.

“We make active wheelchairs, their peculiarity is maneuverability, the ability to move the wheelchair independently. We also produce models for sports, including for participants in the Paralympic Games,” Andrey Elagin said.

As the press service of the Our Future Foundation added, for the development of the production of wheelchairs, interest-free loans were allocated for the purchase of equipment and raw materials for several years.

Taxi for special people

There are companies in the arsenal of assistance to people with limited mobility and special transport companies. For example, Invataxi, this social project was launched about 10 years ago. Initially, the company was created for the needs of wheelchair users, today it provides services to other categories of people with disabilities.

“Of course, difficulties in the implementation of our project arose immediately. Starting with the fact that at that time in Russia we did not find special lifts and special fasteners that fix a person inside the car, ending with problems with the certification of our cars. As for the payback – it is, but very small. We have a very individual approach to our client, because there are people who are very poor. Then we help them free of charge or give very large discounts to someone,” shared Nadezhda Shchegoleva, Development Director.

Hoodie with a deep meaning

The inclusive workshop of the project “Naive? Very”. People with special needs work here.

They create unusual prints for souvenirs: hoodies, shoppers, pillows, mugs and much more. In the workshop, such special authors have the opportunity to communicate, build social ties. And all the design projects they create always look fresh and unusual.

“The most popular product is textiles. At one time, it was thanks to the Foundation that we were able to find this niche. Now we make not only dishes and souvenirs, but also T-shirts, hoodies, printed caps, shoppers, pillows under our own brand and much more,” explained Anastasia Lavrentyeva, head of the inclusive workshop.

And the workshop is a real community. Here people not only work, but also participate together in the creation of theatrical productions. A workshop gallery was established in the Artplay Design Center, where the authors stage plays.

This is only a small part of the projects of social entrepreneurs in Moscow. Good Business is actively developing. The Russian registry, which includes social enterprises, grew by 30% in 2022. This is facilitated, among other things, by the activities carried out by the Our Future Foundation. For example, the presentation of the “Impulse of Kindness” award for the development of social entrepreneurship, which this year takes place in the format of a large festival.