Community business Community business foundation foundation

“The Silver Twiggies”“The Silver Twiggies”Entrepreneurship type – Producing Entrepreneurship type – Producing

floristics/hobby materials out of floristics/hobby materials out of woodcutting leftoverwoodcutting leftover

What are we?What are we? NGO “Watermarks” was founded in 2007 and it functions NGO “Watermarks” was founded in 2007 and it functions

in a perfectly rural area – in Rubene pagasts, Jekabpils in a perfectly rural area – in Rubene pagasts, Jekabpils county. The NGO occupies the former Kaldabruna county. The NGO occupies the former Kaldabruna school that is situated 50 km away from the cities school that is situated 50 km away from the cities Jekabpils and Daugavpils. Jekabpils and Daugavpils.

Our main action fields:Our main action fields: environmental protection and sustainable development, environmental protection and sustainable development,

development of civic society, art and culture, lifelong development of civic society, art and culture, lifelong learning.learning.

Our mission – development of the local community and Our mission – development of the local community and maintenance of rural environment as an attractive one.maintenance of rural environment as an attractive one.

Much has been done during the 5 years since its Much has been done during the 5 years since its foundation – renovation of the old school building and foundation – renovation of the old school building and improving the infrastructure, carrying out activities, thus improving the infrastructure, carrying out activities, thus making the organization famous on a regional level.making the organization famous on a regional level.

What we want to change?What we want to change? The f irst - kThe f irst - k eepeep the local community alive and active by offering the local community alive and active by offering

addit ional ways of earning one`s l iving.addit ional ways of earning one`s l iving. AAny educational, cultural ny educational, cultural environmental protection activities may cease, if there are no employment environmental protection activities may cease, if there are no employment possibilities in the area. It leads to a rapid fall in the number of the possibilities in the area. It leads to a rapid fall in the number of the inhabitants, as well as to a deep social depression. inhabitants, as well as to a deep social depression.

SSecondly, the NGO intends to secure its income on self-supporting basis in econdly, the NGO intends to secure its income on self-supporting basis in addition to the grants. Moreover, personal participation in maintenance of addition to the grants. Moreover, personal participation in maintenance of the organization that has already become a community centre, creates quite the organization that has already become a community centre, creates quite a different attitude which is based on cooperation. a different attitude which is based on cooperation.

In case of a successful implementation of this idea, it can be disseminated In case of a successful implementation of this idea, it can be disseminated in other populated places of Latvia as a solution to the development of in other populated places of Latvia as a solution to the development of village entrepreneurship. village entrepreneurship.

By implementing this idea we intend to achieve By implementing this idea we intend to achieve changes in the structure of the income of at changes in the structure of the income of at least a part of the local inhabitants by least a part of the local inhabitants by substituting their present social loans with substituting their present social loans with wages. wages.

How we do it?How we do it?

The NGO has the following idea of social The NGO has the following idea of social entrepreneurship - entrepreneurship - producing f lorist ics/hobby producing f lorist ics/hobby materials out of woodcutt ing leftovermaterials out of woodcutt ing leftover . Initially, for . Initially, for the Latvian market, and gradually – for the market the Latvian market, and gradually – for the market outside its boarders.outside its boarders.

Target audience of production:Target audience of production: - handicraft lovers and professional florists;- handicraft lovers and professional florists; - education institutions;- education institutions; - rehabilitation centers(art therapy; e.t.c.)- rehabilitation centers(art therapy; e.t.c.)

How we do it?How we do it? We intend to start a separate structure within the NGO - We intend to start a separate structure within the NGO - Community Community

business foundation “The Silver Twiggies” business foundation “The Silver Twiggies” .. The foundation is responsible for the development of the above The foundation is responsible for the development of the above

given business idea – it creates a place for drying the materials, given business idea – it creates a place for drying the materials, arranges the process of their gathering and treatment, makes the arranges the process of their gathering and treatment, makes the designs, secures the marketing, including some export.designs, secures the marketing, including some export.

In the context of employment it is in favour of the NGO that people In the context of employment it is in favour of the NGO that people who work in this business are involved as volunteers of the who work in this business are involved as volunteers of the organization until their monthly income reaches the level of a organization until their monthly income reaches the level of a minimum wage. minimum wage.

We admit that the State Income Service may have a different We admit that the State Income Service may have a different opinion in this respect. Still it is essential to remember the initial opinion in this respect. Still it is essential to remember the initial point: point: to achieve changes in the structure of the income of to achieve changes in the structure of the income of at least a part of the local inhabitants by substituting at least a part of the local inhabitants by substituting their present social loans with wages. their present social loans with wages. The existing NGO The existing NGO legislation in Latvian permits such a solution.legislation in Latvian permits such a solution.

Why we? Why we?

The NGO is the centre of the local community, The NGO is the centre of the local community, the inhabitants trusting it.the inhabitants trusting it.

The aims and mission of the NGO coincide with The aims and mission of the NGO coincide with the given entrepreneurship idea.the given entrepreneurship idea.

The type of the entrepreneurship is nature The type of the entrepreneurship is nature friendly and sustainable, just proper to distant friendly and sustainable, just proper to distant Latvian rural areas.Latvian rural areas.

The offered type of entrepreneurship has a The offered type of entrepreneurship has a significant potential for its multiplication and the significant potential for its multiplication and the NGO has experience in implementing innovative NGO has experience in implementing innovative ideas, as well as, an experienced staff.ideas, as well as, an experienced staff.

Why this buisness? Why this buisness? 45% of 45% of local terr itory are covered by woods. local terr itory are covered by woods.

TThe woods in the area are being processed he woods in the area are being processed intensively; the resources of the planned intensively; the resources of the planned production are the remains of the wood production are the remains of the wood processing. Consequently, they are accessible processing. Consequently, they are accessible in great amounts and they are cheap.in great amounts and they are cheap.

Why this buisness? Why this buisness?

The NGO has accessible rooms necessary for The NGO has accessible rooms necessary for the production, their costs are low, including the production, their costs are low, including maintaining and heating expenses.maintaining and heating expenses.

The planned type of entrepreneurship needs The planned type of entrepreneurship needs mainly unqualified labor force, this factor having mainly unqualified labor force, this factor having a vital importance in the local social situation.a vital importance in the local social situation.

At the same time it offers qualified employment At the same time it offers qualified employment for designing, making prototypes, marketing and for designing, making prototypes, marketing and things like that, promoting the employment of the things like that, promoting the employment of the youth and intelligent inhabitants in their native youth and intelligent inhabitants in their native area.area.

Our needs for startOur needs for start

Our needs are fairly vast as the team has a Our needs are fairly vast as the team has a notable experience in managing grants but it notable experience in managing grants but it lacks experience in business. lacks experience in business. Consultations/mentoring are needed in the Consultations/mentoring are needed in the issues of making a prototype of the product, issues of making a prototype of the product, estimating the price, marketing and advertising. estimating the price, marketing and advertising. As the development of the idea involves export, As the development of the idea involves export, a “business angel” in these issues would be a “business angel” in these issues would be highly desirable.highly desirable.

Also - Also - investment is necessary to start a investment is necessary to start a particular process. particular process.

Why are we supposed to Why are we supposed to succeed?succeed?

Our aim is to create a pilot model to Our aim is to create a pilot model to ensure the viabil ity of the Latvian ensure the viabil ity of the Latvian countryside but not to obtain countryside but not to obtain personal profit .personal profit .

Why are we Why are we supposed to succeed?supposed to succeed? This way of life and business are:This way of life and business are: Promising and inspiritingPromising and inspiriting Beautiful and ecologicalBeautiful and ecological Real! Real!

Thank you! Thank you!