RISE – Free Program for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship
The application deadline for the Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs (RISE), a program that provides young people with professional and financial support to develop a business that brings social change, has been extended until October 7, according to Smart Kolektiv, the organization implementing the program in Serbia. Over the course of the four-month program, participants will receive new knowledge, mentoring support, networking opportunities, travel, and the possibility to win financial support to realize their business venture.
RISE – the Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs, is a free support program for developing ideas and innovative solutions to community issues. The program will bring together young people with inspiring or innovative ideas on how to contribute to environmental preservation, employment of vulnerable groups, women’s empowerment, rural development, education, or culture in their local communities. Program participants will have the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge in the field of social entrepreneurship that will help them implement their ideas and generate income while doing what they believe in.
In addition to Serbia, the competition is open in five Western Balkan countries, and six teams from each country will be selected to develop their entrepreneurial skills during the program. Afterward, two teams from each country will receive financial support to establish their social enterprise. This is the fifth cycle of the RISE program, through which 508 entrepreneurs have developed 175 socially useful ideas, and 48 projects have received financial support, including Link in Bioska, Zajedničke niti, Soko Kamp, Blatologija, Vožnjom do samostalnosti, Women on the Way, Mountain Ways, and Izađi u bar from Serbia.
Teams of at least two young people (aged 18–35) from across Serbia who are motivated and have the time to work on developing their idea and regularly attend the program can apply. Applications are submitted by filling out the form at this link. More about the program and participation criteria is available at this link.
RISE – Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs is a support program for young social entrepreneurs, implemented in Serbia by the organization Smart Kolektiv since 2019. The RISE project is supported by the Agence Française de Développement, European Union (EU), Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ) and PULSE (Groupe SOS. RISE activities are implemented by six organizations from the Western Balkans: ARNO, Balkan Green Foundation, Nešto Više, Smart Kolektiv, IEC Tehnopolis, and Yunus Social Business Balkans.
