Social Impact Awards to the best youth projects

Projects Cegerica, Guidi and Flatoro were presented with prizes for Social Impact Award 2020 program for Montenegro. The award is presented to young entrepreneurs for entrepreneurship with social impact. Putevima crnogorskih ukusa project won the online community award.

Winners of the contest were announced on the ceremony that took place today in hotel Podgorica in Podgorica, and the awards were presented by Ana Šebek, Advisor in the Directorate for Investments, Development of SMEs and Management of EU Funds of the Ministry of Economy and Zef Djokic, Advisor for Legal Entities in the Economy Sector of Erste bank.

The winners won 1,500 EUR prizes, provided by Erste bank, but also mentoring for further development and implementation of their business ideas and participation in the International SIA Summit which will be organized online this year.

The winners were selected by the following judges: Ana Sebek (Ministry of Economy), Zef Djokic (Erste bank), Adrijana Stevanovic (Finance in Motion – EFSE Fund), Milja Stanojevic  (Ministry of Science), Mileta Draskovic (Investment and Development fund), Anica – Maja Boljevic (Fund for Active Citizenship – fAKT), Milica Vukotic (University Donja Gorica) and Kemal Grbovic (Secretariat for Entrepreneurship of the Capital).

41 projects applied for this year’s Social Impact Award program, and 10 were selected to participate in two-month incubation program, which was then followed by today’s contest.

Social Impact Award (SIA) program is the biggest international project aimed at social business. Dedicated to young people aged 14 to 30, it was initiated in 2009 by Impact Hub Vienna, in partnership with Erste Foundation and Vienna University of Economics and Business. Program focuses on young people who are willing to contribute to working on social change and to be a part of development of social entrepreneurship in the country and the world. The program is currently being implemented in over 16 states of Europe, Asia and Africa, and includes over 8,000 young people a year.

The Social Impact Award program in Montenegro is implemented by the Center for Economic Prosperity and Freedom – CEPS in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Erste Bank and European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE). The sponsors of the program are Investment and Development Fund of Montenegro, Ministry of Science and Fund for Active citizenship-FAKT. The local partners of the program are the Capital Podgorica and the municipalities Herceg Novi, Kotor, Budva and Savnik, as well as the University of Donja Gorica, Faculty of Business Economics and Law Bar, Faculty of Management Herceg Novi, Union of employers, m:tel Digital Factory, Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, Digitalizuj.me, Institute for entrepreneurship and economic development, IPC Tehnopolis, Regional business center Berane, Union of young entrepreneurs of Montenegro, Montenegrin High School Students Union, Youth club Tivat and Youth club Berane.

CegericaCegerica is the first Montenegrin on-line specialized shop of handmade bags made of natural materials. Area of impact: Strengthening of regional economies.

GuidiApplication aimed at creating a digital community of travel writers, bloggers, and other passionate travelers where they will be able to share their own experiences with other users of the platform in a unique way. Area of impact: Strengthening regional economy.

Flatoro.com – A unique real estate advertising platform, dedicated to training and creating real estate agents with a focus on rural areas. Area of impact: Recruitment and job creation.

Putevima crnogorskih ukusa is a hedonistic workshop that entices us to embark on an adventure of getting to know the Montenegrin cultural and gastronomic natural heritage. In a relaxed atmosphere and pleasant ambience, we discover the secrets of Montenegro regions, the cuisine of our grandmothers as well as forgotten specialties. Area of impact: Strengthening regional economies.