Academy of Social Entrepreneurship

The Academy of Social Entrepreneurship is a joint assistance program of the Via Foundation, Philip Morris CR, and the Institute of Finance and Administration (IFA) in Prague. The aim of the program is to assist selected non-profit organizations to incorporate fee-for-service activities into their operations that would enable them to establish a diversified source of income to support their independence and overall development.

The Academy of Social Entrepreneurship program offers: a two semester management course at IFA, a coach and tutor to help design a business plan to assist with the organizational development of each participant the possibility of receiving a contribution towards the making of a business plan.

The participants of the pilot phase of the program in 2005/2006 were the Sue Ryder Home, Portus Prague, and the Friends of Nature Society

Praha - How has the Academy helped the Sue Ryder Home? In their own words:

“The Academy of Social Entrepreneurship was for me, most of all, a self-service market with a highly qualified and friendly staff. The overall market place was very inspirational and the teachers and tutors enthusiastically advised me about all the ‘goods’ on offer that could make my work at the Sue Ryder Home easier and more effective. (...more)

Praha - Portus Prague implemented a project entitled “Production of Marinated Cheese from Slapy”

Since March 2005, Portus Prague has operated a sheltered workshop in the municipality of Slapy, in which nine mentally disabled people are employed to produce marinated ermine (hermelín) cheese. This small production facility was founded primarily for therapeutic purposes. However, demand for this cheese, a staple of Czech restaurants and pubs, quickly surpassed expectations and attracted great interest. This interest led Portus Prague to consider the further development of the sheltered workshop. (...more)