These stories about Bulgarian women were shared by participants in the events, organized within the project.

VSK “Kentavar” Ltd. has its own Trade Mark and Service Brand under which the company takes part with own booths in various Bulgarian and foreign fairs and exhibitions (Chicago, Hanover, Dusseldorf, Paris, Izmir, Zagreb, Sofia, Plovdiv etc.).The Quality Management System of the company is certified and complies with the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 and the Allied Quality Assurance Publication (AQAP - 110) of NATO.

The company is a member of the biggest business associations in Bulgaria - the Union of Employers in Bulgaria (UEB), recently united with the Bulgarian International Business Association (BIBA), the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bulgarian Industrial Association, the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria.  

Mrs. Pecheyan is well-known in the business circles in Bulgaria. She is Business Lady of the Year Award 2000. Apart from being a successful business lady for more than 15 years, Ms. Pecheyan is one of the founders and the driving force of the Club of Women Entrepreneurs and Managers. It was established 3 years ago and now more than 60 women take part regularly in its activities. She is constantly looking for new opportunities to enhance and enrich the activities of the Club by establishing contacts with similar organizations abroad.

More about VSK Kentavar: http://www.kentavar.com/

Together against poverty and social exclusion: the experience of Integra Association and "Ten Senses"

Association Integra BDS, is a nongovernmental organization in Bulgaria, established in 2000 as part of the larger Integra – network of partnering agencies, involved in social and economic development of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Integra BDS seeks to provide real opportunities for starting a small business and business-development services to disadvantaged people with an entrepreneurial spirit. Some of its main activities are focused on Encouraging entrepreneurship among disadvantaged women. Under this program Integra provide training for women at risk, a series of which were implemented in 2004 with the CWSP. (More)

Apart from the business training seminars, the microcredits, provided for starting or developing a small business and the free business consultations and monitoring for the period of the micro-credit payments, the consultants of Integra support the women trainees in organizing their Ladies' Business Club and participate in their regular monthly meetings. As one of the most active business clubs is that of the women from Sofia with over 40 members, who were involved in the next bigger initiative of Integra – i.e. the fair trade shop “Ten Senses” in Sofia.

"Ten Senses" Ltd offers traditional crafts, unique gifts, painted glass, and hand-knit/woven items with market access. The first fair trade shop, providing disadvantaged people in Sofia with a market for their products, was opened on December 9, 2005, the Vice Prime Minister, Ms. Emel Etem.  The purpose of the shop is to support social enterprises by creating market opportunities for people with disabilities, Roma craftsmen, women, and street-children.

“Ten Senses” as a social enterprise is deeply committed to the principles of self-sufficiency in its operations.  Valuing the people whose products it sells, at least as much as the profits generated by those sales, is a primary concern and responsibility of the business. These profits are re-invested in Ten Senses to create even more business opportunities for vulnerable groups. Fair Trade encourages gender equity and women's work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations

 

The “Ten Senses” fair trade shop lifts the anonymity of the socially excluded and impoverished.  The self-esteem and self-reliance that is expressed through the products sold at the Ten Senses fair trade shop, reinforces the historical Bulgarian traditions of tolerance and inclusion. Currently 58 women sell their products at the shop.

 

More about Integra Association, fair trade and the brand “Ten Sense” and other successful stories: http://www.integra-bds.bg; http://www.tensenses-bg.com; http://www.counterpart.org

 

 

This page has been developed under the project Learning Partnerships against Social Exclusion: Mentoring for Women Entrepreneurs, financed by the Socrates/ Grundtvig 2 Program.

 

The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Center of Women’s Studies and Policies and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Commission or the Socrates National Agency.