Diversity enriches

The term Entrepreneurship reflects the effort to convert an initiative into an outcome, and through this process, into profit. Necessary preconditions for the growth of entrepreneurship are innovative thinking, leadership, effective management, initiative, and drive.

The growth of entrepreneurship is a key factor for economic development and combating  unemployment. In particular, the strengthening of youngsters’ entrepreneurial spirit is a key priority in stimulating a more competitive economy as many young people, often in response to the pressure of employment, choose to undertake entrepreneurship activity.  

For many years now, KMOP is actively involved in boosting entrepreneurship, in particular among disadvantaged groups, through initiatives which apply to the field of Social Economy and through the provision “Programmes for the Provision of Community- based support services”

The social economy is that spectrum of activity located between the public and private sector (and so driven neither by the logic of capital nor by that of the state) which is a form of economic activity aimed at addressing the social need. Social Economy involves the economic activities of enterprises, actors and organizations, the goals and operational strategy of which give priority to people’s needs, employment, public interest or their members’ needs.

Social Economy is an active intervention under the two pillar framework of the market and the society, in general, which, regardless of the legal status of its actors, is based on the principle of democratic organization, supported commonly by broad social foundations, adopts criteria for distributing collective profits, develops a special relationship with its environment and promotes social cohesion. Social Economy organizations generate new jobs according to the principle of social solidarity (working integration of disadvantaged groups excluded from the labour market), while in many cases providing public welfare services.

KMOP has developed a significant number of activities in the field of Entrepreneurship and Social Economy. In 2000, in the context of the Heliotropio programme, the organization supported the creation of the social cooperation Irida, which promoted the employment of persons with mild mental disorders in floral activities. In 2005, KMOP participated in the Developmental Partnership “KOINON- OIKO”, within the framework of the European initiative Equal. In 2006, the Ianos Mask Museum was created in the ground floor of the Group House Kalypso, as an innovative intervention activity for the benefit of its residents, as well as a small workshop where simple masks can be constructed. For the same reason, KMOP created in 2007 a small farm around the 8 acre-surroundings of the Group Houses Kalypso and Alkyonis. These two neighbouring farms support a small greenhouse hothouse and a stable and to this day more than 300 fruit trees have been planted.

In parallel, KMOP has supported a significant number of members of disadvantaged groups, participating in the “Programmes for the Provision of Community- based support services” that have been realized the recent years, in order to create their own business.