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HAND KNIT CRAFTS OF STARA ZAGORA, CREATING A SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE  

REDA is assisting a local group of physically handicapped women, living in the Stara Zagora Home for the Handicapped, to turn their hand knit crafts skills into a sustainable enterprise. Under the scope of this project REDA will refurbish their workspace, giving them a comfortable room in which to produce their hand crafted goods as well as cabinetry for storing supplies and inventory. We will help them identify and train an individual to assume the enterprise's management responsibilities. Part of this training will be dedicated to the creation of a sustainable business plan (including a marketing plan, budget, inventory control, production scheduling & order fulfillment, cash flow management, etc.). We will also assist them in designing and producing a set of marketing tools, such as a website and brochures, flyers and mailing pieces.

The primary goal of this project is to have the enterprise functioning on a self-sustained basis within one year. This project has been funded by a grant from the Small Projects Assistance program of the United States Peace Corps.

This project continues the work begun last year under the "Creating Favourable Conditions for the Employment of Disabled People in the City of Stara Zagora" project.

On November 4, 2005 the Opening Ceremony was held for the renovated Knitting Room, a little used storeroom in the Home for the Handicapped was renovated to become a bright, cheerful and inviting workplace where the eight physically handicapped women will conduct their craft knitting business. Representatives from the Home for the Handicapped, the Municipality, Peace Corps and local and national media were on hand to congratulate the women and to wish them every success as they begin their business venture.

During the renovation, a new floor was installed, the walls and ceiling were painted, new desks and tables were brought in, a new sofa was purchased, an air conditioner was installed, a new computer and printer were added and amenities such as a coffee maker, a cd player, an iron, curtains and potted plants turned the former storeroom into a cozy and comfortable workplace for the eight women.

As you can see from the ‘Before & After' photos, the room renovation was a great success!

On November 18 2005 we launched our Internet store for selling custom made hand knit apparel – www.handknitcrafts.com

INNOVATIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING APPROACHES IN SMALL AND MICRO ENTERPRISES

REDA is a partner and national coordinator for Bulgaria in a project for introducing innovative vocational Training approaches in Small and Micro Enterprises (TrainSME). It aims at the improvement of the vocational training system in small and micro enterprises. The project elaborates and adapts tools for the assessment of vocational training needs in small and specifically micro enterprises and models for the creation of training programs which are meeting the needs of employees and enterprises and support innovation processes. The results of the project are assessment tools (Web, CD) and a compendium on the assessment of vocational training needs and the implementation of new tools in small and micro enterprises. TrainSME focuses on the specific situation in small (< 50 employees) and particularly micro enterprises (< 10 employees). The TrainSME project has been funded with support from the Leonardo da Vinci Programme. TrainSME is executed in seven European countries.

More information: www.trainsme.net

Successfully accomplished projects

CREATING FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF STARA ZAGORA

Successfull end of entrepreneurship course of training, March 19, 2004

In January 2004, REDA began a very successful project designed to improve the social and economic integration of disabled people in the region. The project, funded by the Small Grant Scheme of the British Embassy in Sofia, was completed in August 2004.

The primary focus of the project was to provide training and education. Fifteen people with disabilities received training in starting their own businesses and four of them developed written business plans with one plan receiving financial support for its start-up. 120 hours of advisory and consultancy services were also provided to small businesses and start-ups. Training was provided to two groups of fifteen disabled people to assist them in developing a hand-knit crafts enterprise. We conducted courses in craft knitting, supplied unique product patterns, helped them carry out some initial marketing and start selling their products.

Training was also provided to two companies currently employing disabled people. Management teams from Tih Trud Ltd and Meressev Ltd participated in three 2-day seminars addressing Human Resource Management, Marketing and Negotiation Skills. In addition to these seminars, separate advisory services were given to each company based on their specific requirements. Websites were designed and published for each company and each had their catalog designed and published in time for their participation in the Plovdiv Fair in May 2004.

ENTREPRENERSHIP SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZE ENTERPRISES SECTOR IN STARA ZAGORA
The project is funded under the PHARE Programme BG 0102.05 LABOUR MARKET INITIATIVES.

Human resources management and management skills training, March 16, 2004

We successfully completed, for the first time, the design and implementation of a training program for micro-firms. T his was also the first time this type of specialized training was made available to the SME's in three important sectors of the local economy (furniture, textiles and food processing machine building). This project was funded under the PHARE Programme (Labour Market Initiative Project).

Two specialized training modules were designed to address the specific needs of micro-enterprises and SMEs. These modules, attended by representatives from more than 80 local firms, provided a very comprehensive course in small enterprise management. Through the project we also offered hundreds of hours of consultation services to micro-enterprises and SMEs, designed and published two separate handbooks (Management of Small Firms & Customer Service) and designed and published websites for each of the three participating sectors: furniture, textiles and food processing machine building.

The training and consultation services, the printed materials and the websites provided a framework for the successful completion of the project in which REDA offered crucial support to a large number of micro and small firms with limited access to this type of service. In addition to consultation and training in the more ‘traditional' areas of management, many of the local firms were shown the first steps towards QMS certification, registration of private trade marks and e-commerce. This training greatly improved their confidence in approaching the European market.

STRATEGIC PLANNING - TRAINING FOR MUNICIPAL COUNCILORS FROM STARA ZAGORA REGION MUNICIPALITIES

This project was funded under the Europractice 2003 Programme of the Open Society Foundation – Sofia. It was designed to build the capacity of the municipal councils in the Stara Zagora Region for defining their strategic priorities in community development and was targeted for the municipal councilors who were elected for the first time during the last local elections in October 2003. The project's primary goal was to enable municipal councilors to participate effectively in the process of strategic planning for local development, related to the first planning period after the accession of Bulgaria to the EU (2007-2013). 75 councilors from the 11 municipalities in the Stara Zagora Region participated in three seminars on Change Management and Leadership Skills, Local Economic Development and Strategic Planning.

As a follow-up to the project, a workgroup of representatives from the municipal council and the municipal administration was formed for the Stara Zagora Municipality, which defined the vision and priorities for the Stara Zagora municipal development plan for the period 2007-2013.

Change Management - Galabovo, February 16, 2004

Discussing the Budget of Galabovo municipality

Building a positive image of the local governments of Galabovo, Radnevo and Chirpan as a foundation for creating confidence in citizens and external partners, funded by USAID through the Foundation for Local Government Reform (Sept. 2002 - Sept. 2003)
The aim of thе project was to involve citizens to actively participate in solving community issues and to assist local governments to develop better image before their citizens and outside partners. As a result of the project implementation in the target municipalities:

- For the first time citizens were involved in a discussion to define the priorities of municipal budgets for the year 2003 (following the model of Dobrich Municipality);
- A survey was conducted to investigate the public opinion on the work of local governments;
- Training of 34 municipal officers in customer service was organised;
- Detailed marketing profiles of Galabovo, Radnevo and Chirpan were compiled and published in hard copies and on the Internet;
- Promotional brochures in Bulgarian and English were published in 1000 copies per municipality.

Major of Stara Zagora Meeting

Demonstrating Democracy: Improving Transparency and Freedom of Information in Local Governments in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, funded by the US State Department (July 2002 - July 2003).

REDA was the primary partner for this program to IRIS, Inc. (Iowa Resource for International Service) and coordinated activities in Europe. REDA assistеd in developing contacts with the other four cities, conducting the selection of candidates for a six-week internship in Iowa. Three participants from each city (Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; Veszprem, Hungary; Tarnow, Poland; Humene, Slovakia and Maribor, Slovenia) went to Iowa in February and March 2003, where they worked in city and county administrations. A project conference was organized in June, in Hungary, which gathered again all participants from Europe and Iowa. After the conference two local government officials from Iowa went for four days in each of the CEE countries to help establish long-term partnerships.
On June 27th, 2003 all the representatives from Iowa State met in Stara Zagora for the last working meeting of the project. The Iowa guests and the Bulgarian participants shared the accumulated experience and its possible application in Bulgaria.

• PHARE BG 9915-01-051 - Capacity building for entrepreneurship development and employment promotion in the municipalities of Stara Zagora Region, affected by the restructuring of the mining industry (October 2001 – October 2002).
  The project was funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy under the EU PHARE Programme.

  The aim of the project was to build local capacity for SME encouragement and solving unemployment issues through the establishment of Centres for entrepreneurship support and re-training of unemployed.
  
  

  Inauguration of the centre for entrepreneurship promotion and employment initiatives in Galobovo municipality

  The direct beneficiaries were 132 unemployed who acquired new vocational skills and SME management skills, as well as starting and existing SMEs in the municipalities.
  
  Partners to Stara Zagora REDA for this project were:
  • Radnevo Municipality;
  • Galabovo Municiplaity;
  • Chirpan Municipality;
  • the Bulgarian-German Center for Vocational Training – Stara Zagora;
  • the Secondary Vocational School for Construction and Carpentry “Nikola Ranchev” – Stara Zagora;
  • the Regional Coordination Councils of the Confederation of the Independent Trade Unions in Stara Zagora and Radnevo

  As a result of the project:
  1) three centres for entrepreneurship promotion and employment initiatives in the three municipalities: Radnevo, Galabovo, Chirpan were established and are now part of REDA’s network in the region;
  2) 108 unemployed from Radnevo, Galabovo, Chirpan, Bratya Daskalovi and Stara Zagora were re-trained in new vocational skills (9 courses) according to the future workforce needs;
  3) 24 unemployed were trained and motivated to start their own business in two “Start Your Own Business” courses;
  4) 87 local SMEs received services from the newly established centres;
  5) 90 SMEs (30 in each municipality) were trained in 9 training seminars in marketing, new labour legislation, customer service.

• Participant and supporting agency in a PHARE project “Capacity Building for the Accelerated Growth of the SME Sector in Bulgaria” (2001/02)

• Development and implementation of a customer service training program for employees of municipal and state government agencies and private businesses, FLGR;

  1) Conducted initial and final surveys of the citizens’ satisfaction from customer service in municipal, government and private offices.
  2) Developed materials for training course for customer service improvement
  3) Published brochure to promote the principles of good customer service
  4) Organised eight training courses for municipal and tax officers, hotel managers, SME managers, bank employees

• Implementation of a micro-credit program for small entrepreneurs, supported and funded by Catholic Relief Services –Bulgaria (June 1999 - June2000).

  Starting with assistance in the initial needs analysis in 1998, REDA was the main local counterpart in the implementation of a Catholic Relief Services-supported micro-finance program for credit cooperatives, comprised of individual micro-entrepreneurs of the community with limited or no access to formal financial services. The program has already proven to be an unqualified success, as since 2000 it has an independent office in Stara Zagora with guiding functions for the rest of the Bulgarian regions. More than 1200 micro-entrepreneurs have received micro-credits by the end of June, 2003, 750 of them – from Stara Zagora..

• Design of information materials and presentation of Stara Zagora Region at Bulgarian Investment Forums (Oct. 97/98/99), at
  • Europe-Israel Trade & Industry Jubilee Exhibition’98 in Tel-Aviv, Israel;
  • Trade Exhibition in Brescia, Italy, 2000;
  • Investment forums, organized by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Padova and Bologna (‘99) and Turin (2000), Italy;
    
    
• Design and compilation of a brochure for Stara Zagora Region, aimed at attracting foreign investors – 3 editions;
  • a brochure (in 5 languages) to promote tourism in Stara Zagora Region (1997);
  • a CD-ROM promoting Stara Zagora regional economy;
  • post cards of Stara Zagora;
  • informational material of EURADA about the creation, development and management of RDAs.
    
    
• Design of economic development strategies for Stara Zagora Municipality (1999) and Nikolaevo Municipality (2000), a strategy for development of the education system of Galabovo Municipality;

• Trade Exhibitions:
  • Balkancontact’99, Stara Zagora, Nova Zagora ’99;
  • EXPO 2000 and 2001, Stara Zagora;
  • Vinaria 2000, Stara Zagora;