Touched Collection

A - DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD PRACTICE

A1 - Title in original language
Asociatia Touched Collection

A2 - Title in English
Touched Collection

A3 - Location of GP (national)
Romania

A4 - Location of GP (regional)
Bucharest

A5 - Economic field of activity
C Manufacturing

A6 - Ultimate purpose of GP
To improve social cohesion/inclusion
To practically facilitate or enable social enterpreneurship
To provide educational opportunities

A7 - Spatial scale
Local

A8a - Start date
Apr 12

A8b - Anticipated end date (if applicable)
on going

A9 - Short description of the GP
The social enterprise Touched Collection has began five years ago when the Hagar Home Maternal Center organized ocupational terapy for the mothers at risk. The enterprise has been developed as a funding sourse the mothers who couldn't go to work, had no other support and couldn't pay for their rent and or food.

A10 - Key words relating to the GP
therapy
vocational training
social reintegration
jewels
story

A11 - Objectives of the GP
To organize occupational therapy for mothers at risk and practical abilities, training in manufacturing and distribution of jewels and accesories, how to get a job, mentoring and professional training.

A12 - Activities that have taken place
Occupational therapy, professional training and job orientation, insertion on the job market for distribution and manufacturing of accesories, developing independent life abilities.

A13 - Achievements of the GP
Winner of the NESsT Competition in 2010, over 50 mothers involved in manufacturing and financial supported , development of 4 product lines : (1) jewels of wood, glass, natural materials and metal (earrings, bracelets, neckets, and sets) (2) Lux collection , earrings,neckesses and sets silver and gold plated, with perls and swarovski cristals (3) Pin colletion made of textil materials and bids and (4) kids collection (earrings and bracelets). These products are promoted on the on line-store www.touchedcollection.ro

B - IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND ECONOMY

B1 - How has the GP impacted on the following?

B1a - Legal/financial exclusion
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1b - Creation or conservation of local employment
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1c - Adaptation to new realities
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1d - Cross sectoral working
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1e - Enablement of social enterpreneurship
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1f - Amenities for local people
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1g - Educational opportunities
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1h - Crisis response
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1i - Local financial environment for social enterpreneurs
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1j - Local policy environment for social enterpreneurs
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1k - National financial environment for social enterpreneurs
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

B1l - National policy environment for social enterpreneurs
Positive impacts
Any other comments?

C - PARTNERSHIPS & GOVERNANCE

C1 - Is the governance of this GP fully inclusive?
Beneficiaries are highly involved in governance
Comments and learning points

C2 - How influential has this GP been on local or national decision makers?
A little influence achieved
Comments and learning points

C3 - How much partnership work has been involved?
Some cross sectoral partnership working
Comments and learning points

D - PR & TRANSFERABILITY

D1 - Please describe how the GP communicated its experience and success to the public
So far, we were selected twice as GP and each time we prepared a short film or presentations with the mothers from workshops or from maternal center. We are open to share our experience and to exchange information with other organizations interested to develop a social entreprise. We communicate thru social media and newsletter and collaborate with other corporatations to involve them to support our brand - Touched Collection - Jewels with story.

D2 - Please describe how the GP communicated with local or national decision makers?
We colaborate well with the Ministry of Work and other public institutions to organize events, round tables, etc on social enterprise topic.

D3 - Are there any elements of this project that you think would transfer particularly well to other contexts?
The entire concept of the social enterprise, occupational therapy, professional training on manufacturing and distribution, on line store and social reintegration could be succesfuly tranfered in other contexts.

E - RESOURCES AND SUSTAINABILITY

E1a - Total annual income of GP 2011/12
in 2011: 16300 euro and in 2012: 17441euro.

E1b - How is this made up?

E1c - Details of human resources
in 2012: 5 employees out of which 2 mothers and other 12 mothers involved in production and distribution, 10 volunteers involved in distribution and 10 in manufacturing.

E1d - Details of technology

E1e - Details of financial investment for start-up/early stage
We order the materials from the SUA and other European countries, the design is supported by artists and students, volunteers. . Touched Romania the "mother" oranization supported from the beginning( with personnel and financial) the activitities of the social enterprise. Now, the organizations promote and support each other. The production is insurred by the mothers at risk, involved in the project. We promote the jewels online and of line, one on one, at fairs and exhibitions.

E1f - Details of external support
NESsT este partenerul nostru strategic. In urma castigarii Competitiei, am dezvoltat o relatie suport. NESsT reprezinta si o resursa substantiala: financiar, informational, de crestere si dezvoltare.