Creating a Model for the Implementation of Social/Solidarity Economy in Local Economic Context as Part of a Project

Abstract

The Human Exchange Human Resource Development and Consultant Foundation contributed to the social/solidarity management activities of the social cooperative registered in Gilvánfa (a village in Baranya county, Hungary) with professional consulting service. The foundation carried out the work as a consortium partner in the project “Next Step - Eliminating Segregated Life Situations in Gilvánfa” (project number EFOP-1.6.2-16-2017-00103). The consultancy activity was related to the support of social/solidarity economic activities and included complex research, planning, as well as strategy and model creation tasks. Labor market and employment counseling to promote the employment of persons with multiple disadvantages living in Gilvánfa was also part of the project activities.
During the creation of the model for the implementation of social/solidarity economy in local economic context, we summarized and synthesized the data and information obtained through the methods of preliminary literature search and collection, statistical data collection and analysis, interview preparation and analysis, and small group workshop sessions. Our conclusions were presented to the public at a conference organized jointly by the Research Center for Social Inclusion and Social Economy of the University of Pécs Faculty of Arts and the Human Exchange Foundation.
In our approach, model is a simplified representation of reality, and modeling is a process of exploring the interrelations and connections between different characteristics, phenomena and events. In the process of creating the model, we projected the results from the research back into factual data representing reality, after clarifying the object and the context of the examination. In
addition to these methodological elements, we also collected and presented “best practices” from the social/solidarity economy. We have done this in order to support the development of relations and networking between the parties involved
in and interested in solidarity-based local economic development initiatives. The type of model we have developed in the course of our research and consulting activities is artificial, it is both for research (research model) and educational
(demonstrative tool) purposes.