Social innovation drafts solutions to pressing social challenges. It provides room for new approaches, gives innovative answers and lays new paths. Social innovation either reacts to a new social question or it solves a known problem by a new practice. Action can be taken by the affected social group itself, it must, in any case, be appropriated and co-implemented by those concerned. In this manner, social innovation creates sustainable, exemplary solutions that inspire others.
The first place was won by a project from Austria that deals with advocacy activities for workers' rights and equality in the labour market. Second place went to a project from Hungary that provides legal aid and support related to housing and social rights for people in poverty, adapted to pandemic conditions. The third place was won by the project "MADE IN: Crafts and Design Narratives" - a project registered in three countries, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, and the holder of the Art Organization OAZA from Croatia. The project operates through its research, design and legacy platform for new practices and exchanges between artisans and designers. The platform hires artisans and designers to jointly create and implement products. Additionally, it serves as a digital repository of projects and information on local crafts and design. The amount awarded to the project is € 5,000.
In addition to the three main prizes, 12 more projects were awarded in the amount of € 2,000, two of which are from Croatia.
The project "Carry on with the story" by the applicants of the Skribonauti Association uses the literature to address the marginalization and exclusion that women prisoners in Croatia face. The program provides access to culture and art to female prisoners by providing prison writing workshops that combat prejudice and change the perception of prisoners in public through short stories.
The UO PARADOX applicant's "From5To95" project encourages public intergenerational dialogue and gives women and girls space to speak out and share their experiences, from childhood memories to social inequalities. It was created in response to the inequality of women in Croatia. The project empowers women by opening public dialogue through the public shooting of films and art, their work is presented in galleries throughout Croatia with the aim of highlighting the challenges and problems of women in society.
You can see more about the award and the winners on SozialMarie