Social entrepreneurship – What it is and how to start?

We’ll start with two inspiring speakers from two different organisations. Each will share their journey in launching and managing social enterprises, including the challenges they faced, key milestones they achieved, and the skills and resources that made it all possible.  Afterward, you’ll have the chance to dive deeper in discussions with the speaker whose experience resonates most with you.

The session is designed for LGBTI groups and organisations in Europe and Central Asia considering starting up a social enterprise.

Our speakers will be:

• Amir Shaikezhanov is an LGBT activist from Kazakhstan who runs Amirovki, the biggest LGBT bar in Central Asia, and Safe Space Almaty, LGBT community center in Almaty, which also serves as a free-of-charge space for different activities organised by LGBTI activists and groups. Amir was also the project director of Amanbol, the first HIV self-testing program in Kazakhstan, which distributed over 11,000 HIV self-test kits for men who have sex with men, transgender and nonbinary persons.
• Ivan Dimov – Founder and Executive Director of Single Step Foundation in Bulgaria and CEO of The Steps, the largest LGBTI social enterprise in Europe. His prior professional career is in the field of finance: as an investment banker and VC in New York and Sydney, Australia. He served as Treasurer of the Executive Board of ILGA-Europe between 2020 – 2024.

Takeaways  

• Diverse perspectives on social entreprise dynamics
• Practical tips and best practices for sustainable growth
• Real-world inspiration to explore launching your own social enterprise

The session will be in English, hosted by Seka Topal, Programs Officer at ILGA-Europe.

Please register here by March 10 the latest.