Balaz Jozef
Organization: Liga o.s. Bruntal
Year Founded: 1996
Country: Czech Republic
Website: Not available
Geographic Area of Impact: Czech Republic.
Model: Hybrid Non-Profit
Focus: Children and Youth,Environment.
Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Czech Republic, 2008 The Innovation Understanding the vicious cycle of unemployment and marginalization among the Roma population in the Czech Republic, Liga o.s. Bruntal employs socially marginalized individuals – primarily Roma, in construction and e-waste recycling positions. Liga then uses part of the profits from the business to fund youth development initiatives that break the cycle of poverty. Background In the economically hard-hit area of Bruntal in the Czech Republic, where Liga operates, the unemployment rate is a staggering 20% compared to the country standard of 8% or almost 250% that of the standard Czech unemployment rate. The approximate 700,000 Roma in the Czech Republic have historically been marginalized leading to unemployment. In Bruntal, 90% of the Roma population is unemployed due to discrimination and a coddling social system. Negative stereotypes of the population are reinforced and leads to a downward spiral in Roma engagement. Strategy Josef Balaz’s strategy has been to look for market weaknesses or cracks and exploit them with a first mover advantage. His companies include both a construction company and an electronic waste management company called the Green Workshop. Josef, foreseeing the change in EU law regarding electronic waste management in 1995, started the Green Workshop to handle all electronic waste recycling in the northern Czech region. Thus, the Green Workshop also provides environmental benefit in addition to its employment of socially marginalized populations. Josef reinvests his profits into a foundation that targets root causes of unemployment in the Roma community by providing a youth club, integration center, and employment assistance. From 2003 – 2006, he had a staggering 308% Compounded Annual Growth Rate. To ensure impact is indeed being created, Liga has generated very strong impact assessment tools allows for measurement and tailoring strategy to best suit needs of the community as a constant feedback loop The Entrepreneur Mr. Balaz is a modest individual with a soft strength. Of Roma origin, Josef Balaz has long been passionate about Roma affairs. However, after an experience in providing free aid made him realize he was hindering rather than helping individuals, he shifted his work to providing opportunities to those that want a hand rather than a handout. At only 32, his visionary foresight and successful business practices have already made him one of the most respected businessmen in the region with plenty of potential for further growth.
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