MEET THE 10 MIGRANT CHANGEMAKERS SELECTED AS PART OF THE HELLO POLAND ACCELERATOR.
Ten migrant changemakers have been selected as part of the Hello Entrepreneurship Programme which launched this past winter. Hello Entrepreneurship is an ecosystem-building initiative of Ashoka Poland and Citi Foundation with a key emphasis on mentorship and development.
The Programme aims to offer support to migrants’ social enterprises in Poland so that their talents and hard work could contribute to the public good, as well as to social and economic prosperity of Poland - Piotr Marek Kolodziej, Programme Manager, Ashoka Poland.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 10 CHANGEMAKERS SELECTED:-
Sam Cuts Barber Shop, founded by changemaker Segun Akeju.
"Zawarka" Club, founded by changemakers Anastasiia Sergeeva, Anastasiya Grigorash and Maria Charmast.
Center For Autistic Children, founded by changemaker Artem Tuliuk
Aerial Dance Gym, founded by changemaker Sofia Diduk
Reusable Diapers & Ecological Products, founded by changemaker Mariana Lunova
Koniczyna (Clover) Catering, founded by changemaker Khava Kagermanova
Weyes, Interactive App for Creating Glass Frames, founded by changemakers Anton Bulakh with the support of Alina Shkliaruk, Eugene Chechkov and Roman Pavliuk.
Digital Inclusion Poland, founded by changemaker Roman Boreńko.
Azima Tatar Delights Bakery, founded by Susanna Izzetdinova
Ballsquad, founded by changemakers Walid Barsali, Dorota Caban, Michel Tatarczuk
One of the key elements of the Hello Entrepreneurship Programme in Poland is the mentorship the participants receive. Each initiative is paired with experts from their industry, who will help guide them through the process of starting or scaling their own social enterprise. All participants receive legal support from Sergiy Skorycki, founder of Skorycki Law Firm, who himself is a migrant. Additionally, they have been participating in webinars on the topics of communication in social media, advertising and marketing, teambuilding, and more recently one about wellbeing during the pandemic. Here’s a short summary of the help our entrepreneurs get:
Sofia Diduk from Aerial Dance Gym is working on creating a business plan and improving communication about the project in social media with Citi Volunteers.
Founders of the “Zawarka” Club will be supported in creating a social franchise model for their club and systematising their methodology with Ashoka Fellow Wacław Czakon, founder of the Happy Childhood Founation.
Marianna Lunova, who wants to produce reusable diapers will create a portfolio of products, get business advice and support from the founders of Hurma – a Polish brand focused on promoting equality through fashion.
Artem Tuliuk will discuss his plans for opening a Centre for Children with autism and get the knowledge on how to successfully do it in Poland from the founders of Therapy Centre Sotis – one of the best known Centre for Children with autism in Poland.
Khava Karemanova who wants to set up her own catering firm will be supported and trained by Agnieszka Kręglicka – one of the most prominent restaurateurs in Poland.
Anton Bulakh, the founder of Weyes, will work on his business model with Agata Stafiej-Bartosik, director of Ashoka Poland.
Digital Inclusion Poland, a company founded by Roman Borenko, will be supported by Integration Foundation and Poland Without Barriers Foundation, who will share their experience in supporting people with disabilities.
Susanna Izzetdinova will work on opening a second branch of her bakery “Azima - Tatar Delights” with Hubert Denis who is the cofounder of Krowarzywa – a vegetarian burger restaurant which opened in 2013 in Warsaw and now has 14 locations all over Poland.
The founders of BallSquad will be supported in the process of working with public administration and from the business investor Wojciech Mróz.
Sam Akeju, founder of Sam Cuts Barber Salon, will work on creating a successful business plan for expanding his business. Sam will have also support from Jacek Beldowski. Jacek is an experienced business leader and couch.
UPCOMING REPORT
A report on the contribution of migrants in Poland is soon to be published. It will showcase their social and economic potential and what they contribute to the country. The report will include a summary debate between the members of the Hello Entrepreneurship Board about what more could be done to empower migrants as changemakers in Poland. The report will also include detailed descriptions of the 10 initiatives illustrating how they empower others and what their social, ecological and integrating impact is.
UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY
Filming of a documentary focusing on of the journeys of Anton Bulakh, Susanna Izzetdinova and Sam Akeju has began. The documentary aims to showcase their stories as entrepreneurial individuals whose creations are impacting the lives of many. The hope is these stories will inspire others to take those steps as well as challenge some entrenched narratives around migration in Poland.
