Social Challenges Stories

Over the past few months we've taken a video camera with us as we held our first Social Challenges Camp and visited some of the cities and regions participating in the Platform.

Check out our first four videos, along with links to the Challenges, Social Entrepreneurs and Cities involved (update: check out the key findings from the Social Challenges project).

Athens, July 2018: First Social Challenge Camp

Last July we met in Athens for the first Social Challenge Camp, bringing together the Winners from the first Social Challenges Call. 

This was the first time we held such an event, and it was inspirational to bring together 42 entrepreneurs in our series of training sessions and workshops.

But we also wanted to listen carefully to their stories. We were not to be disappointed, as they had a lot to tell:



a new waste cycle in Angers

In the French city of Angers, the PAVIC association wanted to involve the citizens in a sustainable, collaborative, flexible waste collection and valorisation.

Hence the INNOWASTE Challenge, for which they selected Cocycler by Cocycler - a new “collaborative” waste management solution.


FIGHTING MARGINALISATION in Vienna

One of the concerns for the Vienna Municipality is to Fight marginalization.

Their participation in the Social Challenges platform helped them find and start working with three innovative ideas:



Read more:

  • WGE! - Gemeinsam Wohnen - an innovative way to help different generations help each other
  • Shades Tours - a new way to include marginalized groups back into society and the labour market
  • Diverse Civic Engagement - fostering civic engagement through training and online debates among local politicians and young immigrants.


social farms near Bologna

The first challenge launched in Bologna was Social Farming in the Apennines.

Conceived by Grameen Italia Foundation, the idea is to revitalize the Apennines area through an innovative approach to social farming: involving disadvantaged people. The Challenge attracted twelve Pitches by a variety of entrepreneurs and social innovators - here's the story of some of them:


Read more:


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