More than a third of Romanians are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, and unemployment remains high in the Western Balkans, especially among women and youth.

NESsT’s investments in Romania and the Balkans focus on social enterprises that create jobs for those most in need, including rural populations, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and young people who face higher unemployment rates than in many other countries in Europe.

WITH YOUR HELP

We’ve invested in 28 social enterprises in Romania & the Balkans.

3,190

dignified employment & income generation opportunities created

US$3 million

invested

25,131

lives improved

As of December 31, 2017

See Our Work in Romania

NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship co-created a three-year accelerator programme to support enterprises that expand employment opportunities in Poland and Romania.

Learn How NESsT Social Enterprises Fight Poverty in Romania

CURRENT PORTFOLIO

AER Local

AER Local is a multi-purpose space home to an artisanal bakery and pastry line, a café, a curated store for local and regional goods, and space for business gatherings, private events, and community activities. It supports a network of more than 150 farmers, artisans, social enterprises, women from rural areas, and small producers from underserved communities.

Jobful

Jobful (Playful Software) is a Romania-based digital solutions agency with a mission to create a more inclusive and equitable recruitment journey to help youth, refugees and migrants to find quality jobs.

Posh Academy

Posh Academy is both a training center and a provider of beauty services. The social enterprise offers on-the-job training and upskilling for at-risk women, ethnic minorities, young people, and LGTBQIA+ individuals in a range of services such as hairdressing, hair coloring, manicures, pedicures, and other specialized beauty treatments.

UtilDeco

UtilDeco provides tailored career training to people with disabilities, individuals coming from the child protection system, ethnic groups, and migrants – helping them to build confidence and improve financial stability.

alumni

ALTRNTV

ALTRNTV produces handcrafted clothing made from sustainably-produced vegan and organic materials.

Atelierul de Pânză

ADP produces and sells upcycled textile products made from 100% recycled cotton.

Box Elyte

Box Elyte employs individuals from excluded groups, including migrants and refugees from Ukraine and Asia, as well as local women from low-income backgrounds and ethnic minorities.

Helyénvaló

Helyénvaló helps the small agricultural producers in the Odorheiu Secuiesc region to sell and promote their locally-produced, artisanal goods, including meat, fresh vegetables, pastries, herbal spices, and bee products.