The social entrepreneurship support programme was launched a few years ago and this year’s edition presents a number of new developments. Among others, as announced at the end of last year, two forms of participation have been selected: intensive sessions and those related to the itinerary, compatible with studies or other work activities. Registration may be made at any time of the year.

On Monday, the first intensive sessions at Iturola Elkarlan Sorgunea de Hernani have begun, in which the institutions that have promoted and financed the initiative have also participated. KoopFabrika is funded by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and is assisted by the City Council of Beterri-Buruntza. The president of the latter, Jon Zulueta, has given a fact: in the last three years 25 socio-economic projects have been created in the region thanks to the programme and have given work to more than 60 people.

The goal of KoopFabrika is to create team-based companies that promote social transformation, cooperation and community empowerment. The representative of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Joseba Amondarain, has acknowledged that it is interesting because it promotes “collective projects beyond individual intentions”.

The program is carried by three agents: The GEZKI institute of the UPV/EHU, the Lanki research centre of Mondragon Unibertsitatea and the transforming social economy network OlatuKoop. The three have participated in the presentation of the intensive sessions in Hernani and the three have emphasized the value of the collaboration between “different”. For Leire Udabe, from OlatuKoop, it is necessary to create a reference network in Gipuzkoa that aims at intercooperation and territorialization, “putting the economy at the service of people and not the other way around”.