There are practically no projects in RuNet that would not have been built on the model of Western ones. As an investor, I receive a lot of letters in my mailbox with the heading "I have come up with another social network, and this is an absolutely unique project." After this phrase, I usually do not read the letter further.

The fact is that there are two types of risks that investors take when investing in startups. The first is technological, the risk of the idea itself. If you have come up with something new, then the first question that arises from an investor is: “Why hasn't this idea occurred to anyone before? Because she was bad or because you are brilliant? " The second risk is the implementation risk. I am a supporter of the fact that in emerging markets you cannot take both risks, an investor can buy only one of them.

In the West, unlike us, the market is large and there are teams of a very high level. Investors mainly invest in entrepreneurs who have already done something, the team can be assessed by previous experience. Unfortunately, there are no such opportunities in Russia. The market is small and there are few successful teams.

I don't like the phrase “cloned projects” or “online tracing” because there are no successful “clones”. Yes, in most cases, specific startups are taken as a basis, the ideas of which have already been tested, after that startups begin to develop, and after a year the project is already impossible to recognize.

I am convinced that the uniqueness of each project lies not in the idea, but in its implementation, "business development", the ability to debug the necessary business processes. The idea itself is worthless. Even in the West now there is no dominance of unique ideas. Usually these are iterations of old ideas, improved ideas, reformatting of existing projects. Any site is just a showcase that can be made for $ 5,000-10,000, but then the implementation begins. And this is the most difficult task associated with building a team, organizing sales, logistics, payment systems, returning goods, establishing b2b partnerships, etc.

At the same time, I do not think that there are any cardinal differences in the mentality of consumers in Russia, which can ruin the project. All consumers, when buying something, want to get good quality goods at a low price with fast delivery. The issues of project adaptation are rather related to the underdevelopment of infrastructure in Russia, distrust of payment systems and other problems, on the quality of the solution of which your success will depend.

Idea for business

It seems to me that more than half of the ideas that are being successfully implemented in America have not yet been used by anyone in Russia. For example, I really like Getaround, a startup that allows you to rent your car when you go on vacation, while providing insurance to cover all risks. I understand that in Russia this project is much more difficult to implement, but there is a prospect in this. Also, as an investor, I am interested in large-scale technological projects such as Tesla Motors. I think that in almost every segment there are many ideas worth implementing.

Now among aspiring entrepreneurs there is a big fashion for applications for iPhone and Android. A lot of presentations describing the uniqueness of a new product come to my inbox, but in most cases there is no answer to a very important question: how, in fact, people will find out about it? The authors of many projects envisage that there must be some kind of virality, but there are very few viral projects and virality is not accidental. I would say that "business development" is the weakest part of the applications that I receive. After all, success is never absolute and quick. This is a lot of small steps forward, sometimes back and again forward. Working out these steps in detail is the most important part of the job.

For example, our TravelTipz project went into monetization a year after its launch, with sales of $ 1000 per day in October 2012, that is, after 18 months of existence. The first 12 months we carried out a lot of preparatory work, but now we see an active growth in sales. In September, sales increased 2.5 times compared to August, in October - 5 times compared to September.

Are you an entrepreneur?

Unfortunately, a lot of entrepreneurs want to start a business, but don't want to risk their time or money. A lot of projects come from people who are planning to launch a startup but still continue to work elsewhere. I understand that people need to feed themselves and their families, but for an investor this is an indicator that an entrepreneur does not have confidence in his own idea. And if the creator is not sure, where will the investor get it from?

Basically, people want to find money and "jump" from one paid job to another, but this is not entrepreneurship, there is no risk. Many see their future like this: “I just need a million dollars, I immediately leave work, the project is flying up at a breakneck speed, this will be the next Instagram, etc.”. But I don’t believe that such a plan can be successful.

Even in the western market, it is very rare for someone to succeed easily and the first time, you need to believe in yourself and in your idea, even if no one else believes in you. For example, the founders of Airbnb, a very famous project in the travel industry, at a stage when they could not find an investor, were forced to sell cookies with Obama and McCain stickers in order to hold out until they were believed. And Max Levchin, the founder of PayPal, which later sold for $ 1.5 billion, had the fifth project. The previous four failed. How many entrepreneurs do we have who have made five startups? Perhaps I will remember one such person, and then I will have to think for a long time.

You don't have to look at successful entrepreneurs as if they've always done well. As one smart person put it, success is just a gap between previous and future failure. The most difficult thing is to take a step from risk-free work to your project, which can burn out, or can bring tremendous satisfaction, and not only material, but also moral.

I think that in order for a greater number of unique projects to appear on the Russian market, a certain critical mass of entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks and believe in themselves need to be formed. Then investors will be able to believe in them.

The Russian energy holding RusHydro last year spent 1.17 billion rubles on charity. Elena Vishnyakova, Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department - Press Secretary of JSC RusHydro, told Philanthrop magazine how to use these funds as efficiently as possible, how the company will choose priority areas of support and how it tries not to reduce the amount of assistance in times of crisis ".

Elena Vishnyakova, Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department - Press Secretary of JSC RusHydro.

Big deal

The main charitable programs of RusHydro are combined into the federal long-term comprehensive program "Clean Energy". It is implemented in all regions of the company's presence.

The Clean Energy Program is a networked charitable project implemented by branches independently, taking into account the needs of each region. We have developed a serious system within which local experts determine the need for certain events and actions. We are talking about a broad regional program that allows you to quickly solve local problems. In this sense, people on the ground have "freedom of maneuver." We provide the most comfortable conditions both for attracting partners (including local administrations) to cooperation, and for implementing the company's charitable policy as a whole.

We consider the example of some large companies where such issues are resolved "from Moscow" to be wrong. Local people are better able to see what should be done and how. Local leaders are deeply immersed in the problems of the region in which they live and work. Their experience and local understanding allows them to shape small projects (for example, purchasing equipment or introducing an educational program) that have a big impact. Large companies are not always able to “work out” a lot of small projects with high quality; there simply will not be enough resources for this. The Clean Energy project makes it possible to do this.

The main directions of the "Clean Energy" program are actions aimed at educating young people (including those from socially unprotected segments of the population) and at raising our future employees. One of the first programs in this area is the Energy of Development student projects competition, which we have been running since 2009 in cooperation with specialized energy universities, as well as with some other universities. The winners are the guys who are passionate about hydropower. As a result, the most talented guys are hired by our experts. The prize is an internship at hydraulic engineering facilities and research centers in Russia and abroad. Last year, for example, the winners traveled to Canada. For 6 years of the competition, he had about 60 winners, and almost half of them have linked their lives with hydropower.

We are very proud of our partnership program with DETGIZ. Many of us remember from our childhood a series of books "I want to know everything", published annually from 1957 to 1991. Last year, the new almanac "I Want to Know Everything" was published after a long break. Its feature is a combination of the best articles of the past and their analysis from the point of view of modern science. The project is a success. Unfortunately, the circulation of "I want to know everything" is only 10,000 copies (under the USSR it was from 100,000 to 500,000), on a national scale it is extremely small. Therefore, first of all, we distribute it to libraries and schools so that as many children as possible can read it.

There are programs to support children's sports, primarily those related to water, snow and ice: swimming, skiing, skating, sailing. We have been cooperating with the Rowing Slalom Federation for many years - this is, one might say, completely our element: water and elevation changes.

We purchase equipment for social adaptation rooms in orphanages, equip children's playgrounds in children's educational institutions, organize charitable New Year trees and creative contests.

As part of the Clean Energy program, large-scale humanitarian and educational programs and actions in the field of ecology are being implemented. Together with the reserves, RusHydro organizes ecological routes and equips ecological paths. Since 2005, the action "PROVIDE" has been held: employees of the company and youth assistants clean the banks of rivers and reservoirs from debris, improve beaches and embankments.

Diversified assistance

Other charitable projects are also being promoted at RusHydro. Since 2007, we have been implementing the Book as a Gift program. For visually impaired children, we buy books with voluminous bright pictures and distribute them to families, large regional children's libraries, and specialized boarding schools.

In many regions of our presence there is a problem: hydroelectric power plants are located far from regional centers (500 km or more), which means they are far from hospitals and maternity hospitals. Patients have to travel so far or fly in a helicopter, risking themselves and the child. As part of our Born by Energy program, modern, expensive diagnostic and rehabilitation equipment is purchased for maternity wards of local hospitals - thus, high-quality medical care becomes more accessible.

Career guidance for orphans is a volunteer program implemented by our HR department. There is a serious problem of socialization of orphans and children left without parental care in an orphanage: they lack basic skills (from cooking to paying utility bills). We have enthusiasts in our company who are ready to work with such children. They study with orphans in specialized subjects, "looking out" in the process of communication and training for those who want and can become a good technical specialist at the middle level. Companies like ours have a constant need for competent "techies". Sometimes a good welder is much more difficult to find than a good manager.

Experimentanium water room

Volunteer career guidance events are held on the basis of our sponsored institutions (orphanages, boarding schools). Our employees go to the orphanage on weekends and work with children there, organize excursions to the hydroelectric power station.

Only numbers

• 90 RusHydro employees take part in the program of social and professional adaptation of children from orphanages
• 245 children from orphanages are covered by this program

As a result of working with orphans, employees began to adopt these children. This was not the goal of the program, but it would be untrue to say that we did not count on such a turn of events.

The adoption company is stimulating. The adoption incentive program even predates the corporate volunteering program. We have additional payments to wages, as well as special benefits for adoptive parents - for example, benefits for the education and rest of the child, the ability to take children on vacation for holidays, extra time off, etc. The company's management is well aware of the problems and needs of families with foster children - there are adoptive parents among the top management.

Efficiency

Each of our programs has a multi-factor assessment system. According to the Born by Energy program, the main indicator of success is the quality of the assistance provided and the number of people who received assistance.

The Born by Energy program has existed since 2006. It originated in one branch, and in 2014 16 branches and subsidiaries of RusHydro participated in the program. The amount of assistance is constantly increasing - last year 12,380,000 rubles.

The main priority for us is the successful implementation of projects. The image and reputation component, for all its importance, is only in second place for us. Of course, it is important for us that our work is associated with RusHydro. But much more important for the company is the fact that our projects work and benefit people.

At the same time, we never try to pretend to be angels doing everything solely for the good or to make the world brighter. The same student competition is, in fact, a business program. We conduct it in order to solve the personnel problem, ensuring an influx of talented employees into the company. If they come to us, this is also one of the indicators of the program's effectiveness.

Personal initiative

In the office, we have corporate volunteer events that are held without attracting the company's budget, and only those who really want to participate in them.

Since March last year, charity events have been held at the Company's headquarters, as well as in some regions. We invite several charitable foundations. They bring and display their products in the lobby for 4-5 hours. Any employee can choose the item they like and make a donation. Everything happens in compliance with all legal requirements: with the opening of donation boxes, acts, etc. This money is then directed to the needs of the fund. Before such events, our press service conducts a large information campaign for employees, so they come ready to part with the money, because know where this money will go.

Result

• 4 charity fairs were held in 2014 at the RusHydro office
• 2.5 million rubles - the total amount of collected funds
• 15 charitable foundations took part in fairs: "Very naive", "Life is like a miracle", "Union", "Children's hearts", "Sunflower", our own foundation "Involvement", "Creation", "Beauty for children" , Galchonok, ORBI, the Vera hospice fund, the Road to Peace public organization, the Upward Center for Equal Opportunities, the Maria's Children art center.

The Blood Service comes to us twice a year with its equipment. After donating blood, our donors are provided with everything that is required by law: compensation for food and time off. But, as practice shows, only a few take advantage of these opportunities: about 15% of employees took the prescribed time off during the calendar year. The overwhelming majority of donors (according to our estimate, about 90%) also donate food compensation to charity.

We combine donation with promotions for the Day of Health. For example, we invite the ORBI Stroke Foundation to conduct express diagnostics of susceptibility to stroke. For employees, this procedure is paid, and funds from it also go to the ORBI fund for charity. The Fund redirects this money to patients who find it most difficult to raise money for treatment: men under 40 (usually they choose one “difficult” patient and send funds for his treatment).

Everyone determines the degree and form of participation in our promotions for himself. There are those who offer great ideas for lots at a charity auction (we have it at every event). There are employees who are ready to stand behind the stall and sell goods. Some are willing to pay part of any organizational costs. Our canteen, which we jokingly call "RusHydro Restaurant", is of great help to us. At charity fairs, they make “good pies”: each customer gets a delicious pie for their purchase, and at auctions they sell the opportunity to order a cake for an employee's birthday.

The crisis

Our company has a challenge: to reduce social tension and social problems. The crisis, of course, affected us, like everyone else, but did not lead to a sharp reduction in social spending, because they are planned in advance. The main difficulties are associated with the fact that a lot of calls come "out of plan". There is a kind of "pillow" for such cases, but it has become much more difficult to use it now than before. In pre-crisis times, the amount of this reserve made it possible to consider additional applications. Now, unfortunately, the possibility of "unscheduled assistance" is reduced to a minimum. But all of our planned long-term and traditional programs we implement without fail, regardless of the circumstances.

A girl "teaches" bird chicks to fly in the Khingansky Nature Reserve (Amur Region). Photo by Alexander Popov.

A lot can be achieved with large investments, but they are not always available now. But now people want to help and give more than before. That is why volunteer programs have become so widespread now. People are looking for where to apply, what to add to what the company does, despite the difficulties and “tough times”. Even during a crisis, volunteers still don't go anywhere.

03.03.2017

Steps from "A" to "Z" for beginners and experienced

Project: a set of planned actions taken to solve the problem of a specific target group, limited in time and resources, with specific results.

Social project: a program of real actions, the purpose of which is aimed at solving an urgent social problem in society, and the tasks - at positive results and changes in society.

The main requirements that the project must meet:

relevance - the reason, the grounds for the implementation of the project must meet the requirements of the time, a separate target group or other aspects that explain the appearance of the project idea;

time - the project must be limited in time;

resources - the project must have a clear description of the needs;

quality and results assessment - the scale for assessing the effectiveness of the project is determined in accordance with your goals, but the results you strive for should be clear, amenable to analysis and comprehension.

Projects can be simple and complex, short- and long-term, with a limited and solid budget, risky and with completely manageable risks, with different results. In any case, the project is aimed at solving a specific problem. The project must be systematic, logical and adequate, that is, each section must correspond to all the others (tasks must correspond to the goals, the mechanism - goals and objectives, the budget - goals, objectives and mechanism, etc.).

How to write and arrange a project? Steps from "A" to "Z"

Step # 1: Decide on an idea, analyze the problem.

What would you like to change?

What and in what way (in the most general terms) would you like to achieve?

What problem do you want to solve?

We wrote down the answer → moved on to defining the scope of the project activity, defining the problem on which you will work.
We analyzed the problem → determined what you want to change → a project idea appeared → proceed to detailing and describing the project.

Step # 2: Write the goal of the project.

goal - a general description of the expected results and expectations, the highest point of achievement towards which the organization strives during the implementation of the project. Purpose - a way of acting to achieve the desired result.

The goal should be formulated in such a way that its achievement completely solves the problem that has arisen. The statement of the goal should be based on the statement of the problem. We can say that the goal is the opposite problem.

Ask questions for your project goal:

Is there an exact expression of what exactly should be the result of the project?

Will we be able to see and measure the results of the project as a whole and its individual parts?

Is your goal realistic? Is it possible to achieve the stated goal given the resources available?

What benefit or benefit will be obtained as a result of the achievement of the goal by the project team and other stakeholders?

Step # 3: Writing the project objectives.

Project objectives - these are specific steps that must be taken to change the existing situation for the better, these are steps to achieve the goal.

INimportant to remember! There can be several tasks, all tasks are steps towards achieving the goal, related to each other and related to the goal of the project.

Use verbs... For example, if you need to build a house, then the tasks will be: lay the foundation, erect walls, build a roof, carry out communications, make interior decoration, etc.

Check... The tasks should completely "close" the solution to the problem (the goal).

Analyze... Tasks must be effective (as a result, changes after the project are made up of specific results).

Step # 4: Checking the goal and objectives by smart criterion.

We look at our goal and objectives, check them according to the SMART criterion, and correct them if necessary.

	Specific
	Measurable
	Achievable
	Benefit (rewarding)
	Time bound

For example: Purpose: "Building a house" - can be specified according to the SMART criterion as follows: "Construction and commissioning of a 2-storey, 6-apartment building for families of young professionals in the village of Vychegda by the second quarter of 2014".

Step # 5. We build a logical chain of actions from tasks.

We have determined the goal and objectives → We start planning: how it will all be.

From each task we build a logical chain of actions: how we will achieve the result. Sometimes it helps to draw the entire chain of actions and tasks in order to understand the logic of the project in each of the directions.

For example, if we are talking about building a house for families of young professionals, then our task blocks may be related to:

directly by construction

agreements with government authorities

with work with the target audience - families of young professionals

work with the press on PR of the project and the event in general.

This logical flow will help us write a project schedule in a logical sequence.

Step number 6. We write an action plan, work schedule.

The plan defines the order of execution of all work: it describes what, who and when will do, in a logical sequence + makes it clear what resources are needed. When planning, you can use various forms, schedules, plans.

For example: Project implementation plan. Example # 1

Project implementation plan. Example No. 2

Project implementation plan. Example No. 3

It will also be helpful to make a network plan - schedule.

Step # 7. we calculate how much our project will cost.

Each stage of the project implementation requires a certain cost money and resources:

how much money is required to implement the project? What will they be spent on?

from what sources is it supposed to receive money? Grants, subsidies, sponsorship, other?

This section of the project should very closely correlate with other sections of the project, especially the implementation mechanism and calendar plan project.

Possible cost estimate for the project:

	Name of items and expenses	Calculation of the amount of costs	Financial costs of the project
			Available funds	Requested funds

"Budget" (estimate) should be scheduled according to articles.

Main expenses:

rent of premises and utility bills

travel and travel expenses

equipment

communication and communication

holding special events

publishing costs

consumables

and other direct costs that go directly to your project.

"Other expenses" - This is an optional item that is included in the budget if there are expenses that are not reflected in other items. This article should be especially carefully argued.

"Salary" - includes directly the salary of the project personnel and specialists hired for a time under the contract, as well as “Taxes on incomes” - 35.8% of the total wages fund for personnel and involved specialists.

Special attention should be paid to the last three columns in the budget table: “available funds”, “requested funds”, “total”. The column “available funds” should indicate the funds that you, your organization, are investing in the project. For example: attracting volunteers as staff or outsourced specialists - must be necessarily reflected in the budget item "remuneration" in the "available" column, moreover, the amount will correspond to the expenses that the organization would have incurred if paid specialists.

If an organization, you or sponsors provide any office equipment for the implementation of the project, then in the “available” column it is worth indicating its approximate cost, taking into account the service life.

The column "required" will remain to indicate the amount of funds that the organization lacks for the project.

Step 8. We write the results.

When drawing up an action plan and calculating a budget, we may realize that the results can be even greater than we planned. It is important that our results are consistent with the purpose of the project.

In the project, the results can be written in text, here we suggest you fill out a worksheet to determine the results:

Quantitative result(what will be done?) - records the number of services provided, event participants, recipients of specific assistance, number of books issued, etc.

Qualitative result (what will change?) - should reflect the positive changes that will occur as a result of events, services, etc.

Efficiency - whether the results obtained are commensurate with the effort expended.

The criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of a project are results that demonstrate how well the developers understand what they are striving for and how they will achieve it.

Step number 9. we draw up the project.

A decorated project usually contains the following sections:

Brief annotation of the project: briefly describe your idea (3-5 sentences), goals, results (no more than 1 A4 sheet, 12-14 font)

Detailed description of the project:

The urgency of the problem, why your project is important and needed.

Goals and objectives of the project.

Target group of the project: who is your project designed for, for whom you are doing it.

The mechanism of project implementation: stages, substantive activities, activities, etc.

Schedule of the project implementation (remember about clarity, schedules are welcome).

Budget (estimate).

Specific expected results (quantitative and qualitative), criteria and methods for assessing results, the effect of the project in the long term.

Possible further development of the project, if expected.

applications (photo materials, diagrams, sketches, etc.)

The layout of the draft text is as important as its content. Use large print (at least 12) and one and a half spacing. Highlight what's important, structure your text to make it easier to read, use headings and subheadings, bold and underlines, bulleted lists, and more.

If you need to make a presentation:

no more than 1-2 slides for each section;

the font should be as large as possible and readable even from a distance, the title and text of the presentation slides should be printed in one font, the font size in the presentation is recommended to be at least 20;

Social projects, the ideas of which have been brought to life, can be distinguished primarily by the priority goal they pursue. Second, they differ in the degree and quality of their influence on the life of society.

In fairness, it should be noted that the ideas of social projects cover many areas of human life. It is not always possible to keep the "ideality" of the priority goals.

Priorities and goals

Social projects, the ideas of which can be called truly social, have priority goals, as is commonly believed, a significant improvement in the life of society. For example, in the summer season in many cities, active and proactive people organize and successfully carry out a project called "Run" for several years. Its essence is disclosed in more detail below, but now it is important to mention the results. More than 100,000 people voluntarily took part in such a project in just one city with a population of one million. More than half of the people reached the finish line, having run more than 300 kilometers in total in 3 months! Social projects, the ideas of which meet such a response, really change the life of society for the better.

One can only imagine how many people have become healthier, what a beneficial effect has been made on the younger generation by running parents or relatives. As a result of participation in the project, many people develop a useful habit to take care of themselves and their health systematically. They will also have new like-minded friends, with whom it is easier and more fun to move forward.

"Antisocial" project

"Trolleybus of Happiness" - this is the name of a "social" project implemented in practice, which even won prizes in a competition on this topic. Its stated goals are to modernize the higher education system by developing an ecosystem of innovations.

Based on the published information, the project managers set themselves rather mundane tasks. By implementing the "Trolleybus of Happiness", they wanted to activate the educational process, conduct training for masters and publicly defend themselves in a competition for similar projects.

What is actually

In fact, the university turned to the city electric transport with a proposal: “Let us decorate your trolleybuses with the help of our students, and together we will call it all a social project?” No sooner said than done. Allocated 4 trolleybuses, students in their free time issued them for free, invited musicians, wrote to the press - done! 4 colorful trolleybuses, really beautiful, ride around the city and are mobile mini-exhibitions of various themes - festive, romantic, patriotic ...

How has the life of the city changed? Basically, nothing. How has the energy and money spent by people, students, teachers modernized the higher education system? Basically, nothing. How did the eco-innovation system develop with the trolleybus that has been around for over 100 years? It is not known for certain. Whether it has improved significantly as a result I can hardly say so.

General alternative

"We ran" is one of the real projects that could be called truly social. Its essence is that a person who wants to run in the morning registers in social networks... He makes a certain small cash contribution and then runs for 100 days in a row.

After each lesson, according to the rules of the project, you need to upload your photos "in progress" and the chosen route. In the absence of such "evidentiary" data, the participant was excluded without a refund. Of course, the rules provided for such various small details as skipping a run for a good reason and other similar moments, but the basic rules are as simple as two and two.

After the project, the available amount of money was divided among the remaining participants. Interestingly, they received back an amount 50% higher than the deposited one. Many after the project did not leave their useful habit and continued to run in established groups and without a project, waiting for the next mass "race". So, with the help of the project, people became healthier, and society united, and set a good example for the younger generation.

More examples

"Nochlezhka" and "Virtual Market" are social projects, ideas and examples of which could also be classified as truly social. They are funded by charitable organizations and young people.

The first project is a network of shelters for the homeless. A map has been created that contains specific addresses of places where you can eat, sleep, or get medical or legal assistance. For multi-million dollar megacities, such a project significantly improves the social situation - there are fewer robberies, the overall crime rate decreases, and the burden on law enforcement agencies is less. In addition, the project allows more or less tolerable control over the situation with the homeless in the city and even influences the situation in some way.

The second project allows both to place and to see requests for help on an interactive map of the city. It would seem nothing like that. Who is interested in this? But in fact, the application turned out to be in great demand - because it solved the main communication problem, connecting those who need help and those who can provide it. Moreover, anyone can join the project. He will be aware of requests around him and will have a convenient opportunity to use help in case of need.

Youth sphere

An important role in the popularization of social projects is played by ideas of social projects aimed at students and pupils. They make it possible to increase the employment of this active stratum of the population, develop a sense of patriotism and show personal potential in many areas.

It should be noted that the ideas of social projects for young people are diverse. They relate, for example, to the world of work. This is the organization of construction teams or activities for the prevention of neglect and juvenile delinquency. Projects can be aimed at youth recreation, intercultural interaction and practice.

Sphere of culture

The ideas that can be found in the field of culture are usually the most visible. They are supported by the state with the help of government grants.

It is not always possible to call creative social projects, the ideas of which relate to this topic. The activities relate to the support of the library, museum and club (entertainment) spheres. For the idea of \u200b\u200bsocial projects in the field of culture are critically important.

This creates an additional platform for the development of both personal talents, for example, in the field of music or singing, and also develops communication skills. Sometimes the opportunity arises to travel and gain new knowledge. It is worth noting socially significant projects, the ideas of which inspire talented youth, allow them to reveal their potential and talent. This is often a television show.

Social projects, the ideas of which are not distinguished by originality, are also at the borderline between the concepts of “youth” and “culture”. These are educational excursions. Such projects provide an opportunity for young people to really expand their horizons and understanding of the surrounding reality.

We are accustomed to believe that social projects that are aimed at solving social problems, family and individual problems are organized on the principle of providing solutions to these problems free of charge. But with any sort of difficulty we spend resources: material, temporary, human. How can these costs be offset? Is it possible to make money on a social project without the help of investors, or at least bring it to self-sufficiency? The Mama Works project and its leader Olesya Kashayeva believe that it is possible. Today Olesya will tell you how it happens with them.

Olesya, what is this project? Who is it for? Who is your target audience?

The Mom Works project is to help young mothers get an education, find a job at home or start their own business. And it is also its own sewing production, where mothers work. And, of course, these are free coworking spaces for moms.

Our target audience is mothers of toddlers and preschoolers.

When did the project appear and why did you decide to do it? What was the starting point, how was the idea born?

The project appeared at a time when I myself just became a mother. As soon as the eldest child was seven months old, I realized that I could not sit at home all the time and do only household chores.

Before the decree, I worked in consulting - I helped start a business, promote projects, and also started helping mothers who started their own business for free. When there were a lot of mothers, my volunteering grew into an organized project "Mom Works". As my child grew, so did the project. When our second son arrived, our first coworking space opened. This happened because immediately after giving birth I returned to work, came to the office with the children, and I needed a comfortable space for myself and for the kids. Since the project participants also often came with children, we organized a children's room.

What was the most difficult part of implementing the idea?

Before the project, I was never associated with the non-profit sector, I did not understand many details. And those around them did not believe in the viability of the idea, did not believe that the project would be in demand.

Later, a new difficulty appeared - the fact that the whole project was “tied” to me. I could not go on vacation, my presence was constantly required. Now this problem is not so acute, but when you organized a business from scratch, you become its face. It's like another child who needs constant attention.

How is the project monetized?

From the very beginning, I understood that we would not collect donations for our activities. I personally believe that you can collect donations when money is needed urgently and in large amounts. For example, for treatment. We simply do not have the moral right to do this. After all, we help mothers to start a business, and if we ourselves cannot earn money, then what will we teach? This is how the idea of \u200b\u200btheir own sewing production arose, when mothers can work at home or in a workshop where they can come with their child. Labor is paid.

The products that mothers sew are sold in bulk, ordered by companies, on forums, for promotions, and so on.

The production belongs to the foundation, and as a foundation we do not have the right to distribute profits between the founders, all profits go to the “Mom Works” project - training mothers, salaries for employees, opening new coworking spaces. Yes, the employees of the fund receive salaries, including me.

We also have paid courses. Their price is completely out of the market, but still it is a tangible income.

All profits from trainings and production go to the development of the project: to educate mothers, employment, and the work of free coworking spaces. And, of course, we are actively supported by the state. The Moscow Public Relations Committee subsidizes us, and resource centers for working with NGOs provide space for coworking free of charge.

Is it difficult to get state support for start-up projects of this kind?

There is nothing difficult in this. But many do not even submit applications, because they think that everything has been bought. This is not true. State support programs are now very transparent. The main thing is to carefully read the "Regulation on the competition" ("Regulation on the competition for the provision of grants of the President Russian Federation for the development of civil society "- editor's note) on the website presidential grants.rf, take into account all recommendations. Everything is usually detailed there.

The application for the competition should be written in “simple” language without water, so that even the “grandmother at the entrance” understands what you are talking about, use as much data as possible: quantitative and qualitative indicators, assessment of social effect, and so on.

Cozy coworking area for moms

What do you teach in the courses?

We teach how to work in social networks, create and promote sites, sales. These are the specialties that are especially in demand among mothers on maternity leave. After completing these courses, you can work from home, combining work and childcare. After training, we employ mothers. These courses are inexpensive, there are options and free training followed by an internship.

Who helps you in the development of the project?

My kids. :) The development of the project is directly related to them: they grow, and I understand from my own experience what mothers with children of different ages need.

Of course, there is a team working in the project, most of the employees are the same mothers.

And what does the project give you personally?

The same as for other mothers - the opportunity to work with children, self-realization, constant growth and development.

An area where mom can work while looking after children at play

How are you progressing? How do clients and investors know about you?

How promising do you think such social projects are now? How can they exist and how to achieve this?

I believe that the future of social projects belongs to social entrepreneurship. When you solve social problems on the basis of self-sufficiency and sustainability.

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